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Oliver Campbell Bryson was the second son of George
Alexander Bryson, a hardware merchant from Birmingham, and his wife Edith
Frances (Unite), who was the daughter of a silversmith.
Bryson was educated at
Lickey Hills Preparatory School
and Uppingham School before
attending Trinity College, Cambridge.
When the war began, Bryson joined the Dorset Yeomanry (Queen's Own),
receiving a commission in April 1915. He was wounded in the cavalry charge against Turkish and Senussi forces in the Egyptian Western Desert at
Agagia on 26 February 1916. After recovering from his wounds, he
transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and began training in November
1916.
2nd Lieutenant Bryson received Royal Aero Club Aviator's
Certificate 4284 on 26 December 1916 and was posted to 51 Reserve
Squadron at Wye aerodrome. Whilst flying with a passenger on 15 March
1917, Bryson's Avro 504A (A417) sideslipped and crashed. Having escaped
the burning wreckage, he returned to pull 2nd Lieutenant
Frederick Edmund Hillebrandt from the flames. For his actions that day,
Bryson was awarded the Albert Medal* for lifesaving. A week after the
crash, Hillebrandt died from his injuries on 22 March 1917.
In the
summer of 1917, Bryson was posted to 19 Squadron in France. With this
unit, he scored 12 victories and earned the Military Cross. For service in
Russia in 1919, he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.
Post-war, Bryson served on the North West Frontier of India
as commander of 5 Squadron in 1930 and
was awarded a Bar to his DFC in 1931. He served as commanding officer of
214 Squadron in 1937, and after his promotion to Group Captain, he was
appointed Station Commander of
RAF Scampton in 1939. He
retired from the Royal Air Force
in 1946.
* Awarding the Albert Medal was discontinued in 1971. Living
recipients were invited to exchange their medals for the George Cross.
Of 64 eligible recipients, 49 made the exchange.
See
WO 374/10426
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Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Oliver Campbell Bryson with his American wife, Mildred
Cecile (Allen) |
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| Albert Medal (AM) |
The KING was pleased, at Buckingham
Palace, on Wednesday, the 9th instant, to present
to Captain Oliver Campbell Bryson, Flight
Commander, Royal Flying Corps, the Albert
Medal, which was awarded by His Majesty in
recognition of his gallantry in endeavouring to
save life in March last. The circumstances
are as follows: —
On the 15th March, 1917, Captain (then
Lieutenant, Bryson, with Second Lieutenant
Hillebrandt as passenger, was piloting an aeroplane
at Wye Aerodrome when, owing to a
sideslip, the machine crashed to the ground and
burst into flames. On disentangling himself
from the burning wreckage Captain Bryson at
once went back into the flames, dragged Lieutenant Hillebrandt from the machine, and,
notwithstanding his own injuries, which were
undoubtedly aggravated by his gallant efforts
to rescue his brother officer from the fire, endeavoured to extinguish the fire on Lieutenant
Hillebrandt's clothing.
Lieutenant Hillebrandt succumbed to his
injuries a few days later. |
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| Military Cross (MC) |
Lt. (T./Capt.) Oliver Campbell Bryson,
Yeo. and R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He made several difficult fligihts in most unfavourable weather, and destroyed several hostile machines. He proved himself a determined and undaunted leader, and set a splendid example of courage on all occasions.
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
Flight Lieutenant Oliver Campbell Bryson, M.C., A.M. (Dor. Yeo.).
Has commanded a Squadron of heavy bombing machines in North Russia during the whole of the summer of 1919, during which period he carried out a large number of successful raids on the enemy's territory.
During the operations on the Dwina in August, and on the Pinega in September, 1919, he flew a Snipe machine with exceptional skill and daring. A very gallant officer he has proved himself during these exceptionally difficult aerial operations.
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
25 Aug 1917 |
1835 |
19 |
SPAD (B3569) |
C (OOC) |
NW of Houthoulst Wood |
| 2 |
25 Sep 1917 |
1815 |
19 |
SPAD (B3646) |
Albatros D.III (DES) |
SE of Houthem |
| 3 |
24 Oct 1917 |
0850 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
Albatros D.III (OOC) |
NNE of Menin |
| 4 |
31 Oct 1917 |
0950 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
S of Westroosebeke |
| 5 |
12 Nov 1917 |
1020 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
E of Gheluwe |
| 6 |
29 Nov 1917 |
1245 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) 1 |
E of Becelaere |
| 7 |
06 Dec 1917 |
1542 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
C (OOC) 2 |
E of Roulers |
| 8 |
08 Dec 1917 |
1335 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
Rumpler C (OOC) 3 |
Tenbrielen-Wervicq |
| 9 |
18 Dec 1917 |
1035 |
19 |
SPAD (A6802) |
C (OOC) 4 |
Comines |
| 10 |
19 Dec 1917 |
1130 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
C (DES) 4 |
W of Passchendaele |
| 11 |
22 Dec 1917 |
1420 |
19 |
SPAD (A6780) |
Albatros D.III (DESF) 5 |
S of Quesnoy |
| 12 |
08 Mar 1918 |
1110 |
19 |
Sopwith Dolphin (C3837) |
Albatros D.V (DES) |
Gheluvelt |
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| 1 |
Shared with Lt Norman William Hustings (B1660), Capt G W Taylor (B6805) |
| 2 |
Shared with Lt Arthur Fairclough (B6836), Lt R G Holt (B6802), Lt Eric Olivier (A6714) |
| 3 |
Shared with Lt Arthur Fairclough (B3528), Capt G W Taylor (B6805) |
| 4 |
Shared with Lt Arthur Fairclough (B3528) |
| 5 |
Shared with Lt E J Blyth (B3563), Lt Eric Olivier (A6714), Lt Arthur Fairclough (B6802), Capt G W Taylor (B6805), Maj Albert Carter (A8836), Lt H E Galer (A8834) |
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