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Henry Le Marchant Brock was one of the pioneers of the Royal Flying Corps. Born in 1889, Brock grew up in Guernsey and at first followed many of his ancestors into the army, where he served for a while under Field-Marshall Montgomery. He was an excellent shot; winning a Bronze medal in the King鈥檚 Prize at Bisley while still at school at Elizabeth College where he was captain of the school rifle team.

However, after Brock gained his pilot鈥檚 certificate in 1913, he transferred into the newly formed Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and by the time war was declared in 1914 had already been part of a RFC military group at Netheravon developing new techniques including observation, reconnaissance, aerial photography and the first aerial use of wireless telegraphy.

In an account he wrote of his war experience in 1923 for the Air Force, Brock recalled: 鈥淲hen the war started I was in No. 5 squadron at Gosport. At that time we looked forward to it as a great rag that would last about three months. One officer, I remember, did not even pack up his belongings but left them about his room as they were. Most of us were wiser than that鈥�.

Brock crossed the channel on 18 August 1923, taking part in reconnaissance flights and patrols. His record of his time in France provides a vivid account of early aerial warfare and the gradual improvements made in aircraft and techniques.

He won the DSO for his war service and was mentioned in despatches five times.

After the war ended Brock was in charge of air operations in Egypt and served on the North West frontier where he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Bath (CB). Rising to the rank of Air Commodore, Henry was officer in charge of administration at Bomber Command in 1936-7 and then Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Observer Corps until 1942.

Henry le Marchant Brock was a founding member of the Guernsey Society serving in many capacities including Vice President, a position he held until his death in 1964.

Location: St Pierre du Bois Church, Guernsey GY7 9SB
Image: Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2s and Maurice Farman MF.7 Longhorns at the Central Flying School, Upavon. Image courtesy of IWM.

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