Steel, Robert Archibald (1900 - 1918)

Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps

Buried at Arras Flying Services Memorial

Commemorated at Bellahouston Academy Roll of Honour

Robert was the son of Mr A. B. Steel, 7 Kingsland Drive, Cardonald, Glasgow. and 54 Gordon Street, Glasgow.

He left school when barely 16 years of age, so that he might play his part.

In spite of his youth he was enrolled in the 7th Scottish Rifles and ten days after joining the 3rd Battalion of that corps he was promoted to Lance Corporal. After training at Ripon he obtained his discharge but a few weeks later he joined the Glasgow Yeomanry and was sent to train at Aldershot. After being transferred to the 5th Dragoon Guards he was sent to the Arras front as a despatch rider and signaller while in his 17th year. Sent back to England to undergo training for his commission he was ultimately gazetted to the Rifle Brigade, from which he volunteered for the Royal Air Force and in due time was sent with the squadron to the Bapaume-Albert Sector, France, early in March 1918. Shortly after, whilst engaged in the daily task of bombing the German infantry in the endeavour of our army to check the big enemy advance, he became detached from his squadron.

Three or four days later his father was informed that he had been posted as missing. Despite all inquiries no definite news of his fate has been obtained. But word from Switzerland has been received that about that date (27th March 1918) a British fighting plane was brought down in flames within the German lines and that no trace had been found of the occupants. What was the fate of this gallant lad can only be assumed. Either he was burned to death or, as happened in many cases, the end was hastened by a leap from a burning plane.