SECOND LIEUTENANT ROBERT STANNARD HERBERT
ROYAL AIR FORCE
8TH OCTOBER 1918 AGE 19
BURIED: DUNKIRK TOWN CEMETERY, FRANCE
FLIGHT October 24 1918
"Lieutenant Robert Stannard Herbert, RAF, who died abroad on October 8th shortly after a collision in the air, was 19 years of age, and son of Mr and Mrs Leonard Herbert, of Argyll Mansions, W14. He was educated at Bedford School, had only just joined his squadron, and had been offered an instructorship in England, but made special application for active service abroad."
Lieutenant Herbert left school in December 1916. After qualifying as a pilot he went to France to serve with 108 Squadron. The squadron was based in Dunkirk and flying DH9s on daylight bombing raids. Herbert was killed whilst practicing formation flying; his plane collided in mid-air with another machine and he and his observer were both killed.
Herbert's father chose his inscription, a very masculine tribute from a father to a son but one of total admiration and approval.