Maj. EDWARD PELLEW PLENTY, R.A.F., who died from pneumonia following influenza, at Huntingdon, on November 21st, aged 21, was educated at the Newbury Grammar School and St. Paul's School. On leaving school he enlisted in a Public Schools Battalion in September, 1914, at the age of 17, and receiving a nomination for Sandhurst he entered in November, 1914, and there became senior sergeant of G Company.

On passing out he was gazetted to the Manchester Regt., but having volunteered for flying he was sent at once for instruction, and on gaining his wings joined a squadron in France. In April, 1916, he was made flightcommander, being then 18 years old. He returned to England in May, and helped to train a new squadron then being formed at Huntingdon, with which he went out again to France in October, 1916. After serving a period there he was employed as flying instructor in Norfolk, and went from there to York as brigade examining officer to the Northern Training Brigade.

He was promoted to his majority last May, when he was only 20, and was given a squadron in October. He was twice mentioned in despatches.

DEATH OF AN OFFICER
PROMISING CAREER CUT SHORT
Profound sorrow has been caused by the death of Major Edward Pellew Plenty, R.A.F., only son of Mr. and Mrs. Plenty of Mill House, Wash Hill, Newbury. The sad event occurred at Huntingdon, on Thursday, the cause being pneumonia following influenza.

A brilliant career was cut short almost at the beginning. The deceased officer had already made remarkable progress and had rapidly risen, attaining the rank of Major at the age of 20. He was educated at Newbury Grammar School and St Paul's School. On leaving school he enlisted in the Public Schools Battalion, in September 1914, at the age of 17, and received a nomination for Sandhurst from the General commanding his Battalion, entered in November, 1914, becoming Senior Sergeant of G. Company. On passing out of Sandhurst he was gazetted to the Manchester Regt., but having volunteered for flying, was sent at once for instruction in aviation, and r3eceiving his wings early in September, joined No. 1 Squadron in France. In April 1916 he was made Flight Commander, being only eighteen years old. He returned to England in May, and helped train a new squadron then being formed at Huntingdon, going out with it in October 1916.

After serving his time in France he was employed as flying instructor in Norfolk, and went from there to York as Brigade Examining Officer to the Northern Training Brigade. He was promoted to his majority on May 6th, 1918 and given a Squadron in October. He was twice mentioned in dispatches, Oct 30, 1916 and June 14, 1918. Major Plenty who was 21 at the time of his death, had seen a lot of aerial service, and was a clever and resourceful pilot. It is the more sad that having survived many dangers he should have succumbed to disease within a few days of the conclusion of hostilities.

The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday), the first part of the service being conducted by the Vicar, at St. John's Church. The body was borne by six Officers of the R.A.F., and the coffin was draped with the Union Jack. The workmen of the Eagle Engineering Works attended, also the Newbury Company of Volunteers. The interment was in Newbury Cemetery.

EDWARD PELLEW PLENTY
THE PAULINE

MAJOR EDWARD PELLEW PLENTY (1911-14) R.A.F., died of pneumonia following influenza on November 21, 1918. He was not fourtteen when he entered St.Paul's, coming as a boarder to the High House, and from his first day he had the affectionate regard of all his Housemates. Nothing seemed to disturb his equanimity : goodwill to all was shown by everything he did and everything he said. His code of honour was that of a fine gentleman, and to this code he rendered inflexible obedience : in the severest trial he thought of himself not at all. The writer has not met in a long experience of a sounder, straighter, better boy and man. It was characteristic of him to walk up and down his dormitory on his hands, but never once was he out of bed at "lights out". He undertook to do 20 minutes' French translation each day - he did not like French - for some three months, and learn all the difficult words ; he never missed a lesson, he never missed a word. He was in the 1st XV, and was a fine boxer. Plenty left school to become an engineer, but on the outbreak of war he joined the Public Schools Battalion. Before a week was gone he was made a corporal. He went to Sandhurst in November and became senior sargeant in his company. In April 1915 he joined the Flying Corps and was given his wings in the following September. He immediately went to France, and in April 1916 was made flight commander with the rank of captain. He was then eighteen years old. In September 1917 he became Brigade Examining Officer to the Northern Brigade, and, before his twenty-first birthday, was given his majority. He had already been mentioned twice in dispatches. But his ambition was to go out to France again as squadron commander, and he worried the authorities till he was given the command of one of the special squdrons then being formed to give Germany the final blow. Ten days before Armistice-day he went to France to take stock of the conditions, and on his return was suffering from influenza. But he was so keen on his squadron's efificiency that he went stright to its headquarters and stayed five days on the aerodrome, till in fact he was sent to hospital and stretcher with a temperature of 105 degrees. Six days later he died.

"Something I shall never forget"writes an officer, "and most certainly one of the finest things I have ever seen, was when the Major prevented the honour of one of his stations from sinking dangerously low by giving a wonderful exhiibition on a certain type of machine, which had only a few hours before proved faulty in the air, and caused the death of the pilot. His courage and optimism on this occasion was only what one would expect of him, but from few others." Many other letters bear similar testimony,. testimony too of the trust and affection he inspired in all. In his own letters there is never a word of complaint of man or circumstance : his only thought is to allay the anxiety of those at home : there is little about his own work, much about the work of others. A German pilot drops a note to say two British pilots are safe though wounded : he pays him the tribute that one generous man pays to another. He was a perfect son, a perfect brother, a perfect friend. The country lost much when it lost Edward Pellew Plenty.