Solomon Fine "Solly"
Born:
22 Adar 5659 (04 March 1899)
Died:
7 Sivan 5678 (18 May 1918)
Basic Information
Birth
Date of birth:
22 Adar 5659 (04 March 1899)
Place of birth:
Monmouthshire, South Wales
Death
Date of death:
7 Sivan 5678 (18 May 1918)
Place of death:
Valdencourt, Picardie
Cause of death:
Solomon along with his Observer 2nd Lieutenant R.A. Fraser died when the aeroplane he was flying an RE8 no. C5047, encountered a heavy rainstorm on their return from artillery patrol. Fine lost control at 700ft and spun to earth at Vadencourt Wood.
Burial place:
Contay British Cemetery, Contay , the Somme, France
Places
Addresses
Family home:
28 Southchurch Road Southend-on-Sea, Essex (16 February 1912)
Schools
Name:
Southend Technical School
After Lieutenant Solomon Fine was killed on 18th May 1918 at the age of 19 years his parents received the following letters .
His Flight Commander wrote :
“I am writing on behalf of the Officers of A Flight to express our heartfelt sympathy at the loss you have sustained through the death of our gallant comrade. Although he had not been with us long he was very popular and showed signs of being one of our most useful pilots. His work was the preliminary of, alas! What might have been. As I was his Flight Commander for some time I knew him very intimately and have never met such an enthusiastic pilot before.
As long as there is a Squadron in France, his name will always be remembered. In another packet I am sending you photographs of his resting place. The memorial at the head was made by his own mechanics and daily the French children come and place flowers there. It will be a comfort to you that he died as he lived, a very gallant gentleman. When his country called he answered freely and his death has made a milestone on our road to victory.”
His Commanding Officer wrote that: “Lieutenant Fine and his Observer were on patrol, when a most violent thunderstorm came up, overtaking them on their way back to the aerodrome. The pilot rightly endeavoured to land at the moment the storm broke, and the wind put the machine into a spin, from which it never recovered; the pilot and observer being instantly killed. He was becoming a very good, keen and valuable war pilot.”
Family
Siblings
Parents
Father: Harry Fine (male)
Military Record
Military service:
Army Service Corps and the RAF
Military record no.:
70743, later M/287563
Date enlisted/conscripted:
01 February 1917
Date discharged/death:
18 May 1918
Rank at discharge/death:
Lieutenant
Sustained injuries:
Died when his aeroplane crashed.
Assignments
Regiment:
Army Service Corps (A.S.C.)
Posting:
Solomon Fine enlisted as a Driver in the Machine Transport section with the rank of Private.
Regiment:
Royal Flying Corps and then the RAF
Battalion/unit:
15 Squadron
Posting:
Solomon had been a Driver for five months when he was recommended for a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C.). Mr. Hitchcock, Headmaster of the Southend Technical School wrote a letter in support of his application in which he described Solomon as:
“A lad of good intelligence and trustworthy in conduct. He went through two years of the Secondary School course and gained a good knowledge of Elementary Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as well as the ordinary English subjects.”
After training in Scotland at the School of Aeronautics Solomon was commissioned as a Pilot in December 1917 with 15th Squadron, R.F.C.
Gallery
1 of 5
Naturalisation Certificate page 1
2 of 5
Naturalisation certificate page 2
3 of 5
The inscription on his headstone reads, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his loving ones.”
4 of 5
Medal card
5 of 5
RAF accident card
1 of 5
Naturalisation Certificate page 1
2 of 5
Naturalisation certificate page 2
3 of 5
The inscription on his headstone reads, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his loving ones.”
4 of 5
Medal card
5 of 5
RAF accident card
