LEST WE FORGET
Lieutenant Alexander FINNIE
Service No: 20
Born: Botany NSW, June 1893
Enlisted in the Army: 21 August 1914
Unit: No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
Died: Air Operations, France, 22 May 1918, Aged 25 Years
Buried: Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord Pas de Calais, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Alexander James and Ida Finnie, of 43 Botany Road, Botany, New South Wales, Australia
Place of Association: Botany NSW
Remembered: Panel 188, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Botany (Booralee Park) War Memorial, Botany NSW
On 22 May 1918 balloons brought two of Malley’s (1) noon patrol to grief near Neuf Berquin. Lieutenants Nowland (2) and A. Finnie (3), two accomplished airmen, dived at one balloon together, collided in the air, and both crashed and were killed.
(1) Squadron Leader Garnet Francis Malley MC AFC 5883; Born Mosman NSW 2 November 1983
(2) Sopwith Camel aircraft D1924
(3) Sopwith Camel aircraft D1909
Extract from Cutlack, F.M. (Frederic Morley) The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War 1914-8, Angus and Robertson Ltd Sydney, 1941 – Page 285
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record B2455, FINNIE A
National Archives UK RAF Casualty Book AIR 1/969 page 306, 93435
Register of War Memorials in New South Wales On-Line
Bibliography:
Richards, E.J. (Edward John) Australian Airmen: History of the 4th Squadron, publisher unknown, c1919