MANUEL , Roby Lewis
| Service Numbers: | 1681, 251946 |
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| Enlisted: | 5 April 1916, Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps |
| Born: | Kerang, Victoria, Australia, 7 October 1895 |
| Home Town: | Brim, Yarriambiack, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | 18 October 1975, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Karoonda Oval Memorial Gates, Kerang Captain Roby Lewis Manuel Memorial, Unley Museum Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Apr 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1681, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Adelaide, SA | |
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| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1681, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1681, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 30 Apr 1917: | Transferred Australian Flying Corps (AFC), 29th Training Squadron, England | |
| 29 Sep 1917: | Transferred Australian Flying Corps (AFC), Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant after graduating as a pilot, England. | |
| 6 Feb 1918: | Transferred No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Promoted to Lieutenant 29 December 1917 and posted to France 6 February 1918. | |
| 2 Jul 1918: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross, AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East, France | |
| 9 Oct 1918: | Honoured Distinguished Flying Cross and bar, AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East, France | |
| 29 Jul 1919: | Discharged No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, Final rank Captain. RTA 6 May 1919. |
World War 2 Service
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Royal Australian Air Force, Flight Lieutenant, 251946 |
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Vietnam War Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Roby Manuel enlisted in the 43rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force on 5 April 1916.
He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps on 30 April 1917. He was posted to No. 2 Squadron AFC in France as a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a pilot on 6 February 1918. He scored his first aerial victory on 2 April 1918, in company with Captain Henry Garnet Forrest; they destroyed a German two-seater reconnaissance machine over Demuin.
Two months later, on 2 June, he destroyed two Pfalz D.III fighter planes, then drove down a third one out of control within the half hour. Ten days later, on 12 June 1918, he became an ace by setting another Pfalz D.III afire north of Bussy. His exploits earned him the award of a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on 2 July 1918.
Manuel was then promoted to captain as he was appointed a Flight Commander. He switched airplanes. He had scored his first five wins in serial number B184; he would use number C1948 for his final seven victories. He began on 22 July 1918, driving down a Pfalz D.III and a Fokker D.VII, both out of control. On the 31st, he drove down an Albatros D.V. The destruction of a Fokker D.VII on an evening patrol on 14 August 1918 brought Manuel's total to nine wins.
On 16 September, Manuel claimed two more Fokker D.VIIs in two separate dogfights. When the second Fokker went down near Droglandt, France, Manuel landed nearby. Unable to aid the German pilot he had wounded, Manuel could only watch him die, then help bury the dead German. For this action he was awarded a Bar to his DFC. British military intelligence later exhumed this German pilot's body to examine the parachute he was wearing.
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Distinguished Flying Cross citation:
'During the past month, whilst on an offensive patrol, his machine was badly damaged in an encounter with an enemy aeroplane, which he brought down out of control. On his return home he saw another enemy machine below him. At great personal risk, owing to the state of his machine, he nevertheless attacked and brought in down. He is a most skilful pilot of great determination.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 191
Date: 12 December 1918
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross citation:
'On many occasions this Officer has led his patrol with exceptional ability and courage, notably on 16th September, when, with a patrol of eleven machines, he engaged fifteen hostile aircraft. By skilful manoeuvre he completely defeated the enemy in a combat that only lasted twenty minutes, at the expiration of which period only four hostile machines remained in the air, and these retired. Six of the enemy machines were seen to fall in a manner that would justify the supposition that they would crash.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23
Date: 12 February 1919
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