AIMER, George Edmund Vernon

Biography:

Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps, 4 or 11 Reserve Squadron

Son of Edmond Baxter Aimer and Annie Elizabeth Aimer (nee Feek) of Fairburn Road, Otahuhu, Auckland.

Gained Aviator's certificate 28 February 1916, London

Died 20 June 1916

Buried Ruislip (St Martin) Churchyard Extension, Middlesex, England

E B Aimer at Whirinaki, Hokianga in 1884 (birth notice, NZH 20 Dec 1884), 1886 (bn, NZH 3 April 1886), Taita, Dargaville in 1888 (bn NZH 16 July 1888), 1890 (bn NZH 15 Feb 1890), Drury 1895 (NZH 1 Feb 1895, p. 3)

George Vernon Aimer, who had pleaded guilty in the lower Court to a charge of breaking and entering the premises of his employers, Messrs Cahill and Co., and stealing the sum of £53 17s 2d, was brought up for sentence. Mr. Reed, who appeared on behalf of the prisoner, said that the latter, who was only 16 years of age, had hitherto borne the best of characters and had been led astray by a man much older than himself. For two years or more he had had money constantly passing through his hands, and he had always acted honestly prior to the present affair. The case was one which the Probation Act was evidently intended to meet, and as the report of the probation officer was favourable, he asked that the prisoner be given the benefit of the Act.

Detective McIlveney stated that the prisoner had hitherto been of good character, by far as he could gather by inquiries. The Rev Hugh Kelly said he had known the prisoner for about a year as a lad of good character, steady habits, and one who was greatly attached to his home. Many of his associates were personally known t witness as members of his church. John Robertson, manager of the City Council's abattoirs, said he had known the prisoner for nearly four years, for three years of which time witness saw him daily. Witness had frequently entrusted the prisoner with commissions involving the charge of money, and had always found him honest. The father of the prisoner was also called. His Honor said he did not think the Probation Act was intended to apply to all first offenders. In each case the surrounding circumstances had to be taken into account. The present case appeared to be a particularly bad one. It was not a case in which the prisoner had acted upon a sudden impulse, as it had been shown that the crime had been deliberately planned and carried out by means of a false key. The prisoner was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. His Honor said that, at the trial of Thomas Andrew Conn (who had been committed for trial in connection with the same matter) if it was shown that he (His Honor) was wrong, in his view of Aimer's case, he would be one of the first to remedy the matter. (NZH 24 Feb 1903)

St. George's Rowing Club held a series of races off Judge's Bay last Saturday afternoon, which created a considerable amount of interest. The first event was for the cup presented by Dr. Gore-Gillon for the most correct style of rowing. After keen competition the prize was awarded to Mr. G. V. Aimer. (NZH 27 April 1907) By 1913, he was secretary of the rowing club.

AN AIRMAN'S DEATH. LIEUT. G. V. AIMER. A POPULAR AUCKLANDER. Lieutenant George Vernon Aimer ,a member of the Royal Flying Corps, who was accidentally killed whilst flying near London on June 22, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Aimer, of St. Stephen’s Avenue, Parnell. He was born in Hokianga in 1886, and was educated in Auckland. For a time he was employed in the Government Forestry Department at Rotorua, subsequently taking a position in Fiji. Shortly after returning to Auckland, in 1910, he entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand as correspondence clerk, a position he held for about five years. In August of last year he obtained extended leave of absence, and proceeded to England for health reasons. After a short time in hospital he offered his services to the War Office, but they were not accepted, owing to the state of his health. Lieutenant Aimer then studied aviation, and after qualifying for his pilot's certificate, was appointed an instructor at the London Provincial Aviation Co.'s School. Later he again offered his services to the military authorities, and was given a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. Since then he had been through a course of instruction in army work at Oxford, and it is believed was receiving further training at one of the War Office's aerodromes when he met with the unfortunate accident which resulted in his death. When in Auckland the late lieutenant was very popular in athletic circles, and had at different times, over a period of eight years, been a member of the St. George's Rowing Club, part of which time he was captain. A brother, Trooper Alexander Goven Aimer left for the front with the thirteenth reinforcements. (NZH 24 June 1916)

According to Errol W Martyn in For Your Tomorrow, Aimer was involved with solo training and piloted a Martinsyde SI 696 on 20 June 1916, flying from an aerodrome outside of London. His plane fell into a spin at about 3000 feet, and dived into the ground. Aimer died later that day at RFC Hospital at Bryanston Square, London, and was buried at Ruislip.

Additional images: