Remembering 2nd Lt. Alexander William McHardy—KIA November 10, 1918

Alexander William McHardy was born at McLellan’s Mountain, Pictou County, on June 3, 1894, the oldest of Alexander Campbell and Isabella (Fraser) McHardy’s six children. Billy, as he was known during his childhood years, was raised on a prosperous farm on the outskirts of New Glasgow. According to family sources, he was employed as a teacher in nearby Guysborough County prior to his military service.

2nd Lt. William Alexander "Bill" McHardy

Like many of his generation, as the war progressed, Bill felt it his duty to serve. Unlike many of his peers, however, he chose a different path, enlisting with the fledgling Canadian Aviation Corps in 1917 and completing his cadet training at Fort Worth, Texas. He received his wings on April 18, 1918 and a commission as Second Lieutenant with the Royal Air Force one week later.

As fighting on the ground intensified during the German Spring Offensive (March - April 1918) and subsequent Allied summer counter-offensive, air combat followed suit. Following his overseas arrival, Bill was posted to No. 2 Fighter Squadron on August 7, 1918, and commenced service as a Bristol fighter pilot in northeastern France. One month later, he was transferred to No. 154 Fighter Squadron, but following its dissolution was subsequently re-assigned to No. 20 Fighter Squadron on September 18.

Needless to say, service as a First World War fighter pilot was extremely perilous. On October 6, Bill was officially reported “missing” following a routine mission. His parents in distant Pictou County soon received a telegram, informing them of the situation. Thankfully, several days later, a second cable confirmed that Bill had safely returned to his squadron. According to a later news item in the Eastern Chronicle, Bill explained in a letter to his parents: “While in an air flight his engine went bad and he had to descend at a great distance from his headquarters and the trying cable had been dispatched to the father before he was able to report to his own command.”

The relief at Bill’s safe return was short-lived. On November 10, 1918, Bill departed from Iris Aerodrome, near present-day Clary, France, at mid-morning, in the company of seven other Bristol aircraft. In the observer seat with Bill was 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Rodger, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, who had commenced his service in France barely one month previously. Their mission was to support a group of De Havilland D.H. 9 bombers as they executed a “bombing run” near the city of Charleroi, Belgium.

As the planes made their way toward their target, they encountered a large formation of German Fokker DVII aircraft from Justa 50 Squadron. Approximately 35 miles northeast of Froidchapelle, the aircraft engaged in a “dogfight.” While four of the German Fokkers were destroyed, the RAF lost two Bristol fighters and five De Havillands during the skirmish. According to German records, 2nd Lieutenant Alexander William McHardy’s aircraft fell victim to Lt. Commander Hans von Freden’s Fokker at approximately 11:35 a.m.

Gaston Descartes, a five-year-old resident of Martinsart at the time. later recalled that Bill’s plane crashed in a field approximately one kilometre from his home, becoming  Freden’s 20th and final victory of the First World War. Unverified sources claim that 2nd Lieutenant McHardy and his observer, Lt. Rodger, were the last Royal Air Force crew lost during the First World War.

For more than a week, Bill’s fate remained a mystery. Finally, on November 19, 1918, a military official wrote the following note on his RAF file: “In view of… lapse of time, death has been accepted as having occurred in action on or since 10 - 11 - 18.” Military authorities subsequently located the crash site and recovered the crew’s remains. 2nd Lt. Alexander William McHardy and 2nd Lt. Alexander Rodger were laid to rest in Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension, Tourney, Hainaut, Belgium.