13 Facts About Robert Loraine

Robert Loraine made his first stage appearance in the English provinces in 1889, prior to serving in the Second Boer War.

Robert Loraine introduced the George Bernard Shaw play Man and Superman to Broadway in 1905.

Robert Loraine was a versatile actor and was successful both in serious plays and in popular works of light entertainment.

Robert Loraine was particularly associated with the works of George Bernard Shaw, taking over the role of John Tanner from Harley Granville Barker in the fourth run of Man and Superman at the Royal Court Theatre.

In 1909 Robert Loraine took up the new technology of aviation, learning first to fly at the Bleriot school at Pau, France.

Robert Loraine then switched to the easier to fly Farman biplane, on which he achieved great fame.

Robert Loraine's diary is cited by the Oxford English Dictionary as the first written example of the word joystick to describe aircraft stick controls.

Robert Loraine served as a volunteer in the Second Boer War between 1899 and 1901.

Robert Loraine was awarded the Military Cross for his "conspicuous gallantry and skill" in shooting down an Albatross biplane on 26 October 1915.

Robert Loraine was twice seriously wounded, and commanded No 40 Squadron.

At Robert Loraine's wedding in 1921, his best man was an Air-Commodore Duncan le Geyt Pitcher who had been in charge of the RFC radio control weapons and developed the first powered drone aircraft.

Robert Loraine's best man was an old RFC colleague Duncan Pitcher They had three daughters.

Robert Loraine returned from New York on the new luxury liner SS Normandie and arrived in Plymouth on the 14 October 1935.