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Lieutenant Allan Cowan COLEY
39 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps Date of birth: 14th March 1898 Date of death: 6th March 1918 Killed in action aged 19 Buried at Gosport (Ann’s Hill) Cemetery Grave 50.23575
Allan Cowan Coley was born at 1 Petherton Road, Highbury in London on the 14th of March 1898 the eldest son of Harry Cowan Coley, a silk merchant, of "Glengale Lodge", Bishops Stortford in Hertfordshire, and Clara Frances (nee Peat later Holland) Coley of Surbiton. He was christened at St Augustine's Church, Highbury on the 8th of May 1898. He was educated at the Beacon School, Bexhill-on-Sea and at Lancing College where he was in Sandersons House from September 1913 to the 28th of July 1916. He was a Corporal in the Officer Training Corps, played 2nd XI Cricket in 1916 and won his House Colours for Cricket. On the 20th of July 1916, while still at school, he applied for a commission in the Special Reserve of the Royal Flying Corps, in an application which was supported by the Reverend Bowlby, Head Master of Lancing College, by Captain Adam Fox, Commanding Officer of the Lancing College Officer Training Corps Contingent and by Mr. W.D. Clayton, Head Master of the Beacon School. He was commissioned as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on the General List of the Royal Flying Corps on the 12th of August 1916 and began his training at the School of Military of Aeronautics the same day. He was posted to 3 Reserve Squadron on the 8th of November 1916 and to 16 Reserve Squadron on the 2nd of January 1917. He was appointed as a Flying Officer on the 15th of April 1917 and was posted to France where he served for a time with 12 Squadron. On the 12th of August 1917 he was serving with No.8 Air Acceptance Park at Lympne and took off in response to a raid by German Gotha bombers who were raiding Chatham, Southend and Margate. On the 27th of January 1918 he was posted to the Home Establishment as an instructor. On the 12th of February 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant and on the 3rd of March he was posted to 39 Squadron and was attached to the School of Aerial Co-Operation with Coastal Defences at Gosport in Hampshire. He was living at "The Red House", Fort Romer. On the night of the 6th of March 1918 he was patrolling off the Isle of Wight flying a Be2e. He had been tasked with being airborne to intercept incoming German raiders. During the flight his aircraft suddenly nosedived throwing him out of the cockpit and into the sea. Vessels were despatched to the area to rescue him and he was found but was unconscious when he was recovered. He was taken to Reed House at Fort Rowner where he died of his injuries. A telegram was sent to Army Headquarters dated the 7th of March 1918:- "2nd Lieut. A.C. Coley killed as pilot of aeroplane last night. All necessary action taken." He was buried with full military honours on the 11th of March 1918.

Sandersons House