It’s been a while since we published a biography of one of our members who served in World War 1 and we are pleased to announce we have just published that of Robert Weatherston Cairns who enlisted with the army in 1916 and was assigned to the 85th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corp.
This year, the RAF is celebrating its centenary and Robert was there at its formation on 1 April 1918 when he was transferred to the newly formed service. In May 1918 he was deployed to France with his squadron where he served until 1919 supporting fighter patrols and ground attack sorties over the Western Front.
Following the war he resumed his career as a plumber and electrical engineer, eventually establishing a large and successful plumbing and engineering business in Newcastle.
You can read his story here or go the Roll of Honour, scroll down and select his name.
