William Douglas Stock Sanday

Name:

Country:

England

Rank:

Major

Service:

Royal Flying Corps
Royal Air Force

Units:

2, 70, 19

Victories:

Born:

28 May 1883

Place of Birth:

Woolton, Lancashire, England

Died:

Place of Death:

William Douglas Stock Sanday received Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate 1295 on a Maurice Farman biplane at Military School, Brooklands on 2 June 1915. He was awarded the Military Cross following numerous reconnaissance and escort missions flying the B.E.2c with 2 Squadron during the later half of 1915. He was injured in a crash on 9 January 1916. His Distinguished Service Order reflects his work flying the Sopwith 1½ Strutter with 70 Squadron during the summer of 1916. In 1917 he assumed command of 19 Squadron.

Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920

Military Cross (MC)

"Second Lieutenant (temporary Captain) William Douglas Stock Sanday, Royal Flying Corps, Special Reserve.
For conspicuous gallantry and skill near Hulluch on 1st January, 1916.
He went out in a very high wind to observe the fire of a battery, and, owing to the clouds, was forced to fly at a height of between 800 and 900 feet. Although continually subjected to very heavy rifle fire from the German trenches, he enabled our battery to obtain several direct hits."

Supplement to the London Gazette, 22 January 1916 (29447/950)

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

"Capt. William Douglas Stock Sanday, M.C., R.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He has led over 35 patrols with great gallantry. On one occasion a machine of his formation was attacked, but he charged and brought down the enemy machine in flames. He has destroyed at least four enemy machines."

Supplement to the London Gazette, 20 October 1916 (29793/10172)

Opponents

#4	Wilhelm Fahlbusch and Hans Rosencrantz

Victories

	Date	Time	Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	11 Oct 1915	0900	2	B.E.2c ¹	Albatros C (CAP) ³	Noyelles-les-Vermelles
2	06 Aug 1916	1845	70	Sopwith 1½ Strutter ²	Albatros C (FTL) ⁴	Gouzeacourt
3	06 Aug 1916	1845	70	Sopwith 1½ Strutter ²	Albatros C (FTL) ⁴	Gouzeacourt
4	06 Sep 1916	1845	70	Sopwith 1½ Strutter (A3431) ²	Roland C.II (DES) ⁵	Elincourt
5	13 Jul 1917	1338-1515	19	SPAD VII (B1563)	C (DES)	Lille

1	Observer 2Lt Ellison
2	Shared Observer Lt Busk
3	Shared Shared with Capt Barrat & Lt Cleaver, Lt Clark & Lt Stammers
4	Shared with Lt Mase & ?, 2Lt E W Blain & 2Lt Griffiths
5	Shared with Lt Bernard Beanlands & Lt Goode, Lt Selby & Lt Thomas (A394)