Eugene Gerrard

Who was Eugene Gerrard?

Air Commodore Eugene Louis Gerrard CMG, DSO, RAF was an officer in the Royal Marines and Royal Air Force.

Gerrard was commissioned into the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1900 and served on HMS Hermione, HMS Defiance, HMS Spartiate, HMS Dido, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Vindictive.

In 1911, Gerrard was one of the first four officers chosen by the Admiralty for flying training conducted under the auspices of the Royal Aero Club - he was awarded certificate #76. Gerrard then served as a squadron commander in the newly formed Royal Flying Corps and was posted as a flight commander to the Central Flying School. Whilst at the Central Flying School, Gerrard set two records for flying at high altitude with passengers. On the first occasion, he flew to 10,000 feet with Major Hugh Trenchard. Later, Gerrard flew to 8,400 feet with two passengers.

Following the outbreak of World War I, Gerrard took up command of No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service. One of his first acts was to attack the Düsseldorf Airship Sheds in a B.E.2a. Later in the War, Gerrard was appointed as the commander of an RNAS wing in the eastern Mediterranean where he gained the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership.