Robert James Hill was the elder son of Robert Charles and Lily Wyness Hill (nee Crombie) and was born in Crosshaven, County Cork in Ireland in February 1914. He had a younger sister Olive Agnes born in 1912 and a younger brother Wiliam Cecil born in 1922. Robert’s father is recorded in the Irish census of 1911, born in Dunganstown in Co Wicklow and working as a Master Mariner.

His mother is listed in the 1911 Scottish census; her brother was a shipping clerk and this is probably the connection for how Robert and Lily met. They married on 14 May 1913 at Greenbank Parish Church, Busby, near Glasgow. Robert served in the Royal Navy during the First World War, rising to the rank of Lt Commander.

The family do not appear in the 1921 UK census records and may have been living in Ireland after the war. The next time they appear in the records is in December 1925 when the whole family sailed aboard the Barrdale from Cardiff to Buenos Aires. Robert’s father was working as a shipping agent at this time and the family based themselves in Bahia Blanca in Argentina.

 Robert was educated at Bective College in Buenos Aries between 1926-28 and also worked part-time as a clerk for his father’s shipping agency business. He then returned to the UK to attend Dean Close School in Cheltenham from 1929-30.

His first military experience was gained here as he was a Lance Corporal in the school’s Officer Training Corps (OTC). The school magazine “The Decanian” contains a few references to him, one of which records that, following true Shakespearean tradition, he was one of two boys chosen to play the part of “Ladies” in the school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1930.

Although the family do not appear on any passenger lists for 1929-30, it is likely that Robert returned to Argentina after finishing at Dean Close, because his RAF Service record notes that he gained his Civil Pilot’s A licence in Argentina. The family must have returned to England some time prior to November 1931 as that is the next time that a passenger list includes them sailing to Buenos Aires, but this time without Robert who must have remained in England.

Robert enlisted in the RAF and joined No 1 Depot on 28 November in 1937. He then attended No 10 Flight Training School at RAF Tern Hill, Market Drayton in Shropshire in December 1937, from which he moved straight to No110 Squadron based at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk, where he served as a pilot from Dec 1937 to Sep 1940.

During this time he was also certified as a 1st Class Spanish interpreter in June 1939. While stationed at Wattisham he married Jane Gillies Parker on 1 September 1939 at the Parish Church.

While serving with No110 Squadron he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The DFC was awarded for an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty while flying in active operations against the enemy.

The London Gazette published on 17 May 1940 contains the citation for his DFC: “In April 1940, Pilot Officer Hill was the captain of one of six Bristol Blenheims of 110 Squadron that had been sent to attack enemy transports and shipping in Granvin Fiord, Norway. Whilst returning to his base, after completing his task, he encountered two Dornier 18 flying boats which he immediately engaged. One Dornier alighted on the sea and Pilot Officer Hill resumed the attack with his front gun, several bursts being seen to hit the fuselage. While he was continuing this attack, the second Dornier attacked his aircraft but was beaten off and it eventually dived at the water where its bows submerged. During this last phase Pilot Officer Hill was wounded in the face and hand but throughout the engagement he displayed great courage and initiative.”

Robert, now a Flt Lieutenant, was posted to No 13 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Bicester in Oxfordshire on 7 Sep 1940. Given his level of experience he was presumably an instructor at RAF Bicester having completed his operational tour early in the war.

The accident report file in The National Archives relates that: "No13 OTU was maintaining a detachment at RAF Oulton near Norwich. On 14 March 1941 Flt Lt Hill took off from Bicester in Blenheim L1263 to return to RAF Oulton having brought 2 air gunners and their kit to the parent unit. On reaching Oulton at about 1830, Flt Lt Hill carried out a very low, high-speed pass across the airfield, before pulling up and joining the circuit. He then dived and began another fast run on a course which was taking him towards a tall tree (many such obstacles had recently been felled). At the last moment, Flt Lt Hill pulled up into a near vertical climb, but a wing struck the branches and was torn away. Seconds later the aircraft smashed into the driveway of Green Farm, Oulton village and burst into flames." He was killed immediately.

He was buried on 19 March 1941 in the churchyard of St Laurence’s Church, Caversfield, near Bicester. He is also commemorated on Panel 49 of the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) Memorial Walls in Lincoln. How Robert won his DFC is also one of the stories featured in the book “Irish Men and Women in the Second World War” by Richard Doherty.

With thanks to Grace Pritchard-Woods the School Archivist at Dean Close School in Cheltenham for providing the photograph of Robert and permission to use; and also for providing access to the archived copies of the school magazine "The Decanian".