Charles Debono, in his interesting article, ‘First flight over Malta and initial stages of Gallipoli campaign’ (The Sunday Times of Malta, April 12), referred to the World War I Ark Royal when it stopped in Malta en route to the Dardanelles and one of its seaplanes made the first flight from Malta.

The pilot who made this flight at Malta was Captain (Flight Cdr) Cecil Francis Kilner of the Royal Marines Light Infantry, in one of the eight planes on board the Ark Royal on February 13, 1915.

When this historical event took place Captain Kilner had served in the RMLI for nearly 13 years (commissioned September 1, 1902) and in the Royal Naval Air Service since 1914.

When he joined the Ark Royal on January 31, 1915, he was the senior flying officer on that ship. The aircraft flown was a Short Admiralty 135 type folder biplane with serial number 136, a machine with folding wings and one of the earliest types of aircraft manufactured by the Short Brothers.

The Ark Royal had formerly been a merchant ship but converted to a seaplane carrier while still under construction. She was launched on September 5, 1914, and commissioned on December 9. 1914. Then on February 2, 1915 the British Cabinet decided to send the Ark Royal to the Mediterranean to take part in the Dardanelles campaign

After Captain Kilner’s departure from Malta he took part in the Dardanelles campaign between February 17 and March 18, and in the Gallipoli landings of April 25.

He was awarded the DSO for operations in Europe in 1914, mentioned in dispatches for service in the Eastern Mediterranean in 1916 and received a bar to his DSO (Distinguished Service Order) in 1917. He also held the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

After the war with the rank of temporary Lt. Colonel in the RMLI he transferred to the Royal Air Force on August 1, 1919 as a Wing Cdr and while still serving, died on October 20, 1925, with the rank of Group Captain.

He was buried on October 23, 1925, in Kensal Green cemetery, London.