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Can anyone help me establish the background of EDWARD H. DUNNING. Where he was born, his military career during WW1 and beyond, when he died (1960? - unconfirmed). Who he may have married etc.

Edward H Dunning was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Flying Corps who flew a daring raid over the Bulgarian coast off the Black Sea in June 1916 with Sub Lieut Charles Bernard Oxley (later Commander Oxley of the RN). Edward was shot through the legs and Oxley made a makeshift tourneqette and they returne to their base safely. Both were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in August of 1916.

I have connections with an Edward Dunning of Bedminster, Bristol (b. approx 1887) but no evidence that this is the same man.

There is another E H Dunning (Edwin) around the same time - I have no interest in him.

Harleyrider

Was his second name Henry?

Name Edward Henry Dunning
Year of Registration 1887
Quarter of Registration Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration District Bedminster
Registration County Somerset
Mother's maiden name
Volume Number 5C
Volume Page 655

Possible marriage?

Name Edward H Dunning
Year of Marriage 1915
Quarter of Marriage Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District Axbridge
Registration County Somerset
Spouse's Surname Pople
Volume Number 5C
Volume Page 1121

Spouse Match: Edward H DUNNING married Minnie POPLE

Death?

Name Edward H Dunning
Year of Registration 1960
Quarter of Registration Jan-Feb-Mar
Registration District Bristol
Registration County Gloucestershire
Age at Death: 72
Volume Number 7B
Volume Page 118

Children?

Births Jun 1916 (>99%)
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Dunning Percy E Pople Bristol 6a 131

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Births Sep 1917 (>99%)
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Dunning Kenneth H Pople Bristol 6a 109

Sub-Lieut. (now Act. Lieut.) Christopher Bernard Oxley, R.N. Sub-Lieut. Oxley was acting as Observer with Flight-Lieut. Edward H. Dunning, D.S.C., as Pilot, on escort and reconnaissance patrol for a flight of bombing machines on the Bulgarian coast, on the 20th June, 1916. Two enemy machines were engaged at close, range and forced to retire, and as our machine withdrew Flight-Lieut. Dunning was hit in the left leg and the machine itself was badly damaged. Sub-Lieut. Oxley, having first improvised a tourniquet, which he gave to Flight Lieut. Dunning, took control of the machine, whilst the latter put on the tourniquet. The pilot was obliged to keep his thumb over a hole in the lower part of the petrol tank in order to keep enough fuel to return to the aerodrome, where he made an exceedingly good landing.

Intersting stuff Travelman. I know that the man born in Bedminster in 1887 (who I am intersted in ) DID have the middle name Henry - but I am trying to connect him with the hero Edward 'H' Dunning shown in the story here

http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage-books.php?Dir=books&MenuItem=display&author=wood&book=airmen&story=firstaid

The marriage is intersting too - and might explain his 'actions' with the wife of my Grandfather in 1916!!! HA!

This Edward would appear to be in a GR Tree too, have you tried contacting the owner of that tree?

Margee, Thanks. That's the info I have found (see my posting to Travelman above)
I still need to know more about his actual career history . . . Where he joined, where he was posted, who his next of kin were. etc.

Have you tried the National Archives? You should get more specific information from them I believe.

I've not tried the NA . . . yet. From experience, trawling through the records needs to be done onsite - i.e. at Kew itself . . . but I'm a wee bit far away from London

try this link to the National Archives, you can search online, you might be lucky.


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/air76.asp


George

George, Thanks. Its quite confusing - as Edward served in the 'Royal Navy' in some of his mentions - the 'Royal Naval Flying Corps' in others - and the 'Royal Naval Air Service' in others!. This was the time of the birth of the RAF - and it seems that all of the services wanted in on t he act in the early years of WW1 - and seemed to name their airborne services how they pleased.
There is no record (from what I can see at the NA website) of any mention of any of these services?

I see that he's listed in the Merchant Navy records at the Nat Archives?

I've downloaded the medal record - bu there's no mention of the Dist Service Cross - as per the stories. But there is only ONE Edward H Dunning??

There are 2 Officers records on the TNA online catalogue for an Edwin Harris Dunning DSC of Royal Naval Air Service as follows . Surely there can't be 2 men with similar names who were awarded the DSC?

ADM 273/4/69 More information Page 69: Edwin Harris Dunning DSC. RNAS Officers Service 1914-1918

ADM 273/28/69 More information Page 69: Edwin Harris Dunning DSC. RNAS Officers Service

Also Edwin's 2 service records are on the documentsonline site which you can download for £3-50 each. One is for Navy, the other for RAF

The London Gazette website seems to be playing up at the moment, but it's worth checking to see if 2 men with the same initials and surname were awarded the DSC

Annie, . . . Edwin is not my man - see my original post. It would appear that there are two E H Dunnings who got the DSC. Edward and Edwin.

Alan

1911 census - household transcription
Person: DUNNING, Edward
Address: 37 Almorah Road Bedminster


DUNNING, Louisa Head Single F 66 1845 Grocer And General Shop Dorset Poole VIEW
DUNNING, Ann Sister In Law Widow F 59 1852 Cornwall St Lois VIEW
DUNNING, Susan Niece Single F 29 1882 Weighing Department Somerset Bristol VIEW
DUNNING, Edward Nephew Single M 24 1887 Seaman Somerset Bristol VIEW
ANGLE, Lily Niece F 14 1897 Just Left School Somerset Bristol VIEW
HAMLIN, James Boarder Single M 59 1852 Private Means Cornwall St Ives VIEW

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RG number:
RG14 Piece:
14893 Reference:
RG14PN14893 RG78PN903 RD319 SD3 ED9 SN252

Registration District:
Bristol Sub District:
Bedminster Enumeration District:
9 Parish:
Bristol

His occupation of 'Seaman' suggests Merchant Service as opposed to Royal Navy....he could, of course, have transferred at the onset of WW1.

When did he die?