Sir, – As we commemorate at this time of year the 50,000 Irish who lost their lives in the first World War, it may be timely to mention the somewhat forgotten Maj Mick Mannock VC who was born in Ballincollig, Co Cork and who was killed in action 94 years ago last month.
At the time of his death Mannock was the top scoring British air ace of the first World War, having downed over 60 enemy aircraft in his SE-5a biplane before being shot down himself by ground fire in 1918. His body was never recovered but he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroics. His medals are currently on display in the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon. – Yours, etc,