The Strange Tail of P/O "Robert CORYAT" (81391).

**paulmcmillan** · 31st December 2021, 08:30

Belfast News-Letter - Thursday 17 July 1941
Page 6

ARRESTED AFTER RAID ON BREST PILOT FOUND TO BE AN ALIEN DISMISSED FROM RAF.
Pilot Officer Harold Isaac Coriat — a man with R.A.F. courage "—stepped from a British bomber one morning after returning from an air raid on Brest to find detectives waiting for him. He was arrested. Nine months after he had begun to bomb the Germans it was discovered that he was an "undesirable alien.”

Coriat pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey yesterday to making a statement in a form of application for a commission in the R.A.F.V.R. having reason to believe that it would mislead certain persons in the discharge of their duties. He was bound over for two years.

BORN IN MOROCCO Mr. L. A. Byrne, prosecuting, said that his application Coriat falsely declared that he was Robert Coryat, aged 34, British, and was born at Bideford, Devonshire. In fact, he was 38 and was born in Morocco of an English mother and a French father.

According to police evidence Coriat was sentenced to nine months’ hard labour In New Zealand in 1928 for false pretences. In 1933 he was sentenced at Melbourne for obtaining money with worthless cheques. He came to England in 1935. In September 1939, Coriat, after giving false particulars, was posted to an Army Officers’ Cadet Training Unit. He was discharged as not likely to become an efficient officer. By his plausibility and cunning he had associated with titled personages. He was alien an without authority to be here.

Mr. G. D. Roberts, K.C., defending. : described the situation as a "Gllbertian” one. Coriat was guilty of false pretences obtaining the right to fight for this country. Wing Commander John Alexander Powell said that Coriat's courage was up to the standard the Royal Air Force. He would be loss to the Service. It was stated that Coriat had now been dismissed from the R.A.F.

Robert CORYAT (81391).

The undermentioned are granted commisions for the duration of hostilities as Acting
Pilot Officers on probation:—

28th June 1940.
Robert CORYAT (81391).

THE EDINBURGH GAZETTE, MAY 4, 1956 275
THE BANKRUPTCY ACTS, 1914 AND 1926
FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE
RECEIVING ORDERS

Harold Isaac Coriat, Pond Farm, Sbipton Moyne, Tetbury,
in the county of Gloucester, formerly residing and carrying on business at Twatley, Malmesbury, in the county
of Wilts, farmer.

**paulmcmillan** · 31st December 2021, 20:20

I just knew he would have re-enlisted - at some point. why waste or that training and by that time not so choosy on immigration status

Robert Coriat
5029670 1946 Royal Air Force

**COL BRUGGY** · 1st January 2022, 06:35

Hello,

To get the full guts on Harold Isaac Coriat/Robert Coryat (and "Puss"), read the following book:

A Day in the Life:One Family, the Beautiful People, and the end of the Sixties.
Greenfield,Robert
Philidelphia:Da Capo,2009 (there are other editions).

See Chapter 2 - Twatley Manor.

F/O Robert Coryat (air gunner), was serving on No.149 Squadron RAF.

The first mention I can find of him is in the February 1941, 149 Sqn ORB (there are other mentions, e.g. 11/12-2-41, op to BREMEN - Image 9 of 21):

10/11-2-1941
No.149 Sqn, Mildenhall
Wellington R3206:OJ-R
Op:ROTTERDAM (Up: 1835 Down: 2300)

F/O Thorn (Captain)
Sgt Hall (2nd Pilot)
P/O Millett (Obs.)
Sgt Richardson (W/T Op.)
Sgt Clare (A.G.)
P/O Coryat (A.G.)

See:
No.149 Sqn ORB (F.541) Record of Events
1941 Feb 01 - 1941 Feb 28
AIR 27/1001/4
Image 6 of 21
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ils/r/D8389297

His name vanishes from the 149 Sqn ORB on 21/22-2-41 (image 14 of 21), to be replaced by a Sgt Cooper (A.G.). The next entry, on 24.25-2-41, an op to BREST (Image 18 of 21), has the rear gunners' name scratched out!

Next posting, Wormwood Scrubs!

Col.