Air Mechanic CHARLES PAYNE

Charles Payne was born in Bramshott in 1896.  He was the fifth child of Henry Payne, who, in 1901, was a coachman, and his wife, Ada[i].   By 1911 the family had moved to North Warnborough, where Henry Payne was a publican[ii].  However, at the time of the census Charles and his older brother Ernest were both living in the High Street, boarding with George and Ellen Terry and their family and working in the business.  Charles, aged 14, was an errand boy and Ernest, aged 16, was a bread deliverer[iii].

On 4^th February 1915, at the age of 18, Charles joined the RFC as a Driver (MT), although, to date, we have no information as to where he was based at the start of his career.  However, 72 Sqn, which had been newly formed on 2 July 1917, was initially based at Netheravon before departing some months later on Christmas Day for Mesopotamia.  By March 1918 the whole squadron had regrouped in Basra just before the formation of the RAF on 1 April 1918[iv].   With the transfer of the RFC into the new service came new rank titles.  Charles became Air Mechanic 2^nd Class and received the normal rate of Air Force Pay – 2s. 0d[v].

72 Squadron received battle honours for its role in 1918 in the fight against the Turks and it was here that Charles Payne lost his life on 2^nd October 1918.  He is commemorated at the Tehran War Cemetery, Iran.