michaeldr Posted 8 July , 2008 Share Posted 8 July , 2008 From reading The Naval Review, Vol. VI, page13, The Work of a Trawler in the Aegean Sea to be seen here http://www.naval-review.org/issues/1918.pdf A fascinating read which includes detail of the following tragic accident "July 10 th, [1916] 3 p.m.-Abercrombie, 15-in. gun monitor, just going to fire on peninsula from Kephelo to Helles. A fatal accident occurs. Aeroplane M.29 from air station, military pilot, Lieutenant Nicholson, R.N., relation to Admiral, a mid shipman, R.N.R. Davis came to a bad end when passing over our trawler flying low; rose rather too sudden over the dummy ship, and when close to stern of Theseus, blister boat, one wing appeared to break, and aeroplane turned a somersault and sank close to the stern of Theseus. She was to mark and spot the shots for Abercrombie, monitor. Officers and men from Theseus dived under to try and free the men; but they were strapped and entangled; divers had to be sent down. Our mate and myself lent all possible help in small dinghy, and unstrapped one of them and took him on board the Theseus. Pilot Nicholson, Lieutenant, had done some splendid work during the Gallipoli operations. Both officers were buried on Imbros Island." [Note re 'buried on Imbros' - See Lancashire Landing Cemetery notes - "The 97 graves in Row K and graves 31 to 83 in Row L were brought from islands of the Aegean after the Armistice." Also note that Davis should read Davy] details below from the CWGC Name: NICHOLSON Initials: V Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Flight Lieutenant Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Air Service Unit Text: 2nd Wing Age: 30 Date of Death: 10/07/1916 Additional information: Brother of Mrs. Maud Dean, of "Enderby," Branksome Hill Rd., Bournemouth Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 83 Cemetery: LANCASHIRE LANDING CEMETERY Name: DAVY, BERNARD WALTER Initials: B W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Midshipman Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Reserve Unit Text: H.M.S. Ark Royal Age: 21 Date of Death: 10/07/1916 Additional information: Son of Alfred South Davy and Lydia Davy, of 31, Dover Rd., Sheffield Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: K. 82 Cemetery: LANCASHIRE LANDING CEMETERY Can anyone add to these details? Was Nicholson related to the Admiral or What sort of aseroplane was M.29? regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starlight Posted 8 July , 2008 Share Posted 8 July , 2008 Hi Michael, Chris Hobson's 'Airmen Died . . .' has it as "a Short Type C, probably 164" Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 9 July , 2008 Share Posted 9 July , 2008 "Royal Navy Aircraft and Serials" agrees: Short Type C Ser.164 "Possibly the ARK ROYAL/Imbros aircraft in which F/L V Nicholson & Mid BW Davy RNR accidentally killed 10/7/1916." This aircraft had had a sorry career: "Damaged on deck of HMS ROBERTS by blast from her 14 inch guns 28/9/1915. ... Remains brought back to HMS ARK ROYAL form HMS ROBERTS after being dropped 30ft from a crane in trans-shipping to the Mudros Ferry for passage to Salonika; Tested after re-build 27/2/1916. ... Burnt by order on Ispatho Island [in Mudros Harbour] 11/07/1916" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaverpass Posted 9 July , 2008 Share Posted 9 July , 2008 Victor Nicholson's death was announced in the Times on 16 July 1916. Next-of-kin is different from that on CWGC, "youngest son of the late W.S. Nicholson, of Eastmore, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 9 July , 2008 Share Posted 9 July , 2008 Victor Nicholson's death was announced in the Times on 16 July 1916. Next-of-kin is different from that on CWGC, "youngest son of the late W.S. Nicholson, of Eastmore, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight". That is because a deceased person cannot, by definition, be the n.o.k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 9 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 9 July , 2008 Steve, H2 & Ken, Thanks for adding to this thread One cannot help but think that the accident on 10th July 1916 may well have been connected to the dreadful history of this aircraft. Surprised it got past the test and surprised that anyone could still be persuaded to fly in it. Not at all surprised that it was 'burnt by order' By coincidence it is the anniversary tomorrow Remembering two brave young men, Nicholson and Davy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaverpass Posted 9 July , 2008 Share Posted 9 July , 2008 Michael, Nicholson's brother Stuart was an Admiral. The funeral of Nicholson's mother was reported in the Times on 12 December 1917. "The funeral of Mrs. Nicholson, widow of W.S. Nicholson, of Eastmore, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight took place at Yarmouth on December 10. Among those present were Brigadier-General George Nicholson, Vice-Admiral Stuart Nicholson and Mr. Charles Nicholson (sons)." Also from the Times, 7 December 1920. "Admiral Stuart Nicholson, C.B, M.V.O. has been placed on the Retired List at his own request. He served in Command of the Sixth Battle Squadron during the early part of the war, in the Channel, and in early 1915 proceeded to the Mediterranean, where he was a rear-admiral throughout the Dardanelles operations." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 9 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 9 July , 2008 Thanks for checking that out Ken The Nicholson family did their bit didn't they regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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