Harold Ross Eycott - Martin Captain Harold Ross Eycott - Martin began and ended his military career in the Royal Engineers . While seconded for duty with the Royal Air Force , he would win a Military Cross in the well - known air action in Italy in which Alan Jerrard won his Victoria Cross . Eycott - Martin would end the war as a flying ace credited with eight aerial victories . In the aftermath of the war , he would fall into disgrace . After being declared bankrupt , he would desert the Engineers and be ejected from the army . Early life . Harold Ross Eycott - Martin was born in Haywards Heath , Sussex , England in 1896 . He was the eldest son . His father was a civil servant in Bechuanaland . His mother ' s home residence in England was Lindfield , West Sussex , near Haywards Heath . World War I . Eycott - Martin was commissioned into the Royal Engineers on 26 October 1915 , at the age of 18 or 19 . After seconding to the Royal Flying Corps , he was appointed a Flying Officer on 29 March 1917 . In May 1917 , he was posted to 41 Squadron in northern France . A week after joining the squadron , he crashed a Royal Aircraft Factory FE . 8 during takeoff . On 24 May 1917 , " Flight " Newsletter reported Eycott - Martin had wounded , but no date was given for the wounding . It seems likely he was injured in the takeoff accident . On 1 July 1917 , Eycott - Martin was promoted to lieutenant in his home unit , the Royal Engineers . On 7 February 1918 , he was reassigned to 66 Squadron in Italy . In short order , he won his first two aerial victories . Then , on 30 March 1918 , he and Alan Jerrard were wingmen to Peter Carpenter on the well - known occasion when Jerrard won his Victoria Cross . In that same action , Eycott - Martin was credited with two victories ; on 5 April 1918 , he was subsequently awarded a Military Cross for his role in this combat . Eycott - Martin ' s victory string culminated at eight on 22 June 1918 . On 13 July , he was temporarily promoted to captain ; he almost certainly simultaneously became a Flight Commander , Eycott - Martin ' s MC was finally gazetted on 16 September 1918 . List of aerial victories . See also Aerial victory standards of World War I Post World War I . Eycott - Martin remained in the Royal Air Force postwar , but found a turbulent career . On 17 January 1919 , he reverted from temporary captain back to lieutenant . From 27 January to 30 April , he was re - employed as a temporary captain . On 27 June 1919 , he was once again reduced to lieutenant . On 14 October 1919 , he gave up his commission in the Royal Air Force ; however , he retained his commission in the Engineers . In the midst of this career turmoil , on 10 April 1919 , it was announced that he was engaged to marry Muriel Horner . However , it is unknown if the marriage ever occurred . On 14 May 1920 , Harold Ross Eycott - Martin — mistakenly characterized as still an RAF officer — was reported as residing in Earl ' s Court , London as well as the Maiden Head Hotel in Sussex . This information was contained in a declaration of bankruptcy . On 5 August 1920 Lieutenant Eycott - Martin was removed from the rolls of the Royal Engineers for being absent without leave . He then disappeared into the mists of history .