2Lt William Holland Cole RAF – 17 Squadron 1917 and 103 Squadron 1918 - Pilot
William Holland Cole ( pictured above ) was born in Dudley on 28 September 1899. He was the only child of Joseph Albert Cole and Emmie Agnes Florence Cole nee Holland. His father died in 1904.
He joined 15 squadron Royal Flying Corps in 1917, number 99921, moving to 103 squadron in 1918.
Whilst with 15 Squadron he either flew RE8s or Armstrong Whitworth FK8s
16/09/1918 – Fives - DH9 – D489 – FTR – Combat and aircraft shot down. 2 missing.
2Lt William Holland Cole RAF – Pilot – 18 – 103 Sqn - Only son of Emma Cole, of Hill Crest, Clent, Stourbridge, Worcs and the late Joseph Cole, Stourbridge – Arras Flying Services Memorial, France
Sgt Sydney Hookway MM RAF – Observer - 24 – 103 Sqn - Son of Mrs. E. A. Palmer, of 21, Reform St, Barnstable, Devon - Arras Flying Services Memorial, France.
Left for raid on Fives at 08.00. Met with a formation of 50 Fokker DVII and DrL at 10/16000 feet over Lille on return. Seen going down in a spin around 09.45 after being attacked by 2 enemy aircraft but flattened out at 2000 feet.
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Edward Newman Fuller
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Letter written by Major E N Fuller to Mrs Cole 21st September 1918.
Dear Mrs Cole,
You will have been told officially that your son William has been posted as missing. I am unable to give any definite news which can relieve your anxiety to any great extent. However we do believe that there is a good chance of his being safe because he was seen to get his machine under good control at about 1000 feet and consequently has an excellent chance of landing safely.
May I express the deepest sympathy of myself and the squadron in your inevitable anxiety until you get definite news. He was so cheerful and ready for anything that he became very popular with us and is greatly missed. However I would ask you to hope with whatever confidence you can manage what we all believe that your son is a prisoner in German hands or perhaps in a hospital if he is unlucky but in any rate will be given back to us in time. The Germans will drop a message about him after some time and it will be sent on to you at once. His kit has been sent on to you but it will take some time.
If you wish to write about any information which I may have overlooked or about anything you may like done will you kindly address the letter to OC 103 Squadron and not to me by name as I am leaving tomorrow and there will be a new squadron commander.
Yours sincerely
E N Fuller Maj
Fuller was replaced as OC 103 Squadron by Major M H B Nethersole.
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William Cole Photo Gallery
William left a very fine selection of photos, mostly aircraft, which appear to have been taken whilst he was training in the UK.
A sample is shown below :-
Armstrong Whitworth FK8 C3626
Armstrong Whitworth FK8 C8412 with collapsed undercarriage.
Armstrong Whitworth FK8 C8418
Armstrong Whitworth FK8 C8459
Armstrong Whitworth FK8
Avro 504 B4387
Avro 504
Bristol F2 Fighter
DH2 Advanced trainer
DH2 Advanced Trainer
DH6 trainer
DH6 leaning on a hut
DH9
FE2b
Handley Page O400 bomber
Maurice Farman MF11 trainer
SE5A D356
Sopwith Camel
Pilot and Observer Air Gunnery Training Rigs at the butts
I am most grateful to Mr John Reeve, who is William’s second cousin, for supplying all the information and photographs for this excellent item.
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