Detail victim

Name CATO
Initials GWGM
First name GEOFFREY WALTER GAVIN MAIDENS
Place of birth Napier, Hawkes Bay
Country New Zealand
Family Son of James Isaac and Eveline Cato (nee Peacock), of Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
Extra info From the trilogy, 'For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume One: Fates 1915-1942)', Errol Martyn

Rank Lieutenant
Regiment and unit 6th Squadron Royal Air Force (Flying Corps)
Other data related to military career 6 Squadron, RFC (Abeele, Belgium - 2nd Corps Wing, 2nd Brigade)
Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 A3643
7729 (prev No.?); b Napier 24 Oct 96; Napier BHS; shepherd - H G Burnett, Potikirua Stn, Cape Runaway. Emb for UK; RFC Oxford/5 Sch of Instr [redesignated 5SoMA 27.10.16] as Pilot u/t 4 Sep 16, 2SoMA 11 Nov 16, Comm 26 Jan 17, 41 Res Sqn 30 Jan 17, 15 Res Sqn 5 Mar 17, Pilots Badge 20 May 17, emb for France & 6 Sqn (RE8) 16 Jun 17, c/ldg after flak dam (uninj) 31 Aug 17, e/f & f/ldg (uninj) 6 Sep 17,

Wounded Contact patrol; the A3643 RE8 took off at 2.55 p.m., assumed to have completed the patrol, as it crashed on Lake Dickebusch, while firing at a practice target. After diving steeply towards the target A3643 pulled out sharply, broke up and dived into shallow water. Lt Cato was the pilot; the observer, Lt RH Richardson, also died (and is buried in Lijssenthoek).
Type of wounds Drowned
Date of death 6 November 1917
Died at the age of 21
Grave reference Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery XXII - G - 8