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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0284.PDF
MARCH 22, 1917. Casualties. Flight Sub-Lieutenant R. BIRKS, R.N., killed whilst flying, was the son of Mr. J. Birks, of Brudenell Road, Leeds. He was formerly an officer of the British India Steam Navigation Company, and left India to take up his commission. Second Lieutenant ARCHIBALD DOUGLAS, R.F.A., attd.R.F.C. (reported missing on October 16th, now reported killed on that date), was a son of Captain R. Langton Douglas,Director of the National Gallery .of Ireland, who is now a Staff Captain at the War Office. He was educated at Ton-bridge School, where he was in the first fifteen, and was senior Cadet officer of the O.T.C. Ip 1914 he won an open scholar-ship at Trinity College, Oxford, but, as he was only 17 years of age when war was declared, he remained in his School CadetCorps, and iii June, 19T5, he was given & commission in the R.F.A. He proceeded to France in November, 1915, and inJune of the following year he joined tne R.F.C., becoming a qualified observer two months later. On October 16th oflast year he was engaged in a reconnaissance above the German lines, when his machine was brought to the groundas the result of anti-aircraft fire. His eldest brother. Major W. S. Douglas, M.C., commands a squadron in the FlyingCorps, which is now at the front, and his other brother, Second Lieutenant R. O. Douglas is serving in the West KentRegiment. Lieutenant W. SUTTON GARDNER, R.F.A., attached R.F.C.,killed in an aerial combat, aged 19, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Sutton Gardner, of Laurel House, Cheltenham.He was educated at Cheltenham Grammar School and the Dean Close Memorial School, and was a keen member of theO^T.C. He abandoned a University medical career, after passing his Cambridge entrance examination, to enter theR.M.A., Woolwich, in February, 1916, and after receiving his commission in the R.F.A. he responded to a War Officeappeal for volunteers as observation officers for the R.F.C. He went abroad early in December with his squadron, of whichhe was the intelligence officer. His machine was shot down on March 6th, both observer and pilot being killed. Second Lieutenant GERALD MAURICE GOSSET-BIBBY, R.F.C., who was killed on March 6th, was the only son of the Rev. A. G. Gosset-Bibby, late headmaster of Kimbolton Grammar School, and Mrs. Gosset-Bibby, of 11, St. Augustine Road, Bedford. Born in 1897, he was educated at Wells House School, Malvern Wells, and Oundle, where he was in the O.T.C. In the first year of the war he enlisted in the R.F.C., and was an observer during the advance. on the Somme in July, 1916. For distinguished service in the field he was granted a commission in the R.F.C., and returned to England to train as a pilot. He was gazetted as a flying officer and was ordered to the front last month. Second Lieutenant DENNYS EDWARD GREENHOW, R.F.C.,killed, younger son of the late Rev. E. H. Greenhow, vicar of Chideock, Bridport, was born in 1897, and educated at LancingCollege, where he was sergeant in the O.T.C. He was gazetted to the R.F.C. in July, and went to the front as an observerearly in October. On March 6th he was attacked by five enemy machines and wounded by gunfire, dying soon after-wards. His pilot, who was unhurt, succeeded in landing safely. Second Lieutenant E. Eric Horn, Middlesex Regimentand R.F.C., whose death is announced, was 19 years of age, and was the fourth son and youngest child of Mrs. Horn,of High Beech, Essex, and the late Mr. John Horn, of Loughton and North Weald, Essex, the well-known poultry breeder andjudge. Educated at Loughton School, Essex, he volunteered on his 17th birthday in the Royal Army Medical Corps, andafter three months' training proceeded to the front, where, after being gassed, he was given a commission in the MiddlesexRegiment, with which unit he went through all the heavy fighting of last year. In December last he was transferredto the R.F.C., still remaining at the front. Captain the HON. ERIC FOX PITT LUBBOCK, A.S.C. andR.F.C., who was killed on March nth, aged 23, was the son of the late Lord Avebury and of Lady Avebury and brotherof the present baron. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in theM.T. section of the A.S.C., with which he went to France in September, 1914. Later he was given a commission in theA.S.C., but soon became attached to the R.F.C., with which he saw the bulk of his service. He remained at the front as an observer, and was awarded a Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and was twice mentioned in despatches. He returned to England and, obtaining his pilot's certificate, was retained in this country a short time on instructional work, but last October went back to the front as flight-commander. A memorial service was held in the Grasvenor Chapel, South Audley Street, on Wednesday. Lieutenant CUTHBERT WILLIAM SHORT, M.C., IndianArmy Reserve of Officers, attd. R.F.C. (killed in action), was awarded the Military Cross in September last year " forconspicuous gallantry and skill. On one occasion, when our cavalry were held up by machine-gun fire, he, with CaptainMiller as pilot, came close to the ground, and flew several times along the line of hostile machine-guns, drawing theirfire, and engaging them with his Lewis gun, thus enabling the cavalry to advance." Lieutenant GEORGE KENNETH SIMPSON, R.F.C., who died died of wounds on March 7th, aged 26, was the youngest son of the late Henry John Simpson, of Liverpool, and Mrs. Simpson, of Brentwood, Beckenham, Kent, and Vancouver, B.C. Educatedat Dulwich College, he went out to Vancouver, and returned home soon after the outbreak of war. He received his commission in the R.G.A. in March, 1915, and in October he went into the R.F.C., being posted to the Kite Balloon Section as observer in March, 1916. He left for the front on May 25th, 1916, and was gazetted Balloon Commander on March 6th last. A brother officer, writing of him, says :— " Simpson's accident was due to his own gallantry ... in waiting till the air mechanic who was with him was clear of the balloon, which was in flames, before he himself jumped. If ever a man deserved honour it is dear old Simpson. . . . The flaming balloon suddenly dropped, overtook Simpson, set fire to his parachute, and the whole lot dropped blazing to the ground." This was his second parachute descent. Lieutenant JOHN THOMPSON, R.F.C., who has been killedin action, was the youngest son of Mr. John Thompson, of West Park, South Shields. He was 22 years of age, and joinedthe Tyneside " Commercials " soon after the outbreak of war. Lieutenant Thompson had seen service at Gallipoli. Second Lieutenant JAMES FERGUSON, R.F.C., who has been killed in a flying accident in Yorkshire on March 12th, was 18 years of age, and was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. James Ferguson, of The Cedars, High Wycombe. Educated at Godstowe School, High Wycombe, and Winchester, he left Winchester before completing his school career in order to take a commission in the R.F.C. some months ago. In his school work he was most successful, and was also known as a fine athlete. The funeral took place at Wycombe Parish Church on March 16th, with full military honours. Lieutenant HAROLD LESLIE LASCELLES, R.F.C., who waskilled on March nth, as the result of a flying accident, was the son of Mrs. Lascelles O'Connell, of Weyholme, WestByfleet. He was 25 years of age, and was educated at St. Paul's School, and on the outbreak of war joined the Inns ofCourt O.T.C., obtaining a commission in the Yorkshire Regiment in July, 1915- He transferred to the R.F.C. in thefollowing October, and proceeded to Egypt in January, 1916, taking part in several of the operations in that theatre ofwar. He was promoted Lieut., R.F.C., on April, 1st, ^916, and returned to England in July, 1916. He was just on theeve of proceeding to the front when he was killed. Married and to be Married. A marriage has been arranged, and will shortly take placevery quietly, between Second Lieutenant GUY W. ARM- STRONG, R.F.C., of Toronto, and GLADYS EVELYN, only child ••of Major G. L. B. KILLICK, late fioth Rifles, and Mrs. KILLICK, _-'-of 31, Finsbury Square, London, E.C. At the Pro-Cathedral, Captain P. A. O. LEASK, Royal Irish ., Rifles (attd. R.F.C.), son of Mr. A. O. Leask and Mrs. Leask, ' of Toronto, Canada, was married to LILIAS EsMfe TAAFFE, daughter of the late FRANCIS J. P. GIBSON, Vancouver, B.C., and Mrs. GIBSON, 42, Campden House Court. On March 13th, at The Red House, Milliken Park, Lieut. .? STANLEY EVLYN LEWIS, R.F.C., youngest son of Colonel bJohn Lewis, C.M.G., Union Defence Force, S.A., was married § 284
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