Second Lieutenant Abraham (or Alexander) Erwin
Abraham Erwin was born on 5 May 1893 at Seapatrick Village, Banbridge, County Down, the second of ten children of carpenter Hugh Erwin and his wife Mary (nee Taylor). His father also had a child from a previous marriage. Between 1893 and 1896 the family moved to Belfast, living at 11 Syringa Street for many years. Educated at Duncairn Gardens National School and Belfast's Municipal Technical Institute, by 1911 Erwin was working as an artist and later as a designer and draughtsman.
Erwin enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 22 November 1915 (No.1990 – later Corps of Hussars No.71658), using the name Alexander, rather than Abraham. He embarked for France on 17 January 1917 where he was posted to C Squadron, which was then part of the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment.
In August 1917 orders came that the 2nd NIH would be disbanded and the men transferred to the infantry. Erwin, however, applied for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. He was found medically fit to be a flying officer (though requiring urgent dental treatment), knew morse code, and was qualified as a Hotchkiss gunner, motor mechanic and draughtsman.
On 27 October he was transferred to the RFC's home establishment and posted to the Personnel Supply Park at South Farnborough, pending transfer to a cadet unit. He was issued RFC number 317402.
Erwin was posted to No.5 Officer Cadet Wing at Oxford on 17 November, then No.2 School of Aviation at Uxbridge on 25 May 1918. He was appointed flight cadet on 22 August. On 12 December 1918 he was posted to No.58 Training Depot School at Cranwell, and on 10 January 1919 to No.9 Training Depot School at Shawbury.
Erwin was granted the rank of honorary 2nd lieutenant on 4 February 1919, and transferred to the RAF's Class G Reserve on 6 March that year.
After the war, Erwin worked as a graphic designer for David Allen and Sons. He married Olive Jane McCabe on 6 August 1920, living at 232 Donegall Avenue, Belfast. He died in Belfast on 28 July 1976.