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  "path": "/news/anzac-day-scotland-news-edinburgh-captain-clive-franklin-collett",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-25T13:46:42.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "‘Vengeful’ Donald Trump has ‘every right to be aggrieved’ with UK amid Falklands threat",
    "Catherine makes historic outing at Cenotaph wearing poppy on behalf of King",
    "Farmers, lorry drivers, and tradesmen to descend on Westminster in 'national fuel tax protest'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe Royal British Legion Scotland marked Anzac Day in Edinburgh by welcoming relatives of a distinguished New Zealand airman to the Scottish capital.\n\nCaptain Clive Franklyn Collett, celebrated for his exceptional bravery and valour, served as a pioneering figure in British aviation during the First World War.\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHis granddaughter Mandy and great-granddaughter Tanya travelled to Edinburgh to pay their respects at his grave in Comely Bank Cemetery, where the decorated pilot was laid to rest.\n\nCaptain Collett received the Military Cross and Bar after just two months of combat flying.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe was recognised for his skilful leadership and for destroying five enemy aircraft in a single week.\n\nIn 1916, he became the first British or Commonwealth serviceman to execute a parachute descent from an aircraft.\n\nCaptain Collett performed the groundbreaking jump before King George VI and Queen Mary.\n\nThe flight commander went on to claim 11 aerial victories during his service.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHis inaugural success came when he brought down a German Albatros over Ypres, Belgium.\n\nThe victory kick-started a formidable combat record that would establish Captain Collett as one of the war's notable aviators.\n\nCaptain Collett's life was cut short in December 1917 during a test flight over Edinburgh.\n\nWhile piloting a captured German Albatros, the aircraft unexpectedly plunged into the Firth of Forth.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * ‘Vengeful’ Donald Trump has ‘every right to be aggrieved’ with UK amid Falklands threat\n  * Catherine makes historic outing at Cenotaph wearing poppy on behalf of King\n  * Farmers, lorry drivers, and tradesmen to descend on Westminster in 'national fuel tax protest'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Royal British Legion Scotland has commemorated Anzac Day since 1927, making it among its longest-running events.\n\nEvents organiser Brian Ward noted that recent services have been held at the cemetery, with efforts made to contact families of those buried there.\n\nCaptain Collet’s granddaughter, Mandy, told GB News that her connection to him extended far beyond his military decorations.\n\n\"I guess it's been a deep pride in who he was, not the fact that about medals or things like that, but the courage, the bravery,\" she said.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nShe added that his pioneering parachute jump made him \"pretty special.\"\n\nBoth Mandy and great-granddaughter Tanya visited Captain Collett’s final resting place at Comely Bank Cemetery at dawn as part of the commemorations.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Extraordinary New Zealand airman and World War 1 hero remembered in Edinburgh for Anzac Day"
}