Born Vernon Erle (or Earl) George Busby. In 1914 he joined the Royal Engineers, and was posted to France with the British Expeditionary Force, where he was wounded at the Battle of Mons. Afterwards he was employed at the air ministry on special flying work, often as a 'service test pilot'. Killed while piloting the prototype Handley Page V/1500 bomber when it crashed.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has expanded upon this person. Vernon Erle George Busby was born on 17 September 1894, in Selly Park, Birmingham, Warwickshire (now West Midlands), the eldest of the five children of George Edmund Busby (1863-1935) and Kate Busby née Mercer (1868-1952). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of the Kings Norton Registration District, Warwickshire.
In the 1901 census he is shown as aged 6 years and a school boy, living at Fairfield, Serpentine Road, Northfields, Worcestershire (now West Midlands), with his parents and two brothers: Eric William Busby (1897-1917) and Noel Winstone Busby (1901-1935), together with a cook and a nurse. His father was listed as a plumber's merchant.
In September 1905 he was admitted into King Edward's High School, New Street, Birmingham and our Image Source gives much information about his life and death.
The 1911 census return form that was completed by his father describes him as aged 16 years and assisting in the family business, living at Fairfields, Serpentine Road, Selly Hill, Northfield, Worcestershire, together with his parents, his four siblings: Eric William Busby; Noel Winstone Busby; Vera Iris Katie Busby (1902-1981) and Joan Mary Busby (1908-1993), together with two female general domestic servants. His father stated he was a builder's merchant.
He died, aged 23 years, on 8 June 1918 whilst piloting a Handley Page V/1500 aeroplane, Serial Number B9462, that crashed shortly after taking off from Cricklewood Aerodrome. His death was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1918 in the Hendon Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London) and his body was buried in Plot A2, Grave 163 in the Lodge Hill Cemetery and Crematorium, Weoley Park Road, Birmingham, B29 5AA.
Administration with a will was granted on 26 September 1918 to his mother and his effects totalled £140-19s-10d. On 19 December 1918 his Royal Air Force effects totalling £253-14s-8d were also sent to his mother. His medal card confirms that he entered France on 10 August 1914 and he was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star with the 5TH AUG.-22ND NOV.1914 Clasp, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as CAPT. VERNON BUSBY, RAF on the tablet that is recessed into the pavement outside 21 Garrick Avenue, London, NW11. He is also commemorated as VERON ERLE GEORGE BUSBY CAPT., R.A.F. on one of the bronze plaques that form a war memorial in the school chapel at King Edward's School now located at Edgbaston Park Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2UD and incorrectly as Captain Vernon Earle George Busby on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and on the A Street Near You website.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
