Sir Alexander Bannerman, 11th Baronet

Sir Alexander Bannerman
Born 16 December 1871
Brackley, Northamptonshire, England
Died 10 March 1934 (aged 62)
George, Cape Province, South Africa
Allegiance United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Major
Battles/wars Second Boer War

Major Sir Alexander Bannerman, 11th Baronet (16 December 1871 – 10 March 1934)[1] was a pioneer British military aviator.

Bannerman was born in Brackley in Northamptonshire and educated at Wellington College. He succeeded to the title of 11th Baronet Bannerman, of Elsick in Kincardineshire, on the death of his father the 10th Baronet on 2 December 1901.[2]

Bannerman served in the Royal Engineers, seeing active service in the Second Boer War, and was mentioned in Lord Roberts' despatches. He was promoted to captain on 26 October 1900.[3]

After the war he returned to England only to depart again in 1903 on a special mission to Japan on behalf of the War Office.[4] At the start of 1908 Bannerman was sent to the War Office to work as a general staff officer (third class).[5]

In October 1910, Bannerman left the War Office[6] in order to replace Colonel John Capper as the officer commanding the British Army's School of Ballooning.[7][8] In April 1911, when the School of Ballooning was reorganized to become the Air Battalion, Bannerman served as its commandant. Just before the Air Battalion became the Royal Flying Corps, Bannerman took flying lessons in order to gain his Royal Aero Club certificate.[9] He retired from Royal Engineers and Royal Flying Corps service on 28 August 1912.[10][11]

He died on 10 March 1934 at the age of 62 in George in the Cape Province, South Africa.[12]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.leighrayment.com/baronetage/baronetsB1.htm
  2. ↑ Surname B at www.angloboerwar.com
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27467. p. 5465. 22 August 1902. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Surname B at www.angloboerwar.com
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28097. p. 139. 7 January 1908. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28426. p. 7436. 21 October 1910. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  7. ↑ Turner, Charles Cyril (1972) [1927]. "XXII". The Old Flying Days. Ayer Publishing. p. 294. ISBN 0-405-03783-X.
  8. ↑ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1910/1910%20-%200826.html
  9. ↑ Raleigh, Sir Walter Alexander; Jones, Henry Albert (1922). The war in the air; being the story of the part played in the Great War by the Royal Air Force. Oxford Clarendon Press. p. 188.
  10. ↑ http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1912/1912%20-%200822.html
  11. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28639. p. 6374. 27 August 1912. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  12. ↑ Air force | air ministry | air arm | 1934 | 0261 | Flight Archive at www.flightglobal.com
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir John Capper		 Commander of the Balloon School
1910–1911 		Succeeded by
Himself
As Commandant of the Air Battalion
Preceded by
Himself
As Commander of the Balloon School		 Commandant of the Air Battalion
1911–1912 		Succeeded by
Sir Frederick Sykes
As Officer Commanding the
Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps
Baronetage of Nova Scotia
Preceded by
George Bannerman		 Baronet
(of Elsick)
1871–1934 		Succeeded by
Arthur Bannerman