Edwin Hayne was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on 28th May 1895. The son of Tufnell and Emily Hayne, Edwin attended the King Edward VII school in Johannesburg before joining the Roayl Navy Air Service in 1916. He was posted to 3 Naval Squadron France (later 203 Squadron) in 1917 where he flew Sopwith Camels. He became their top scorer recording 15 victories. He is remembered on the list of Sopwith Aces, a record of those Sopwith pilots with 5 or more aerial kills during their careers. His first victory was in August 1917 when he shot down an Albatross D.V. south of Middelkerke and his final one is listed as occuring on 16th June 1918.
During his career, Edwin Hayne was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
In recognition of his services with a wing of the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk between March and September 1917. He had numerous engagements with enemy aircraft and on the 16th August 1917, attacked an enemy aerodrome and placed a whole flight of machines out of action by machine-gun fire. During a flight of over two hours, during which time he attacked transport and railways, he never exceeded a height of 1,000 foot.
Supplement to the London Gazette 30th November 1917
He was also later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
During the recent enemy offensive, this Officer carried out 48 special missions. Flying at extremely low altitudes he has inflicted heavy casualties on masssed troops and transport. In addition, he has accounted for 10 enemy machines, destroying 3 and driving down 7 out of control; in these encounters he has never hesitated to engage the enemy, however superior in numbers. On one occasion he observed 10 hostile aeroplanes harassing 3 Dolphines; he attacked 3 of the enemy, driving one down in flames.
Supplement to the London Gazette 21 September 1918
Having survived the war, Captain Hayne continued flying and was to meet an accidental death whilst flying a Bristol F2 from Castle Bromwich aerodrome on the 28th April 1919 which stalled and crashed whilst landing. Major Maurice Nasruth Perrin also died later in hospital.
To quote from his gravestone, “Let those who come after, see to it that his name be not forgotten.”
