Barwon in the Air Part One: Flight Commander H.H. Storrer
Flight Commander H. H. Storrer. Choosing death, he went out like a man …
Henry, known as Harry, was born on 3 September 1888 in Geelong, the eldest of three sons and one daughter to Henry James and Margaret Turnbull (nee Haigh) Storrer. He attended Central College in Geelong and Melbourne University where he qualified as an accountant. He commenced work as a shipping clerk with Dennys Lascelles Pty. Ltd. and was later their accountant and manager of the firm's motor garage.
He joined Barwon Rowing Club in 1905 and rowed successfully in Maiden events from 1913-1915. His younger brother, Charles Murray, also rowed with Barwon and his father was a Vice-President of the club. He was a keen sportsman, over six feet tall and of solid build, being a member of the winning relay team for the Geelong Wool Brokers in 1913. He also played in the Geelong Junior Football Association from 1908 until 1911.
When the First World War commenced Harry had been a serving officer for seven years with the Australian Garrison Artillery based at Queenscliff. Upon the outbreak of war he was appointed bombing instructor at the Geelong Camp. He applied several times for permission to enlist in the A.I.F. for overseas service but was always refused by the A.G.A., due to the importance of his home duties. Then in August 1915, his brother Murray was killed at Gallipoli. Three months later on 16 November 1915, Harry managed somehow to enlist in the A.I.F., in the artillery with the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column. However the authorities in Geelong soon missed him and legend has it that he was removed from the ship shortly before it sailed. But Harry was determined one way or another to serve at the front. In March 1916 he successfully qualified to enter the Central Flying School at Point Cook, Victoria, to train as a pilot and on completion of the course in June he went on to become one of the school's instructors. Late in August Harry took off from Point Cook in a biplane and flew down to Geelong, encircling the city and even perhaps looping the loop over Barwon's shed and waggling his wings down past his home in McKillop Street.
1916 Officers Aviation School Point Cook. H. Storrer far right
On 1 October 1916 Harry enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps, embarking from Melbourne with No. 2 Squadron as O.C Troops on 25 October 1916. He arrived in England on 28 December 1916, and was sent for further training with the R.F.C. in aerial gunnery, wireless and observation. In August 1917 he was promoted to Captain and graded as Flight Commander of 69 Squadron. He arrived in France on 26 August 1917 as part of 3 Squadron, the first Australian Flying Unit to serve on the Western Front.
Three months later the Squadron moved to Flanders; its duties included locating enemy gun emplacements, artillery spotting and bombing patrols in two seater RE8s. Throughout November there was little work for the pilots as bad weather severely restricted their patrols. However, as troops continued to advance, the squadron's work became essential regardless of continual mist and rain. In early December , as the squadron's war diary records, an urgent message for support was received. The tenth stage of the Passchendaele offensive having commenced, the order was given that machines of No. 69 Squadron must be kept on the line to endeavour to locate flashes from the high velocity enemy guns shooting from positions in front of 1 ANZAC on to Passchendaele ridge. The day was not a good flying day, A gusty wind was blowing from the West rendering it necessary to take off over Bailleul town. Captain H.H. Storrer, flight Commander, and Lieut. W.N.E.Scott, Observer, took off in RE8 A3755 at 10.45 a.m. In banking to avoid some trees the machine lost flying speed and crashed on a brick wall on the Western boundary of the aerodrome. Both Pilot and Observer were killed instantly. In spite of the bad visibility and high wind, one successful knockout shoot was completed …and photographs were taken …of special parts of enemy front line required by the infantry.
Henry’s crashed aircraft showing its proximity to the town.
Nine days later his parents were informed of the death of their eldest son and the flags at all the Geelong wool stores and Dennys Lascelles garage were lowered to half mast.
At his memorial service at the Newtown Presbyterian Church held on 16 December, it was said of him: He was known amongst his intimates as "Smiler" because of his sunny disposition. At the store, on the river, at the Guild, as an officer of His Majesty's Forces, in tent life far away from home amongst strangers, as flight commander, he was the clean-living, good-hearted comrade. Living for his duty he did it in splendid and magnificent style. It was natural that such a man should find his place amongst the most intrepid, adventurous and highest type in the war - the airmen. To know him was to love him: he was modest in his achievements, radiant in disposition, pure and noble in character, kind and courteous to all.
Many of Harry's fellow officers later wrote to his parents, one mentioning further details of the accident, in particular that as the wind tossed Harry's plane around, it was in danger of falling on nearby buildings and shops. To avoid this he took a sharp turn, then the wind got underneath the tail of the machine, which crashed down onto a high brick wall at the rear of the houses. Another wrote that Harry's death did not happen in fight or in any way where excitement would help him. The whole affair …was typical of Storrer. That was the opinion voiced throughout the squadron. I am more proud to have known Harry with his manner of dying than if he had gained distinctions in fighting. Fighting in hot blood is easy compared with what Harry did. He knew that he was practically choosing death. The other boys all knew it, but instead of asking someone else to take the risk, as he had a perfect right to do, he preferred to do it himself, and went out like a man.
