The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-15
English Aviator
in Charleston
Lieut.. William Leroy Broun
Halls. from Wedgefield.
News and Courier.)


CNews and Courier-)
Three years IN war service with the
British and French armies, eighteen
aaonths. at the front, wounded BY
shfanel and machine gun fire, nearly
killed. in a nlidair, collision. and nine
months in hospitals as a result is the
I 4 seaord of-a South Carolina Boy, First
3 : f;iisa1t. William LeRoye Broun, OF Sum
Ter, IS C.
Seven years ago the University OF
South Carolina knew Lieut.. Broun as
an athlete. who. participated in prac-
tie2l,y. every form of athletics played
Sbv the teams. Then he went to the
Chicago Tribune. las staff correspond
ont and from there TO France with
3 the French ambulance corps. May i"
ssIsl5, one week after the Lusitania
was sunk by Germany.
a member. OF. the Harjes unit OF
tic Efeaach ambulance service when II
was hrigaded with the British. Lieut.
3 5sroun was at the battles OF Verdun
al,biel, the Somlne Yp,es. Pas
ssessalldaalc, and many others. 11c rose
from. the ranks and was made an
assistant. section leader with ranf OF
sssaatain in the French army.
On the morning. Of Sept ls. 1916.
sssne..Ment into action in the battle OF
Copfsetiette in the Scnne sector.
sEasef IN the. day he was borne from
stisa ielc with shrapnel and machine
s sss;Jls1wou1ds. A sick leave was granted
him and ne returned TO the United
STATES
TAen came Americas entry into the
svas. Lieut.. @Broun applied for the
American aviation and was accepted
bht Round shat ne could not get over
seas before October, 1911. On the trip
back 20 . america ne had been proyi-
aonaHy accepted BY the British ROYAL
SSlyins Corps: This he now entered.
sIIIIs relates curious experience
which ecok place when he was en-
rolling It was necessary to be q
BHltish snejec TO serve in the royal
ssSfng corps. The sergeant in charge
#of recruiting asked where he was
from. iieut. Bronn replied that nc
was from the co1oniais, in fact from
sffie province OF Carolina which is III
SGfsar ar4est6..' The sergeant smiled but
accepted the application. Later on the
sossAea gfavely asked the South Caro-
nnfan ..if the province Of Carolina
Was gotten by conquest or by annex
alton ?''
Mr.. Broan completed his aviation
training in Canada about July, 19l1,
and received his commission as a
flight lieutenant He was sent to q
sspestern aviation camp in the United
States the following October as an in
ssructor, the royal flying corps hay
ing taken over certain American
fields.
ssss.At this camp Lieut.. Broun was
In Capt. Vernon Castles squadron. On
the 7th of February, shortly after
Castles fatal fall, Lieut.. Broun
Was sinstructins a cadet AZ an altitude
s6ff 900 feet There was COLLISION
III which the machine Of the cadet.
tore eff the fef. wing Of the instruct
:oSs machine Two cadets were Killed.
and the lieutenant suffered a double
compound fracture OF the rigat lower
iegs, compound fracture of left arm
fracture at the base Of the skull.
face injuries and an erosion of the
fourth and fifth vertebrae Of the
spine
Since las, February Lieut. Broun
has undergone nine operations and
Will shortly leave for New York for
the tenth. It was found necessary to
anputate his. right leg below the
Knee Ise IS still in the service Of the.
British Royal Tying Corps.
The lieutenant wears. three blue
stripes, the British designations for
yilree years service. He wears the
british wound stripe, Sam Brown
bolt, and full. fatigue uniform of the
royal flying. corps At the present
time he is staying with Mrs. LeRoy
:Hafsey, who SIS a cousin.
when asked how he enjoyed trench
life he replied that it was far from,
pleasant and only one who has had
the experience can realize just what
it means The men went i'll for i've
days Sighting and then got period
or rest For eighteen months tins
:Nax the kind OF service the lieutenant
saw It is interesting TO note that
sW1'en he fell wounded at the battle Of
E.oursen@tte he WAS tho first casuaitE
from the staff OF the Chicago Trib-
une
He spoke of the wonderful work OF
{, the British in the present war The
American troops have had heavy
casualties for The time in the iron,
.Tine,'''. ne said. but in, England every
home practically has lost one or more
members an this war Franco has
suffered likewise II the campaign IN
Galliopli the British had whole div;s-
ions wiped o,:t almost 10 Il man. In
addition the war has been wa&"d by
them in remote SECTIONS OF the wof'G
where the colonial possessions ha,i 10
be protected
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Negroes Win Honors