Category Archives: Canada

accident, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, photography, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, story, war

Second Lieutenant Joseph Wood

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Second Lieutenant Joseph Wood

Joseph Clark Wood was born in Horning Mills, Ontario, Canada, on 26th October 1897. The second of six children, his parents were farmers Richard and Bella Wood.

Details of Joseph’s early life are sketchy, and the information that is available contradictory.

By the end of 1917, however, Joseph had stepped up to serve his King and Empire, and had joined the Royal Flying Corps. His service papers no longer exist, so it is not clear how and when he joined, or came over to Britain. As the new year took over the old, Second Lieutenant Wood was attached to the No. 1 Training Squadron, and based in East Boldre, Hampshire.

A newspaper report outlined what became of him:

The Hampshire County Coroner… held an inquest on Monday into the circumstances attending the death of Second-Lieutenant Joseph Clark Wood… which occurred as the result of a flying accident on the previous day.

Lieut. Alexander Gibson Gilroy, RFC, who gave evidence of identification, said that the deceased was a pilot under advanced instruction, quite capable of flying alone.

AM Cecil Bryant spoke to testing the machine just before deceased flew and finding everything in order, Rigger Mechanic Henry Williams, giving similar evidence.

Second-Lieutenant Oswald George Brittorous RFC, told how he was just getting out of another machine when he heard a crash in the air, and looking up saw a machine without wings, the latter having evidently folded back. It hung for a few seconds and then went into a spinning nose-dive. The machine seemed between 1,500 and 2,000 feet up , and it crashed to hearth half a mile away from where witness was. Witness went to the scene after deceased had been removed, and found the machine practically matchwood. The crash he heard in the air was caused by the wings folding back and breaking. There was no collision.

Capt. William Ramsay Nasmyth, RAMC, spoke to the removal of the body. Death was instantaneous and was caused by severe injuries to the head.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

[Hampshire Advertiser: Saturday 19th January 1918]

Second Lieutenant Joseph Clark Wood was just 20 years of age when he died on 13th January 1918. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Paul’s Church in East Boldre, Hampshire, not far from the airfield at which he had been based.

accident, Air Mechanic, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, photography, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, story, war

Second Lieutenant Richard Wood

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Second Lieutenant Richard Wood

Richard Shaw Wood was born in London, Ontario, Canada, in 1891. The middle of three children his parents were Bermudan Benjamin Wood and his Canadian wife, Mary. Benjamin was a farmer, but his son would seek out bigger and better things for himself.

On 12th November 1913, he married Alice Duggan. There is little specific information about her early life, but she had been born and raised in Toronto. They wend to to have a son, Richard Jr, the following year.

With war raging across Europe, Richard felt compelled to play his part. He gave up his job as a car salesman and, on 30th July 1917, he enlisted in the Canadian Royal Flying Corps. As an Air Mechanic 3rd Class, he was soon sent to Britain, but took a commission in the Royal Flying Corps in December of that year.

The now Second Lieutenant Wood was attached to No. 1 Training Squadron and was based in East Boldre, Hampshire. On 17th March 1918, after just a few months in the unit, he was flying a Sopwith Camel from the Hampshire airfield, when disaster struck. His aircraft nosedived and crashed to the ground. A subsequent inquest concluded that: ‘the smash was caused by the Pilot losing control of the machine… 2nd Lt R Shaw Wood was a steady [skilful] and reliable pilot. He had performed the manoeuvre… on previous occasions. The Court are of opinion that the Pilot [must have] fainted thus losing control.’

Richard Shaw Wood was 27 years of age when he died on 17th March 1918. He was laid to rest in the tranquil graveyard of St Paul’s Church, East Boldre, not far from the airfield that hat become his home.

Second Lieutenant Richard Wood
(from findagrave.com)
accident, Air Mechanic, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Essex, Flintshire, Great War, Hampshire, history, photography, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, story, United States of America, Wales, war, Yorkshire

Second Lieutenant Arthur Taylor

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Second Lieutenant Arthur Taylor

Arthur Rowland Taylor was born on 21st March 1896 in Ilford, Essex. He was the third of five children – all of them boys – to land agent Robert Taylor and his wife, Edith. Robert’s work took the family around the country: the 1901 census found them living in Connah Quay, Flintshire, and this is where Arthur’s two younger brothers were born.

By 1911, the family had moved again, to the 15-roomed Bagle Gate House in Bridlington, Yorkshire. Robert and Edith were living with their three youngest children – including Arthur – and two servants: cook Sarah Leatham and housemaid Lucy Patchett.

At some point after leaving school, Arthur was also drawn to a new adventure. By the time war broke out, he had moved to America and settled in Denver, Colorado.

In June 1917, with war raging across Europe, Arthur had stepped up to play his part. He crossed the border to Toronto, Canada, and enlisted in as an Air Mechanic 3rd Class in the Canadian Royal Flying Corps. Sent to Britain, just three months later, he accepted a commission, taking the rank of Second Lieutenant in the British Royal Flying Corps.

Arthur was based in East Boldre, Hampshire, and was attached to the 79th Training Squadron. On 19th January 1918, he had taken off in his Sopwith 5F1 Dolphin, when the engine stalled. He did not have enough height to try and restart the engine, and the aircraft crashed to the ground, bursting into flames on impact. Second Lieutenant Taylor was killed: he was 21 years of age.

The body of Arthur Rowland Taylor was laid to rest in the peaceful graveyard of St Paul’s Church in East Boldre, not far from the base at which he had served.

Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, County Durham, Great War, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, story, Trimmer, war, Yorkshire

Trimmer Thomas Davis

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Trimmer Thomas Davis

The details of Thomas Davis’ early life are a challenge to piece together.

His navy service papers confirm that he was born in Stockton, County Durham, on 25th January 1867, and was the son of John and Ann Davis. The 1881 census found the family living at 66 Argyle Street, Linthorpe, Yorkshire. John was a puddler, working iron in a local foundry, while Thomas, now 15 years of age, was a labourer in the same ironworks.

Thomas falls off the radar for a few years, and it is only his service papers that brings things together again. He enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve in June 1915, joining up as a Trimmer. The document confirms that he was 5ft 6ins (1.77m) tall with blue eyes and a fair complexion.

Over the next eighteen months, Thomas served on four ships, returning to HMS Pembroke – the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent – in between voyages. His conduct seems to have been average and, in November 1916, he was jailed for 7 days and docked a day’s pay for an unrecorded misdemeanour.

By that winter, Trimmer Davis’ health was faltering, and he was admitted to the Sailor’s Home in Chatham, Kent, suffering from pneumonia. The condition was to get the better of him, and he passed away on 1st February 1917, just a week after his 50th birthday.

The body of Thomas Davis was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent, not far from the naval base he had come to call home.

There is scant information about Thomas’ family. While the 1881 census notes he had a younger brother, Phillip, his service papers give his next-of-kin as cousin William Jones of Wellington Street, Toronto, Canada. (It also notes that communications sent to him were returned unopened.)

accident, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, photography, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, story, United States of America, war

Second Lieutenant John Thomas

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Second Lieutenant John Thomas

John Dobson Thomas was born in Leechburg, Pennsylvania, on 26th August 1889. He was the youngest of nine children to John and Isabella Thomas. John Sr was a steel inspector from Glamorganshire, while Isabella had been born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne: they emigrated to the United States in 1881, and John Jr was the second of their children to be born there.

When John Jr left school, he found work as a clerk, eventually getting into bonds and stocks. His father died in 1910, by which time the family had moved to Chicago, Illinois.

When war broke out, John stepped up to play his part. He enlisted on 6th January 1917, his service records showing that he was of medium height and build, with brown hair and brown eyes.

The American Army may not have met John’s needs as, just six months later, he enlisted again, this time joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Toronto. Along with his banking role, he was recorded as being an aviator cadet, his papers shoring that, at 23 years and 10 months old, he was 5ft 6ins (1.77m) tall.

Air Mechanic 3rd Class Thomas was shipped to Britain, and stationed near East Boldre, Hampshire. In October 1917, he took a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

On 20th March 1918, John was flying his Sopwith Dolphin biplane, when he hit trouble. Practicing a dive, he appeared to have been unable to pull the aircraft up again and crashed into the ground. He was killed instantly.

The RAF Casualty Card cited a potential error of judgement on the part of Second Lieutenant Thomas: “[he] had proved himself a skilful pilot and well capable of handling his machine. He had previously practised many dives, but had, in his stunting, reduced his margin of safety to a minimum.”

John Dobson Thomas was 28 years of age when he died. Being thousands of miles from his family, he was laid to rest in the quiet setting of St Mary’s Churchyard, East Boldre, not far from the airfield at which he had been based.

accident, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, County Durham, Great War, Hampshire, history, Lance Corporal, photography, Royal Air Force, Scotland, Second Lieutenant, story, United States of America, war

Second Lieutenant Walter Pawson

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Second Lieutenant Walter Pawson

Walter William Stead Pawson was born in South Shields, County Durham, on 7th October 1895. The second of six children, his parents were Albert and Louise Pawson. Albert was a joiner by trade, and his work took the family north for a while. The 1901 census found them living in Glasgow, but by the time Walter’s youngest sibling was born in 1905, they were back in County Durham once more.

Little further information is available about Walter’s early life, but in around 1912, he sought a new life for himself, and emigrated to California. When war broke out, however, he felt the need to serve his home country and enlisted on 5th June 1917. His US draft card show that he was working as a clerk at the Hotel de Luxe in Long Beach, California. He was noted as being tall and slender with blue eyes and light brown hair. The document also confirms two years’ voluntary service in the militia while in Scotland, during which time he reached the rank of Lance Corporal.

The next record for Walter is a second enlistment document, this time on 6th September 1917. Signing up in Toronto, Canada, he was now joining the country’s Royal Flying Corps. Whether he had been turned down for US service, of whether he felt joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force offered him better options is unclear.

Returning to Britain, he took a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, and was attached to the 70th Training Squadron based in Hampshire. His service papers do not give much detail of the man he had become, but do note his height as 6ft (1.83m).

Second Lieutenant Pawson spent the next few months training. On the 6th Mary 1918, he was piloting an Avro 504J biplane, when things went wrong. He was looping the aircraft, when it fell into a spin and he was unable to recover it. The aeroplane crashed to the ground and Walter was killed.

The RAF Casualty Card noted that: “The court having carefully considered the evidence and having viewed the wreckage are of the opinion that the accident… resulting the fatal injuries to the pilot… was due to an error of judgement on the part of the pilot who was under instruction at the time.”

Walter was 22 years of age when he died. An obituary stated that he was a “bright promising youth, and a splendid type of British manhood he us but one of the many precious lives lost through this terrible war.” [Jarrow Express: Friday 24th May 1918]

Walter William Stead Pawson was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church, East Boldre, Hampshire, not far from the airfield he had so recently called home.

accident, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Lieutenant, photography, Royal Air Force, story, United States of America, war

Lieutenant Alexander Talbot

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Lieutenant Alexander Talbot

Thomas Alexander Talbot was born in Wellington, Ontario, Canada, on 16th February 1896. The youngest of seven children, he was one of two sons to Thomas and Jean Talbot. To avoid any confusion with his father, he was known by his middle name.

Before Joining the forces of the empire, Alex. Talbot was a student for three years at the University of Alberta. At the time of enlistment he was a student at law with A. G. MacKay, KC. He was well known in Edmonton and always took an active part in all sports connected with the university.

[Edmonton Journal: June 1918]

When war broke out, Alexander was keen to play his part. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in 1917, although as his service records no longer exist, the above newspaper expands on his military career: “He trained at Camp Mohawk, ON., and after receiving his commission was instructor at Camp Borden, later going in the same capacity to Fort Worth, Texas. In February last he went overseas where he was a most efficient and painstaking officer and gained promotion rapidly.”

By the spring of 1918, he had gained a commission in the Royal Flying Corps and was based in East Boldre, Hampshire.

On 3rd June, Lieutenant Talbot was piloting a Sopwith Camel, when the engine stalled. The RAF Casualty Card noted: “The cause of the accident was in our opinion due to the choking of engine after being opened out following an overshooting in landing and stalling in turn and spinning to earth owing to an error of judgement on the part of the pilot.”

Lieutenant Alexander Talbot was killed in the aircraft crash. He was 22 years of age. His body was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church in East Boldre, not far from the airfield which he called home.

Lieutenant Alexander Talbot
accident, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, photography, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, story, war

Second Lieutenant Ronald Brown

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Second Lieutenant Ronald Brown

In the churchyard of St Mary’s, East Boldre, Hampshire, is a headstone dedicated to Second Lieutenant RR Brown of the Royal Air Force, who died on the 18th June 1918, at the age of 24.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission confirms his father as William Brown of Lynnville, Ontario Canada. The 1901 census return confirms his forenames as Robert Ray and his mother as Annie Brown. William was a general labourer, but there is little further information about his son’s early life.

What can be confirmed is that, by the summer of 1918, Robert had stepped up to serve the Empire. He had gained a commission in the Royal Air Force, but it is unclear which part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force he had served with previously. Second Lieutenant Brown was, however, based at the 73rd Training Squadron in Hampshire.

On 18th June 1918, Robert was piloting a Sopwith Camel across the New Forest and out towards the Isle of Wight. His aircraft stalled, and fell into the Solent, and he was killed instantly. The RAF report card on the incident stated that: “The cause of the accident was, in our opinion, 1) The machine getting over the vertical in a dive. 2) Stalling on completion of a half-roll and nose diving into the Solent.”

The body of Robert Ray Brown was brought back to shore. He was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s Church, East Boldre, not far from the airfield he had called home.

accident, Canada, Canadian Infantry, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, Lance Corporal, photography, Private, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, story, war

Second Lieutenant John Morrison

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Second Lieutenant John Morrison

John Lindsay Morrison was born in Elma, Ontario, Canada, on 1st February 1894. One of eight children, his parents were farmers William and Elizabeth Morrison.

When John completed his schooling, he found employment as a bank clerk. He gave this up, however, when war broke out, enlisting in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 24th August 1915. His service papers show that he was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with black hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion. No distinguishing marks were noted, but his religion was given as Presbyterian.

Private Morrison arrived in Britain on 11th April 1916. Assigned to the 32nd Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, he was billeted in Shorncliffe, Kent. His services records note that he arrived in France in June, and was promoted to Lance Corporal in February 1917. By May he was back in Britain, at Hursley Park, undertaking an aeronautics course with the Royal Flying Corps.

This seems to have been the route John wanted to take, and on 18th February 1918, he took a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He was based at the 29th Training Depot Station in East Boldre, Hampshire.

The role of a pilot was fraught with risk and, on 1st May 1918 – a month after the formation of the Royal Air Force – John was injured. His aircraft, an Avro 504, sideslipped while taking off from East Boldre airfield.

The court having viewed the wreckage at the scene of the accident, and having examined the wreckage area are of the opinion that 2nd/Lt. Morrison stalled Avro on a left hand turn and had not sufficient height to extricate the machine from the resulting spin.

Second Lieutenant Morrison would recover from his injuries, but more was to follow. Just three months later, on 31st July 1918, he had taken a Sopwith Camel up, and the aircraft crashed:

The cause of the accident was due to an error of judgement of pilot, in that he probably switched off at top of turn and had not time to get his nose down. Engine cut out at top of turn, causing machine to stall and then spin.

John was not to be so fortunate this time around. He was killed when the aircraft his the ground. He was 24 years of age.

Thousands of miles from home, the body of John Lindsay Morrison was laid to rest alongside colleagues from the squadron in St Paul’s Churchyard, East Boldre.

accident, Canada, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, photography, Royal Air Force, Second Lieutenant, story, United States of America, war

Second Lieutenant Vernon Kidd

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Second Lieutenant Vernon Kidd

Vernon Monroe Kidd was born in Waco, Missouri, on 6th December 1896. One of nine children, his parents were William and Frances Kidd. William was a blacksmith and, by the time of the 1900 census, he had moved the family to Delaware, Indiana.

Details of Vernon’s life are a challenge to uncover, but a later newspaper report sheds some light on him:

Lieutenant Vernon Kidd, formerly of Yorktown, was killed August 30 in France, the news coming to Yorktown yesterday to his two brothers, J Wesley and William E Kidd. He was serving with the Canadian Aviation Corps and was but 21 years old. Only last April, while visiting Yorktown, Lieutenant Kidd spoke there at the ME Church. He sailed on June 18 for overseas service. He had tried numerous times to enlist in the United States army but was rejected and later went to Canada, enlisting at Toronto. He had another brother now serving in the army against Germany.

[The Star Press: 2nd September 1918]

Vernon’s service papers give a bit more information. He enlisted in Toronto on 12th October 1917, joining the Canadian Royal Flying Corps. He gave his next of kin as his father, who by now, was living in Port Angeles, Washington. Just short of his twentieth birthday, he was noted as being 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall.

Sent to Britain, Vernon was based at the 29th Training Depot Station in East Boldre, Hampshire. When the Royal Air Force was founded in April 1918, he transferred across, and just a month later, he received his commission.

On the 30th August 1918, Second Lieutenant Kidd was piloting an Avre 504J biplane. It had just taken off, but the engine cut out. He had little choice but to crash land, and was killed in the impact. Vernon was 21 years of age.

Thousands of miles from home, the body of Vernon Monroe Kidd was laid to rest in the graveyard of St Paul’s Church in East Boldre.

Second Lieutenant Vernon Kidd
(from findagrave.com)