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Age 34

SA Mounted Rifles

Capt “Lawrie” van der Byl was born in Newlands Cape Town.

Educated in England and in SA studying as a mining engineer.

Enlisted in the Union Defence Force and then left for England and enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1916 as an observer.

1917 Trained as a pilot and served operationally with 49 Squadron flying de Havilland DH4’s and then 65 Squadron on Sopwith Camels and returned with 2 known aerial victories.

At the end of the war he was briefly attached to the RAF in North Russia 1919.

Returned to SA and served as the 5th member of the newly established Aero Club of South Africa, which played a large part in the establishment of an independant Air Force and was one of the first 10 officers to be appointed in February 1922.

He was killed when the starboard wing of Avro 504K number H9699 suffered structural failure whilst

performing aerobatics over the farm owned by his cousin Henry van der Byl at Irene, near Pretoria. The accident was tragically witnessed by his recent widowed mother.

He was 29 years of age.

The Memorial Commemorating Service was well attended by dignitaries from the SA Air Force.

Maj Genl MB Songqushwa

Brig Genl Glen Gibson

Brig Genl Hilton Smith

Brig Genl Carl Moatshe

Chaplain Willy Ndala

A tribute was done by Adrian van der Byl with reading of a poen by his sister Julia Davies. (Grandchildren)

Presentation of the cross by CDAPP

Fly-past was done to signify the end of the two-minutes silence.

Wreath was laid by SAMVO by Veteran Dr. Charl Schmahl SAMVO Chairman Tshwane