{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox military person | name = Edwin Stuart Travis Cole | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1895|12|26|df=yes}} | death_date = {{Death year and age|1984|1895}} | burial_label = | burial_place = | birth_place = [[Bristol]], England | death_place = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = | branch = British Army<br/>[[Royal Air Force]] | service_years = 1916–1918<br/>1939–1954 | rank = [[Squadron Leader]] | unit = [[No. 60 Squadron RAF|No. 60 Squadron RFC]]<br/>[[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron RFC]] | commands = | battles = | awards = [[Military Cross]] | relations = | other_work = Served during Second World War. }}
[[Squadron Leader]] '''Edwin Stuart Travis Cole''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MC}} (26 December 1895 – 1984) was a British World War I [[flying ace]] credited with eight aerial victories.<ref name="theaerodrome.com">{{cite web |url= http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/cole2.php |title=Edwin Stuart Travis Cole |work=The Aerodrome |year=2014 |accessdate=20 October 2014}}</ref> He returned to military service in 1939 for the Second World War.
==Early life==
Edwin Stuart Travis Cole was born in [[Bristol]], England on 26 December 1895, to Ruben and Jessie Cole. He became a [[mechanical engineer]].<ref name="theaerodrome.com"/>
==World War I service== {{See also|Aerial victory standards of World War I}} Cole was awarded Aviator's Certificate No. 2160 on [[Caudron]] biplanes at the Ruffy-Baumann School at [[Hendon Aerodrome|Hendon]].<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1915/1915%20-%201053.html |title=Aviator's Certificates |issue=865 |volume=VII |page=1017 |journal=[[Flight International|Flight]] |date=24 December 1915 |accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1915_Aviators_Certificates_-_UK |title=1915 Aviators Certificates |work=Graces Guide |year=2014 |accessdate=20 October 2014}}</ref> He was commissioned as a probationary second lieutenant in the [[Royal Flying Corps]] on 29 April 1916,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29575 |date=9 May 1916 |page=4649 |supp=y }}</ref> was appointed a flying officer on 21 July,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29710 |date=17 August 1916 |page=8110 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}</ref> and was confirmed in his rank in August.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29707 |date=11 August 1916 |page=8008 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}</ref> On 15 September 1916, having been assigned to [[No. 60 Squadron RAF|No. 60 Squadron RFC]] to fly a [[Nieuport]] fighter, he scored his first victory.<ref name="theaerodrome.com"/><ref name="Nieuport Aces of World War 1">Franks (2000), p. 10.</ref>
Reassigned to [[No. 1 Squadron RAF|No. 1 Squadron RFC]], he once again flew a Nieuport. He triumphed twice in March 1917, and four times during [[Bloody April]], including two observation balloons. On 1 May 1917, he and fellow ace Frank Sharpe captured a German [[Albatros D.III]] fighter at [[Roulers]]-[[Elverdinghe]],<ref name="theaerodrome.com"/> receiving promotion to lieutenant the same day.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30112 |date=1 June 1917 |page=5502 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}</ref> Following this, Cole was withdrawn from action.<ref name="Nieuport Aces of World War 1"/>
On 6 July 1918 he was promoted to the temporary rank of captain.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30793 |date=12 July 1918 |page=8203 |nolink=yes }}</ref>
==World War II service==
His record lapses until 1939, when he agreed to let a [[Filling station|garage]] in [[Downend, South Gloucestershire|Downend]] be used for a first aid post and air raid shelter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo==%27DA39/1/6/5/10%27) |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223161003/http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo=='DA39/1/6/5/10') |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 December 2012 |title=Tenancy agreement DA39/154/10 (1939) |work=Gloucestershire Archives: Online Catalogue |year=2014 |accessdate=20 October 2014 }}</ref> On 21 March 1939, he was commissioned as a [[pilot officer]] on probation in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34611 |date=21 March 1939 |page=2099 |nolink=yes }}</ref> On 31 August 1939, he was confirmed as a pilot officer and promoted to [[flying officer]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34721 |date=31 October 1939 |page=7276 |nolink=yes }}</ref>
Apparently unfit for flight duty, on 27 May 1940 he was transferred to General Duties.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34870 |date=11 June 1940 |page=3523 |nolink=yes }}</ref> On 27 May 1941, he was promoted to [[flight lieutenant]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35176 |date=30 May 1941 |page=3103 |nolink=yes }}</ref> On 1 July 1944, he was once again promoted, this time to temporary [[squadron leader]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36618 |date=21 July 1944 |page=3400 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}</ref>
==Post World War II== On 10 February 1954, Cole relinquished his reserve commission, with permission to retain the rank of squadron leader.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40180 |date=25 May 1954 |page=3064 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}</ref>
Edwin Stuart Travis Cole died in 1984 in [[Wiltshire]], England.<ref name="theaerodrome.com"/>
==Honours and awards== ;Military Cross : 2nd Lt. Edwin Stewart Travis Cole, Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve) : For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On one occasion he, in a scout, attacked and brought down an enemy two-seater biplane. He has brought down two hostile balloons. He has at all times set a splendid example of courage and initiative.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30135 |date=18 June 1917 |page=5987 |supp=y |nolink=yes }}</ref>
==References== ;Notes {{reflist}} ;Bibliography * {{cite book |first=Norman |last=Franks |authorlink=Norman Franks |title=Nieuport Aces of World War I |location=London, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2000 |isbn=978-1-85532-961-4 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Edwin}} [[Category:1895 births]] [[Category:1984 deaths]] [[Category:Military personnel from Bristol]] [[Category:Royal Flying Corps officers]] [[Category:British World War I flying aces]] [[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]] [[Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II]] [[Category:British Army personnel of World War I]] [[Category:Royal Air Force squadron leaders]]