Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Casualty of the Great War, Wilfred was killed on active service.

The Graves Registration Report Form states that he formerly served with the 10th Australian Field Ambulance and was attached to the RFC. The inscription on his grave states “Late A.I.F.”

He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve)

He was 22 and the son of the late Dr. H. R. Salmon and Alice Jane Salmon, of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

Deaths Sep 1917   Salmon Wilfred G 22 Dartford 2a 560
 

Lt. Wilfred Graham Salmon was killed in action over London during German bombing raid. Our then official war correspondent, C.E.W. Bean wrote an article which appeared in the Adelaide Advertisor in November 1917, concerning the contribution our aviators were making, “Another Australian soldier whose name ought to live in the annals of flying was 2nd-Lieutenant Wilfred Graham Salmon, who as the merest novice went by himself straight into the heart of over twenty huge German planes which raided London last June, and who when hit managed to guide his machine into within a few hundred yards of his aerodrome before the brave effort ended and he crashed.”

Salmon was based at Dartford in Kent with the 63rd Training Squadron and was flying a Sopwith Pup when he made his attack on the German Gotha bombers. He received a fatal head wound which caused him to crash near Joyce Green aerodrome. It was established that he had fired 55 rounds from his own gun. Nine English citizens, who removed his goggles, seat belt and gloves, as well as other items from his aircraft, as souvenirs, were later arrested and charged with looting.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK

Died on this date - 7th July......Lieutenant Wilfred Graham Salmon was born at Ballarat East, Victoria in 1895. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 5th June, 1915 as a Station Manager from Ballarat, Victoria.

Driver Wilfred Graham Salmon embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Wiltshire (A18) on 18th November, 1915 & disembarked at Suez on 15th December, 1915 & proceeded to join M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force). He had contact with Meningitis & was admitted to Hospital at Tel-el Kebir from 16th February & was discharged on 19th February, 1916.

Driver Salmon arrived in France on 19th March, 1916 with the British Expeditionary Force.

Driver Wilfred Graham Salmon was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 8th November, 1916 & joined Royal Flying Corps Training Depot on 9th November, 1916.

Driver Wilfred Graham Salmon was officially discharged from A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force) in London, England on 16th March, 1917 as he had been granted a Commission in the Royal Flying Corps. He had served for 1 year & 248 days with the Australian Imperial Force.
Wilfred Graham Salmon was to be 2nd Lieutenant on Probation from 17th March, 1917.

2nd Lieutenant Wilfred Graham Salmon, of No. 63 Reserve Squadron, was flying a Sopwith Pup A6230 from R.F.C. Joyce Green, on 7th July, 1917 when he engaged in attacking a daylight raid by German Gotha bombers. The 22 Gotha bombers, which arrived over the east coast, formed up over Epping Forest and proceeded to bomb the East End and the City of London. 2nd Lieutenant Wilfred Graham Salmon had apparently been able to fire off 55 rounds before he received a head wound. He attempted to return to Joyce Green Airfield but lost control and crashed. The raid resulted in 57 deaths and 193 injuries on the ground.

Lieutenant Wilfred Graham Salmon was killed in action on 7th July, 1917 near Joyce Green, England from wounds received while attacking the enemy in the air. He is listed in the UK Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919.

Lieutenant Wilfred Graham Salmon was buried in Watling Street Cemetery, Dartford, Kent, England & has a Private Headstone. His death is still acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/dartford.html

AN AUSTRALIAN AVIATOR,
FUNERAL AT DARTFORD.
LONDON, Wednesday. — The funeral of the late William Salmon, of Ballarat, Australia, a member of the Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in last Saturday's raid, took place at  Dartford. The coffin lay in the parish church over night, and hundreds viewed it. The local Council, members of Parliament, and officers attended the funeral. Rev. Ashley Brown, an Australian chaplain, officiated and the Australian Band headed the procession. There were many wreaths, including one from the local Council and residents. Business was suspended during the funeral, and thousands lined the streets.