Henry Haigh STORRER (Torquay) one of five men who died during the month of December in The Great War.

Henry, the son of H.J.H Storrer, member of the Torquay Improvement Association, was working as a shipping clerk/manager at Mota Garage while in his final year at the Victorian Institute of Accountants when he enlisted on 15 November 1915, five months after his brother had been killed at Gallipoli. He had prior experience in the military through his commissioned service in the 8th Australian Garrison Artillery. Henry was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, Australian Flying Corps at Laverton and embarked for overseas service from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ulysses on 25 October 1916. Having applied to be a commissioned officer in the Australian Flying Corps and the application granted on 1 October to the rank of Lieutenant Henry arrived at Plymouth on 28 December 1916.

The following week Henry transferred to Carlton for higher instruction in Aviation re-joining his unit on 24 March 1917. Another course of instruction was undertaken at 22nd Squadron, Harlaxton. This was immediately followed by attendance at the serial gunnery school Turnbeery and wireless/observers school Brooklands. Finally arriving back at his unit in July upon which he was promoted to Captain, then graded as Flight Commander in August. Henry arrived in France on 25 August attached to the 69th Squadron. Then on 2 December 1917 Henry died as a result of a freak twist of fate. Henry and his observer (Lt. William Scott) had just taken off and turned to avoid a line of trees, when a sudden squall turned the plane upside down and brought it down onto the stone wall of Bailleul Cemetery. The two airmen were buried side-by-side in the cemetery.

Others who died during December include John Frederick JUKES (Winchelsea); Michael Philip CAHIR (Puebla); John BELL (Anglesea); Edwin CHALLIS (Connewarre)