"I am researching my Grandfather Bernard Instone. Does anyone out there know anything about Lt Bernard Instone observer RFC/RAF, summer 1918. He crashed with pilot Lt RJF Wells at Vert Galand aerodrome 02/06/1918 in a 59 Squadron RAF RE8 registraton c2234. Both survived."

Andrew Allen. source

View Bernard Instone's memorial by Andrew Allen.

Gazette Issue 31180 published on the 14 February 1919. Page 12 of 76:
The undermentioned Lts. (O.) to be Lts.: —
B. E. H. Whiteford, M.C. 21st Nov. 1918.
B. S. Andrew. 23rd Nov. 1918.
B. Instone. 29th Nov. 1918.
Gazette Issue 30670 published on the 3 May 1918. Page 2 of 18:
Flying Officers (Observers).—31st Mar. 1918: —
Temp. 2nd Lt. B. Instone, R. War. R.,
with seniority from 5th Jan. 1918, and to
be transfd. to R.F.C. Gen. List.

From Gazette number 30670, page 5440:
SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 6 MAY, 1918.
ROYAL FLYING CORPS.
Mil. Wing.—The undermentioned appts. are made: —
Flying Officers (Observers).—31st Mar. 1918: —
Temp. 2nd Lt. B. Instone, R. War. R., with seniority from 5th Jan. 1918, and to be transfd. to R.F.C. Gen. List.

There is a combat report for him and his pilot Lt. L. Kinet, for an indecisive combat with a Fokker Triplane on May 22, 1918 between 1940 and 2000 hours, at Miraucourt, while flying RE8 C2234. My citation for it is CR: 3Brig/18-253 [F169] (in 2234). The PRO reference is Air 1/2242/209/42/18. This is the only combat report I know of at present.

When he was only 7 years old Bernard was given an interest in jewelry by his brother Lewis who was a brilliant goldsmith; and first attended the Vittoria Street School in the academic year 1904-5 when he was 12. His last entry in the registers is for 1911. During this time he won a scholarship or free admission every year, the Kendrick scholarship of £10 in 1905 and the Lousia Ryland scholarship in 1908. He also won second place in the 1908 Messenger Prize awarded within the school for a backcomb. When he joined the school his elder brother Lewis was already there 1905 being an exceptional year for him too winning various prizes, gaining a special mention for memory drawing, a goldsmiths award of 5s for 2nd place, a 2s award for progress in his goldsmiths work and the headmasters prize for two weeks for the weekly exercise in memory drawing. He also won the messenger prize (£10) for a brooch in metal in 1905. There must have been huge competition between the boys... read more