Charles D. B. Green
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Charles Duncan Bremner Green was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace
credited with 11 aerial victories. Postwar, he went on to success in business until World War II. After rejoining military life, he again served until his untimely accidental death.
, with whom he enlisted. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
, and was rated as a Flying Officer
while still a lieutenant
, on 22 December 1917.
He was stationed in Salonika, Greece with B Flight of 47 Squadron as a pilot of Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as. On 13 April 1918, he and fellow Canadian Gerald Gordon Bell
destroyed an enemy Albatros D.III
.
When 47 Squadron's fighter flights were incorporated into forming the newly 150 Squadron, Green went with them. On 6 May, he began a string of ten triumphs with his new squadron by driving down a DFW
reconnaissance foe. He would accrue victories one or two at a time until 18 July 1918. By then, he had destroyed six enemy planes, including the one shared with Bell and another shared with Acheson Goulding
. He had also driven down five other opponents out of control.
After his return to Toronto, he married Marion Wilton Baillie, age 22, on 9 June 1923. They would have three children: Bremner, Donald, and Elizabeth. He began work as a broker
for Amelius Jarvis and Company, and would continue with this company until 1939.
. He served near his home at Camp Borden as an instructor, with the rank of Squadron Leader
. His service in this post saw him rewarded with the General Service Medal
and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
.
In the autumn of 1941, he had to go to hospital for treatment of an old wound. While being treated, he toppled off the hospital's balcony to his death on 3 October 1941. He died without a will, and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with 11 aerial victories. Postwar, he went on to success in business until World War II. After rejoining military life, he again served until his untimely accidental death.
Early life
Charles Duncan Bremner Green was the son of Charles and Annie Henderson Green. He was born at sea while his parents were en route to Australia.World War I
Green began his military service with the 164th (Halton and Dufferin) Battalion, CEF164th (Halton and Dufferin) Battalion, CEF
The 164th Battalion, CEF 3rd Battalion The Lorne Rifles was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. Based in Orangeville, Ontario, the unit began recruiting in late 1915 in Halton and Dufferin Counties....
, with whom he enlisted. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
, and was rated as a Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
while still a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, on 22 December 1917.
He was stationed in Salonika, Greece with B Flight of 47 Squadron as a pilot of Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5as. On 13 April 1918, he and fellow Canadian Gerald Gordon Bell
Gerald Gordon Bell
Gerald Gordon Bell DFC was a Canadian First World War flying ace, officially credited with 16 victories.During 1917 Bell flew as an observer/gunner with No. 22 Squadron, claiming 3 victories. After training as a pilot, Bell was sent to Greece to fly scouts with 47 Squadron and 150 Sqn.-List of...
destroyed an enemy Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
.
When 47 Squadron's fighter flights were incorporated into forming the newly 150 Squadron, Green went with them. On 6 May, he began a string of ten triumphs with his new squadron by driving down a DFW
DFW
DFW may refer to:*Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport*Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a metropolitan area in north Texas*Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources*Division of Fisheries and Wildlife...
reconnaissance foe. He would accrue victories one or two at a time until 18 July 1918. By then, he had destroyed six enemy planes, including the one shared with Bell and another shared with Acheson Goulding
Acheson Goulding
Captain Acheson Gosford Goulding was a Canadian-born World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. After infantry service, he transferred to aviation and served in Asia Minor and the Balkans. After winning the Military Cross for courage, he returned to civilian life...
. He had also driven down five other opponents out of control.
Post World War I
Green was finally awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross on 1 January 1919.After his return to Toronto, he married Marion Wilton Baillie, age 22, on 9 June 1923. They would have three children: Bremner, Donald, and Elizabeth. He began work as a broker
Broker
A broker is a party that arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller, and gets a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal...
for Amelius Jarvis and Company, and would continue with this company until 1939.
World War II
Although he was married with three children when World War II broke out, he re-enlisted, this time in the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
. He served near his home at Camp Borden as an instructor, with the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
. His service in this post saw him rewarded with the General Service Medal
General Service Medal
The General Service Medal can refer to any one of the following medals:* General Service Medal * General Service Medal * General Service Medal * General Service Medal * New Zealand General Service Medal 1992...
and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and have honourably completed eighteen months total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947.On June 6, 2003, eligibility...
.
In the autumn of 1941, he had to go to hospital for treatment of an old wound. While being treated, he toppled off the hospital's balcony to his death on 3 October 1941. He died without a will, and was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.