Keeping the pilots in the air

On the 1^st August 1917, Maurice Edwin Bush (my 1^st Cousin 3 times removed) aged 25, was promoted from 2^nd Air Mechanic to 1^st Air Mechanic in the Royal Navy Air Service. He was still serving with 85 Squadron, who he had been with since enlisting in 1915. The squadron was based in England and in 1917 was mainly concerned with training pilots. The training itself was perilous and life expectancy once reaching the front was very short. Maurice's job was to keep the aircraft flying.

Maurice was born on the 21^st March 1892 in Paddington, Middlesex. He was the son of Alfred and Caroline Bush (nee Searle) and had 3 older sisters Ethel (born in 1880), Mabel (born in 1883) and Daisy (born in 1885). 

In 1911 the family were living at 119a Allfarthing Lane, Wandsworth. Maurice was employed as a clerk with the Bombay Gas Company, Mabel and Daisy were both working as shop assistants. Maurice’s father Alfred was a Jewellers assistant.

His oldest sister Ethel had married Alfred Fox in 1907 in Wandsworth, Surrey and in 1911 were living in Kingswood Road, Clapham Park. Ethel had recently given birth to her second daughter – Rosie Ethel Fox. Her eldest daughter Hilda had been born in 1912.

Maurice had four cousins Alfred Charles Morris Bush had been killed in Gallipoli in 1915 whilst serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps, Frederick Charles Bush serving in the Royal Navy had just returned to training at Pembroke II after serving on a harbour defence trawler in the Humber. William Alfred Bush was still in France serving with the Royal Army Corps after recently being promoted to Corporal. Charles Henry Bush also a corporal was based at New End Military Hospital in Hampsted.