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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0978.PDF
SRPTEMBER 20, 1917. Casualties. Second Lieutenant GEORGE BARCLAY BUXTON, Norfolk Regiment, attached R.F.C., was reported missing on July 28th, having been last seen flying east attacking four Hun machines well behind the enemy's lines, having previously accounted for one. It has now been reported that he was killed on that date. He was 24 5'ears of age, and the third son of the Rev. Barclay F. Buxton, a missionary in Japan, and late of Widbury, Ware. When war bioke out he Was in British East Africa, and joined the" King's African Rifles as a scout. Later he returned to England, and after two months' training as an officer, joined the Norfolks on active service. For nine months he Was A.D.G. to Major-General Hare. Hearing of the need ol R.F.C. pilots, he returned to England, and quickly won his'pilot's wings. He went out to France in July, 1917. He Was educated at St. Andrew's School, Southborough, and at Repton. His eldest brother Murray, Norfolk Regiment, was severely w'cunded at the battle of Gaza, and won the Military Cross, which his younger brother, Captain Godfrey Buxton, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, has also received. Second Lieuteriant RICHARD JOHN GRANDIN, Army Service Corps, attached R.F.C., who has fallen in action, Was born in 1892, and wae the only son of Mr. J. E. Grandin and the late Mrs. Grandin, St. Heliers, Jersey. He was educated at Vistoria College, Which he left at the age of 15 to join the training ship " Conway." Failing in the last colour test, he completed his education at theLycee of St. Breux, in France, Second Lieutenant Grandin was gazetted to the 3rd R.M.I.J. in December, 1909, proi^oted lieutenant in April, 1912, and captain in April, 1914. Desiring service overseas, he applied for and Was granted a commission in the Army Service Corps. After serving in Egypt for fifteen months he transferred to the R.F.C. Having trained as a scout pilot, he went to the front in April last, and Was acting flight commander. He was reported missing on Ma3' 18th, and on Saturday was stated to have been killed. The gallant officer was a splendid sports- man, especially keen on yachting. He married, in 1915, Marguerite, youngest daughter of Mrs. and the late Mr. G. A. Pitcher, 58, Anson Road, N.7. "Lieutenant REGINALD HAYES, R.F.C., killed in action, was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hayes, of Sudbrooke Road, Wandsworth Common. He was given his commission in January, 1915, and for two years was attached to the South Lancashire Regiment. Lieutenant Hayes was Wounded in November last, and returned to the front three months later. Subsequently he Was transferred.to the R.F.C., and was in many air fights previous to his death, which occurred on his first flight after his return from leave. He was 19 years of age. Lieutenant ALEXANDER PERCEVAL MATHESON (VAL) MAJHESON, • A.S.C., Acting Flight Commander and Pilot, R.F.C., -tfho was killed on July 13th, aged 22, was the sur- viving son of Mr. Alec P. Matheson and of Mrs. Matheson, of Ardarun, Littlehampton, Sussex, and grandson of the late Sir Alexander Matheson, Bart., of Lcchalsh, whom he Would eventually have succeeded. Lieutenant A. P. Matheson was educated at Dundle, intending to take up engineering as a profession, but on leaving school he entered the Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Canada, taking a four years' course in farming and forestry. When war was declared, he returned to Littlehampton, and received a commission in the A.S.C. two weeks after his arrival. In November, 1916, he was attached to the R.F.C. as pilot, and in February left for the front with his squadron, and was stated to be one of the bravest and best pilots in the squadron. His eldest brother, Captain Ian Kenneth Matheson, Seaforth Highlanders, Was killed on May 13th, aged 23, and his youngest brother, Roderick Kyele Matheson, Royal West Kent Regiment, who enlisted when 16 years 10 months in the Royal Fusiliers, was given his commission on his 18th birthday. On going to the front he was attached to the Manchester Regiment, was shot through the chest on September 3rd, and died as a priscner of war on September 8th, 1916. Mr; and Mrs. Mathescn's son-in-law, Lieutenant P. W. Gould, King's Royal Rifles, was killed on August 24th, 1916. Flight Lieutenant FABIAN PEMBER REEVES, who was reported missing on June 6th last, is new officially reported killed on that date. He was the cnlyscn cf Mr. William Pember Reeves and Mrs. Reeves, of 43, Cornwall Gardens,S.W., and grandson of Mr. William Reeves, of Christchurch, New Zealand. ^ Second Lieutenant L. H. ASTON, R.F.C., Who was fatally injured Whilst flying at Acton, on September 6th, Was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Aston, of Grenville, Durlston Road, Kingston, was educated at Tiffins School, and at the outbreak of war enlisted in the R.N.A.S. After becoming a chief petty officer, he Was granted a commission in the R.F.C. He Was 28 years of age. His brothers are serving with the Forces. >- Major EDGAR JAMES BANNATYNE, D.S.O., R.F.C. and Hussars, whose death was the result of an aeroplane accident irT "England, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Bannatyne, of Glen Bevan, Crocm, Co. Limerick. He was educated at Wellingtcn College and Caius College, Cambridge. He joined the 19th Hussars in 1913, and went to France with that regiment in August, 1914. He returned to England in November of the same year on sick leave, during which time he took out his flying certificate. He was in the Experimental Flight at Upavon until February, 1916, when he was sent to Egypt, where he took part in the Darfur Expedition as a flight commander, for which he was awarded ^the D S.O. He was afterwards given a squadron at Ismailia, and pro- ceeded later to El Arish. He returned to England last June, and met with his fatal accident while flying at CirenceSter on August 30th. He died on September nth. He Was 26 years of age. Lieutenant ARTHUR GEOFFREY CRONHELM, London Regi- ment and R.F.C., reported accidentally killed, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Cronhelm, of Craigend, Howth, Co. Dublin, and Was educated at Christ's Hospital, Horsham, where he Was a member of the Cadet Corps and the Bisley Reserve. He had been in Chile, but returned home ' on the outbreak of the War, and in February, 1915, obtained his commission. He fought in the battles of Neuve Chapelle, Fes'tubert, and Loos, being wounded in the last. Subsequently, he saw service on two other fronts, and recently became attached to the R.F.C. In November, 1916, he married Gladys, daughter of Mr. David M. Steen, formerly of the Ceylon Civil Service. Lieutenant GEORGE GUY BARRY DOWNING, R.F.C., acci- dentally killed in Scotland on September 4th, aged 23, was the third and youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Downing, of Beverley, Llam'shen. He was educated at Waynflete, near Reading (Rev. J. H. Wilkinson), and at Charterhouse (Hodg- sonsites, Mr. T. E. Page), Where he was a member of the Cadet Corps, and took a great interest in the Scouts. After leaving Charterhouse, he studied art at the Slade School, London. In August, 1914, he joined the Old Public School Boys' Training Camp at Tidworth Pennings, was recom- mended for a commission, and posted to the Welsh Regiment. He applied for removal to the R.F.C., but accompanied his regiment to France, and was wounded on September 25th, 1915, at the Battle of Loos. He was subsequently transferred to the R.F.C., and after the usual training was in July, 1916, sent to the front, where, on September 2nd, 1916, while flying over the German lines his machine was seriously damaged by German anti-aircraft gun fire and he was Wounded. In these circumstances, attacked by two German machines, he succeeded in driving them off, and in landing within the French lines. He was sent home, and when recovering from his wound had a severe attack of diphtheria. Certified fit for. light duty in March last, he subsequently acted as instructor at aercdrcmes in this country. He was recently under orders for the front, but these were countermanded, and he was ordered to return to Scotland as an officer of a training school, where he had been only a few days when the accident happened. He had considerable talent srs an artist; a number of his drawings have been reproduced in the illustrated magazine Colour, and he had tvtry prefpect cf a successful career. He married, in April, 1915, Miss E. E. Evans, youngest daughter of Mr. Edwin EvaDs, senior, and leaves a son. Captain L. A. HARDWICK-TERRY, Rcyal Engineers, Flight Ccmmander R.F.C., was killed en August 31st, when practising at-a^height of 2,oco ft. In making a vertical dive with the engines full on, one cf the wings of his aeroplane became 978
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