NORMAN HENRY BAIN 1899-1962
Norman was born on 30 September 1899 in Chiswick, Middlesex. He was an only child. We believe he was educated at a local Blue Coat School.
On 3 October 1917 he enlisted as 3rd Class Air Mechanic with the Royal Flying Corps. He was discharged to a commission on 22 February 1918 and on 23 February 1918 he was granted a temporary commission as 2nd Lieutenant on probation, on the General List of the Royal Flying Corps.
On 1 April 1918 he was transferred to the Royal Air Force.
He graduated as 2nd Lieutenant Flying Officer on 14 June 1918 Aeroplane and Seaplane Officer.
Following his training at Halton Park with 64 Training Squadron he was an RE8 pilot with 12 Squadron British Expeditionary Force.
We know that on active service he was shot down and suffered injuries to both legs. He was lucky enough to be returned to the UK for treatment at a military hospital after which he was discharged to the unemployed list on 27 April 1919.
After WW1, Norman had a varied life. He married a lady from New Zealand and together, in 1927, they emigrated to Canada for a life in farming but he returned to the UK on his own in 1932.
We have little information about what he did on his return from Canada until the late 1940’s when he met and eventually married Mary Kelly (nee McCrindle). Norman was 50 when their daughter, Sheila was born, and 53 when twin sons, John and Richard, were born.
We do know that, for a few years, he worked with his father, William Edgar Bain, who ran a small building company in Lincoln. When the business went into liquidation he took a job in administration for Clayton Dewandre, an engineering firm in Lincoln.
Amongst his hobbies and other pursuits he enjoyed gardening and stamp collecting. He encouraged his children to collect stamps and we still have some albums from those early years.
We remember Norman as a jolly and interesting father and we really wish we had been able to talk to him about his life when we were adults but he died in 1962 when Sheila was 13 and John and Richard were 10.
Thanks to IBCC and The Ribbon of Remembrance, we have the opportunity to mark his contribution to WW1 and to life in general, which is a privilege and is very much appreciated.
Sheila Phillips (nee Bain), John Bain, Richard Bain
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