SETTLE Reginald William. 2nd Lieutenant, 15th squadron, Royal Flying Corps, killed in action at Hebuterne, Somme, France on the 23rd July 1916 aged 24 Son of Joel & Margaret Caroline of The Hill, Alsager, Cheshire.
Commemorated on a family memorial at Christ Church churchyard, Alsager, Cheshire, and is buried at Beauval Communal Cemetery, Somme, France.
There are two document left of his army record. He enlisted 8th December 1914 aged 23. He was living at The Hill, Alsager, Cheshire. He was by occupation a motor driver. He was posted as Driver 020578, Army Service Corps and was sent to the M.T. Depot, Army Service Corps at Grove Park. He went up through the ranks and on the 21st June 1916 as Sergeant he was appointed a temporary commission on the General List attached to the Royal Flying Corps. Authority, Adjutant General, G H Q, 3rd Echelon.
Extract from Flightglobal/Archive -
Second Lieutenant REGINALD WILLIAM SETTLE, R.F.C., who was killed on July 23rd while flying over the German lines, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Settle, The Hill, Alsager. He was educated at Elleray Park, Wallasey, and Radley College, Oxford. Mr. Joel Settle, who is the managing director of the firm of Messrs. Settle and Speakman, colliery agents and factors, is well known in commercial circles in Birmingham and the Midlands. Second Lieutenant Settle, who was 25 years of age, joined the Motor Transport Section as a private in November, 1914. He was engaged in driving the motor car of Sir William Robertson when he was Quartermaster-General, and afterwards when he was Chief of the Staff. On General Robertson's return to England, Second Lieutenant Settle, who had been promoted to sergeant, was given charge of the motor cars of General Sir Douglas Haig a t his headquarters. He obtained a commission in the R.F.C. in June.
