Alfred Shepherd

On 25 April 1917, Shepherd was posted to No. 29 Squadron RFC as a Nieuport fighter pilot.^[4] Operating from Le Hameau, the squadron had only re-equipped with Nieuports in March.^[8] In little more than two months Shepherd claimed ten aerial victories, starting with an Albatros D.III on 11 May, and was awarded the Military Cross (MC).^[9][10] The citation for his MC, promulgated in The London Gazette on 16 August 1917, read:^[11]

2nd Lt. Alfred Seymour Shepherd, R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While on balloon attack he came under heavy fire from a rocket battery. He attacked this battery from a low altitude, silencing it, and dispersing the gunners. He then returned to the attack on a balloon, and fired all his ammunition, and though his machine was badly hit, crossed the line at 100 feet.^[11]

Shepherd was promoted to captain and appointed a flight commander on 13 July 1917.^[4] One week later, having just been awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), he was shot down and killed in action near Zonnebeke, Belgium, by German ace Alfred Niederhoff, of Jasta 11.^[10] Shepherd's ten victories included four aircraft destroyed and six out of control.^[9] He is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial at the Pas de Calais, France, and in the Commemorative Roll at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.^[12] The citation for his DSO, gazetted on 17 September 1917, read:^[13]

2nd Lt. Alfred Seymour Shepherd, M.C., R.F.C., Spec. Res. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions when engaged in combat with hostile aircraft. Though surrounded by enemy machines, he continued to fight for nearly an hour with the utmost gallantry and determination against two hostile formations, finally bringing down one of the enemy out of control. Within a month he brought down seven hostile machines completely out of control.^[13]

Shepherd scored all of his victories flying the Nieuport 23.

• Australian Military Forces (1914–1920). "Shepherd, Alfred Seymour". National Archives of Australia.
• Cutlack, F.M. (1941) [1923]. The Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern Theatres of War, 1914–1918. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. VIII (11th ed.). Sydney: Angus & Robertson. OCLC 220900299.
• Franks, Norman (2000). Nieuport Aces of World War 1. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-961-1.
• Garrisson, A.D. (1999). Australian Fighter Aces 1914–1953. Fairbairn, Australian Capital Territory: Air Power Studies Centre. ISBN 0-642-26540-2.
• Newton, Dennis (1996). Australian Air Aces: Australian Fighter Pilots in Combat. Fyshwyck, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications. ISBN 978-1-875671-25-0.
• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.