Captain Shepherd was awarded both the Distinguished Service Order [DSO] and Military Cross [MC] for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on a number of occasions while serving with the Royal Flying Corps.

In his short career he was credited with 10 aerial victories before being shot down and killed by a German fighter, aged just 24.

Shepherd was born on April 13, 1893 in Nowra the son of James Shepherd and his wife Emma, nee Montgomery, of Bomaderry.

His father had conducted the general store and post office at Bomaderry until his health broke down, and he had died in 1908 leaving a young family.

His grandfather - also James - was regarded as the "Father of Methodism" at Nowra, and at the time of his death at 89, was the oldest local preacher in the state.

Shepherd was educated at Bomaderry Public School, where he obtained a scholarship.

After passing through high school, he entered the University of Sydney graduating with honours as bachelor of engineering.

He enlisting in the AIF on September 8, 1915 at Warwick Farm, Sydney with a mate Percy Eric Palmer.

Entering camp as a sergeant, two weeks later he was drafted into the officers’ school, where he gained his commission.

In March 1916, he embarked as Officer in Charge of the 4th Reinforcements of the 30th Battalion, and on reaching France was given command of a salvage corps.

Shepherd transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, along with Palmer in October 1916.

He was for a time known as the ‘Lone Hand Flier’ from Australia.

On April 25, 1917, towards the end of ‘Bloody April’ he was posted to 29 Squadron as a Nieuport scout pilot.

The life expectancy of a pilot during April fell from three weeks to just 17 ½ hours, largely due to the skill and tenacity of the German fighters.

In just over two months Shepherd claimed 10 victories and was awarded the MC.

While attacking a balloon a rocket battery opened fire on him, he attacked at a low altitude dispersed the gunners, putting the battery out of action. He then returned and re-attacked the balloon and did not leave until his supply of ammunition failed.

He was made “C” Flight Commander on July 13, 1917 and was then awarded the DSO for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on numerous occasions when engaged in combat with hostile aircraft. Though surrounded by enemy machines he continued to fight for nearly an hour, with the utmost gallantly and determination against two hostile formations finally bringing down one of the enemy out of control.

Within a month he brought down seven hostile machines completely out of control and was mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haigh,  and promoted to the rank of captain in recognition of his work in the field.

One week later he was dead.

Palmer was shot down and killed. The story has it, Shepherd was on leave at the time and learnt of his friend’s death on his return.

Several days later the grief caused Shepherd to throw himself at the German enemy without consideration for his own safety.

His friends tried to dissuade him from doing anything rash, but when he was out leading three other planes, 12 German machines appeared, and he drove straight into the thick of them.

It was a wild fight, but he was killed in action when his Nieuport 23 was shot down over Zonnebeke by an Albatros D.V flown by Alfred Niederhoff of Jasta 11. Niederhoff was one of the Red Baron’s henchmen.

He was the German’s sixth victory. Niederhoff  was shot down and killed by RFC 29 Squadron eight days later.

Nine of Shepherd’s kills were scored in B1504 “IC”, the machine in which he was to lose his life.

Shepherd has no known grave but is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial at the Pas de Calais, France.

His name is recorded on the Nowra Methodist Church Memorial Vestry, the Berry War Memorial, the Berry School of Arts Memorial Plaque, the Nowra Post Office Memorial Plaque and a memorial headstone can be found in Nowra General Cemetery.

Relative Arthur Radford first read of Alfred Shepherd when he noticed a newspaper cutting in a picture frame in the hallway of his grandparent’s house.

“I didn’t ask what it was about then or whose story was told in the yellowing paper cuttings,” he said.

“I did know of the respect held for him in our family and he had died many years ago. However at a young age I didn’t understand what it was all about.

“It mentioned a dispatch received by the High Commissioner for Australia from a Mr C.E.W. Bean ‘There was one of whom Australians perhaps have never heard, who came out  of the Australian force into the Royal Flying Corps and left a grand name amongst those who knew him.’

“At the time I didn’t know that this man Bean was the official war correspondent or for that matter who a High Commissioner was.

“Some things you just didn’t ask about. I have since found out a bit more about this man in the paper cutting.”

He said the family had moved to a house at 8 Miller Street, Petersham in Sydney suburbs and they called the house ‘Nowra’.

The move gave the young Alfred a better chance to further his studies and upon finishing high school he gained a scholarship which enabled him to go to Sydney University.

During his time at university he became a part of the university scouts (Sydney University Regiment) and underwent officer training attending regular camps. In 1911 a form of boyhood conscription was introduced, the Scouts' numbers increased, and all eligible undergraduates of the university were drafted. Later his military training meant he became an officer upon enlistment.

The Nieuport 23 was a slightly modified version of the successful Nieuport 17 single seat fighter, and was used alongside the earlier aircraft.

The Nieuport 23 used the same basic design as the Type 17, with a sesquiplane wing form, balanced rudder and fairing at the front of the fuselage sides.

It was powered by a 120hp Le Rhône 9Jb engine.

The few changes were minor. The upper wing was slightly modified and the Vickers gun used different synchronisation gear, which meant that it had to be carried slightly to the right of the centre line.

The RFC received a number of Nieuport 23s as part of an agreed delivery of Nieuport 27s.

Twenty nine Nieuport 23s were delivered between August and October 1917, and total deliveries may have reached 80.

In RFC service these aircraft had their synchronised gun removed and replaced with an over wing mounted gun in Foster mounting so in RFC service it was almost impossible to tell the Nieuport 17 and Nieuport 23 apart.

The Nieuport 23 could also be armed with twin over-head Lewis guns.

The type was used by No.1 Squadron on the Western Front during the second half of 1917, alongside a number of other Nieuport types.

No.29 Squadron used it in the second half of 1917, alongside the Nieuport 17.

No.40 Squadron had it from May to November 1917, alongside the Nieuport 17 for all of that time and the Nieuport 24 for a month.

No.60 Squadron used it from March to August 1917, presumably to replace lost Nieuport 17s.

Further afield No.111 Squadron operated the type in the Middle East for the first half of 1918, alongside the Nieuport 17 and Nieuport 24, while No.112 Squadron used the same types in the middle of the year.

The Nieuport 23 was used by the British, French, Italians, Belgians and Russians.

In French service it was used alongside the Nieuport 17.

It was licence built in Russia and was the most numerous Nieuport fighter in Russian service.

In Belgian service it was used by Edmond Thieffry, the third most successful Belgian fighter pilot of the war.