Captain Herbert Drewitt

The son of a compositor, Herbert Drewitt was born in Christchurch on 25 March 1895 and educated at Waitaki Boys’ High School. Having enrolled at the New Zealand Flying School in March 1916 he eventually passed his flight tests in December and sailed for the United Kingdom in January 1917.

Following a further period of flying instruction with the RFC, 2nd Lieutenant Drewitt was posted to France in September and joined 23 Squadron. This unit was equipped with Spad Scouts, an aircraft not widely used by the RFC but one well-liked by those who flew it in combat. 
 
Drewitt quickly showed that he possessed the necessary attributes of skill and aggression to be a successful fighter pilot. By the end of October he had distinguished himself in a number of combats and scored two victories, one of them a two-seater destroyed on the 17th. As 23 Squadron was under the control of the Fifth Army, BEF, his performance on that day came to the notice of the Fifth Army Commander, General Gough, who passed on his personal congratulations. 
 
Throughout the remainder of the year combats continued to come regularly for Drewitt, but the New Zealander’s next victory was not recorded until January 1918. By this time he had become a Captain and Flight Commander, the promotion having taken effect on 28 December 1917. 
 
March, his most fruitful month, saw four victories added to his score in less than a week. A two-seater encountered by Drewitt on the 16th met a particularly terrible end as described in his Combat Report - "I dived on him from the East, firing head on, immediately swinging on to his tail and getting into position about 25 yards from him. I continued to fire into him with both guns, when suddenly the EA burst into flames just behind the cockpit. I had to pull out then to avoid the burning pieces which were flying back." This proved to be Drewitt’s last claim; in early April he left 23 Squadron for Home Establishment, just as the unit began converting to Sopwith Dolphins. His efforts over six months were recognised by the award of the Military Cross, the recommendation by his Wing Commander having this to say about him: "He is a very gallant Officer, and combines a fine fighting spirit with good leadership." Later in 1918 he returned to France, this time for service with the Dolphin-equipped 79 Squadron. How he fared on his second spell of operations is not entirely clear, but it is believed that no further victories were scored. This gives Drewitt a final total of seven (one shared), although some publications have suggested that it may have been as high as twelve. 
 
Details which give an accurate picture of Drewitt’s post-war progress as a pilot are lacking, but in June 1919 he was awarded the Air Force Cross, indicating possible recent involvement with instructional work. On 21 October 1919 he was transferred to the Unemployed List of the RAF. 
 
Returning to New Zealand, Drewitt farmed until 1925; then he once again sailed for the United Kingdom. From that point it is known only that he died in England on 4 January 1927 from an illness said to have been contracted during his war service. This early death in such circumstances was nothing less than deplorable.