Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant R.H. Keyser, R.F.C., late East Lancashire Regiment, killed in a flying accident, 22 August 1917

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.) nearly extremely fine (2) £100-150

Richard Norman Keyser was born in Smyrna, Asia Minor and was educated at Uppingham School. Leaving Smyrna for England when war broke out, he was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant on Probation with the 3rd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment (London Gazette 16 June 1915); he was confirmed in his rank in September (London Gazette 4 September 1915). Promoted to Lieutenant in July 1916 (London Gazette 20 July 1916). He served with the regiment in France and was later ordered to Salonika on special duty as intelligence officer. On 20 June 1917 he was appointed a Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps (London Gazette 26 July 1917).

Lieutenant Keyser, R.F.C. died in a flying accident on 22 August 1917. He was flying solo, piloting an RE8 aircraft of No. 42 Training Squadron based at Harlow. During the flight the aircraft was seen to lose height then go into a spinning nose dive. He was able to pull out of the dive but his machine stalled as he was attempting to manœuvre to avoid both trees and workers in a field. The aeroplane then crashed. Keyser, fatally injured, died of a fractured skull later the same day. He was buried in Heston Churchyard, Middlesex and his name is recorded in the R.A.F. Book of Remembrance in St, Clement Danes Church in the Strand.

With copied research.