A Chingford pilot was the second victim of the infamous Red Baron, according to a local historian.

Sergeant Herbert Bellerby, born in 1888, joined the Royal Flying Corps at the beginning of the First World War and was shot down and died in a dogfight over Cambrai, France, in 1916.

Now, predominantly through internet research, an amateur historian believes he has unearthed a widely unknown story of a local war hero.

The son of retired bank manager Henry and his wife Mary, Sgt Bellerby was the middle of three brothers who lived in Endlebury Road and then Warren Road, both in Chingford.

On the morning of September 23, 1916, Sgt Bellerby of the 27th Squadron was flying a Martinsyde, G100 biplane known as the Elephant due to its size, slow speed and clumsiness in the air.

Six Martinsydes had been deployed on an offensive patrol over the town but all six soon came under fire.

Sgt Bellerby was shot down almost immediately, and within seconds two more Elephants were destroyed by German pilots.

Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron, was flying a superior Albatros D-11 on the day.

He recounted the incident as follows: “1100 HRS. One-seater Martinsyde, GW No. 174. 1100 air fight above Bapaum. Adversary dashed after 300 shots, mortally wounded, near Beugny (Bapaum-Cambrai) to the ground. Two machine guns recovered, will be delivered. Dead occupant buried by 7th Infantry Division.”

Speaking of the discovery he believes will come as a shock to most people Bill Bayliss, 75, the Chingford amateur historian who unearthed the discovery, said: “I thought it was very interesting. These people are completely unknown today by the people in the area in which they lived.”

Sergeant Herbert Bellerby is remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial in France and on the Chingford war memorial on Kings Head Hill.