2 Lt. R.R. Skene; first RFC Officer casualty on CWGC

[NigelS]

I recently discovered that the first RFC Officer casualty recorded by the CWGC, Robin (or Robert) Reginald Skene, is buried locally to me in St. Mary's churchyard at Send, Surrey.

IN

LOVING MEMORY OF

JANE ELIZABETH

WIFE OF FELIX SKENE

BORN JAN 17TH 1852

DIED DEC 14TH 1913

ALSO OF

ROBIN REGINALD SKENE

LIEUTENANT IN THE ROYAL FLYING CORP

BORN AUG 6TH 1891 KILLED AUG 12TH 1914

Flight magazine of the 14th August 1914 reported his death as follows:

It is with profound regret that we have to record the accident which occured at Netheravon on Wednesday morning last, resulting in the deaths of Second Lieut. Robin B. Skene and Air-Mechanic R.K. Barlow. At the inquest held the same day, the evidence went to show that the machine, through being banked too strongly when making a left-hand turn, fell to the ground from a height of between 150 and 200 ft. A verdict of "accidental death" was returned.

Ray Sanger's The Martinsydes file gives that at the time of the accident Skene had been piloting an 80 hp Bleriot two-seater with the comment:

It would appear that that the machine was heavily loaded with equipment and fuel for a flight to Dover, preparatory to crossing to France, and stalled whilst carrying out a climbing turn shortly after take-off

(I have seen mentioned in another thread that the plane crashed into trees, but there is no mention of this either in Flight or by Sanger)

The CWGC records for the two men are:

Name: SKENE

Initials: R R

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps

Date of Death: 12/08/1914

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: West of Church.

Cemetery: SEND (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD

Name: BARLOW, RAYMOND KEITH

Initials: R K

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Airman 1st Class

Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps

Unit Text: 3rd Sqdn.

Date of Death: 11/08/1914

Service No: 331

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. 4. 9.

Cemetery: BULFORD CHURCH CEMETERY

This makes Barlow the earliest RFC man to be commemorated by the CWGC, as his death is given as being on the 11th August, a day earlier than Skene's; The account in Flight gives no indication other than that the two men died in the accident together, which makes it look possible that one of the dates given by the CWGC might be wrong. Using a perpetual calendar the 12th August '14 was a Wednesday, making it look more likely that if the date given for the death of either man is wrong it is more likely to be that of Barlow.

It's certainly possible that the Flight report is incorrect, and that the accident could have happened on the 11th, with Skene surviving to the following day, and the inquest also being held that day (12th), but there is no indication, at least in Flight, of this being the case. Other possibilities might be that the date of death recorded on either man's service record and/or death certicates might be wrong (I've always assumed, that the basic CWGC details were taken from service records with the other details supplied by next-of-kin ?) or that the CWGC's record has been mis-recorded at some stage.

Has anybody seen further information on this accident which might resolve the date issue ?

Another slight oddity is that Skene's forename is given as Robin on the gravestone and the Death Registry index, but elsewhere all other records (birth, 1901 census, Royal Aero club record, etc) give his forename as Robert; possibly Robin was a nickname which was recorded on his death certificate in error?

Skene (given as Robert Reginald) was appointed as a probationary 2nd Lt. in the Special Reserve of Officers of the RFC Military Wing from the 15th November '13 (London Gazette, 14th November '13). Details of Skene's flying career can be found in Flight magazines of the day. He was given as being a "new pupil" at the Bristol School at Brooklands in early June 1913; he took his Royal Aero club certificate (568) in a Bristol Biplane on the 21st July 1913 with Flight reporting that: this pupil took second second half of ticket in exceptionally good style, reaching a height of 1,600 ft., and doing very short figure of eight, taking a spiral descent to mark with his engine cut off, probably a record height for a pupil taking his ticket on biplane. One and all remarked they had never seen a pupil take his ticket better. The Bristol School must have had no doubts about his flying abilities as just a few weeks later he was taken on as an assistant to FW Mirriam the school's Chief Pilot. On March 7th '14, when it must have still been sufficiently novel to warrant a mention, he "looped" a Bleriot at the Bleriot School, Buc (France); In June '14 he took over the job of test pilot for Martinsyde from Vincent Waterfall who had been called up for RFC service at Netheravon (Waterfall died near Brussels on the 22nd August '14, and appears to have been the second RFC officer to have been KIA); Skene continued flying with Martinsydes (he was entered for the London-Manchester-London (June '14) & the London-Paris-London (July '14) air races to pilot their 120hp Austro-Daimler monoplane, but was subsequently unable to start in either) until he too was mobilised into the RFC during the second week of August. Despite the fact that at the time of his death Skene had only been flying for just over a year, it appears that he was no rookie "weekend" pilot, but one who had managed to gain a considerable amount of flying experience in a relatively short space of time.

NigelS

[Esskay]

The Times online archive seems to agree that the accident happened Wednesday 12th

The Times, Thursday, Aug 13, 1914; pg. 8; Issue 40603; col B

Cheers

Sue

[mhifle]

This is from

From the Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950

Regards Mark

This is from

From the Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificates, 1910-1950

Regards Mark

[liverpool annie]

I found this snippet ... but I can't quote the source I'm afraid ... !

The first R.F.C. casualties in a wartime flying accident were 2/Lt R. R. Skene and Air Mechanic R. K. Barlow of 3 Squadron, killed in a crash shortly after taking off for Netheravon en route for France, on 12 August 1914. Skene was one of the first British flyers to execute a loop

Annie

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Barlow probably has papers in AIR 79/5 (service numbers 276 - 353).

[Terry Denham]

Both men are given as 12th in 'Airmen Died...' and Barlow is given as 11th in original CWGC register.

It looks like the wrong info was supplied. I will check it out and get back to you.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

There is confusion in some of the original records, Barlow's Attestation form gives his death as 11 August 1914; the Squadron history gives Skene's death as 6AM, 12/8/14, whilst the Sqn was moving off to France.

[timhog]

Flight of 14 Aug 14 has a report of 2 Lt Skene`s crash and of the inquest heald on the same day does this help?

Tim.

[Guest stevewhitmore]

Sorry to have come to this somewhat lately. This is an extract from the coroner's court.

South Wiltshire Coroner's Inquests 1868-1920

Skene, Robin / Barlow, Raymond - 14^th Aug 1914

Netheravon - Two Army Airmen Killed - Monoplane Wrecked

Two members of the Royal Flying Corps were killed by the fall of an aeroplane near Netheravon, on Wednesday morning. About a quarter past five o’clock Second-Lieutenant Robin B Skene, of the Third Squadron, accompanied by Raymond Keith Barlow, a first air mechanic in the corps, ascended from Netheravon sheds in a Bristol monoplane which was ready for active service. That the aeroplane was not loaded to a dangerous extent is shown by the fact that several other machines left the school carrying similar weights without accident. The monoplane had not proceeded far on its journey when the pilot in taking a left-handed turn banked sharply. The result was that the machine lost speed and dived vertically to the ground. Lieutenant Skene was found under the wrecked monoplane, while Barlow was pitched clear of it. Both died before medical aid could be obtained.

Lieutenant Skene was a recent addition to the Flying Corps, as a Special Reserve officer, but as a civilian he had done a good deal of flying. Barlow had been in the Corps since August, 1912. The inquest was held at Netheravon Flying School on Wednesday afternoon by Mr F H Trethowan, the South Wilts Coroner. The Squadron Commander of the Royal Flying School said that after the accident he examined the machine, which was completely wrecked. It had evidently fallen almost vertically but not from a great height. The controls were all intact. The machine was heavily loaded for active service, but was able to fly. He understood that Lieutenant Skene was a capable pilot. Arthur Frederick Deverill, first air mechanic, Royal Flying Corps, an eye-witness, said he attributed the accident to the loss of speed in banking. This was the first time the machine had been so heavily loaded, but if precaution had been exercised flight would have been safe. Several machines left that day with the same load. The monoplane was at the height of about 150ft or 200ft when it dived vertically to the ground. The engine was running at full speed until the fatal turn. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

[Guest stevewhitmore]

I represent Surrey Chapter UK a Harley Davidson Riding club and In cooperation with the Western Front Association we are coomemorating the start of the WWI hostilities (and Skene and Barlow in particulare) by holding services at Netheravon airfield on 12th August 2014 at 09.00. We are then proceeding to Bulford for a second service then to Send church for a further service at 11.30 and finally to the RFC memorial at Dover at 15.00. If anyone would like to join us at one of more of these short servies please let me know. FYI - we will be carrying on to France for two further services on 13th August, one at Clisy airfield near Amiens and another at the RAF Memorial in Arras.

[Loader]

DId I miss something? Is this his actual grave or does he have a CWGC headstone somewhere? Would Barlow be buried beside him or sent to family? Thanks.

[NigelS]

Thanks for the latest responses (and to earlier contributors with an apology for not having done so sooner)

The report of the Coroner's Court confirms that, as suspected and indicated by other reports, the two men died together on the 12th August.

Skene is buried in Send Churchyard his funeral took place there at 2pm on Friday 14th August (from a local newspaper report); Barlow is buried in Bulford Churchyard (see CWGC details in opening post).

I also mentioned in the opening post that I had seen a crash into trees mentioned elsewhere, James McCudden who witnessed the accident gave this in his manuscript 'Five years in the Royal Flying Corps':

We then heard then engine stop, and, following that, the awful crash which once heard is never forgotten. I ran for half a mile and found the machine in a small copse of firs. So I got over the fence and pulled the wreckage away from the occupants finding them both dead. I shall never forget that morning at about half past six, kneeling by poor Keith Barlow and looking up at the rising sun then again at poor Barlow who was killed purely by concussion, and wondering if war was going to be like this always.

So the crash into trees is factual, but as the end result of the dive, not as a contributory factor to the accident happening.

NigelS

[Old Tom]

This thread refers to the aeroplane as both a Bristol and a Bleriot and there is a mention of it as a monoplane. Having just been wathching the old BBC series 'Wings' based on BE 2s, I would be very interested to know whichtype of aircradft crashed early on the morning of 12 August 1914. I intend to be at Netheravon on 12 August 2014.

Old Tom

[nieuport11]

It was Bleriot serial 260, previously the mount of Joubert de la Ferte, and only handed over to Skene the previous day.

The crash was witnessed by McCudden and is referred to in his memoirs

[Old Tom]

Many thanks!

Old Tom

[NigelS]

Just noticed that the CWGC's date for Barlow is now correct at the 12th August; looking at the original headstone record (now available) it was typed as the 11th and has been hand amended to the 12th at some stage.

NigelS

[Old Tom]

This morning I attended a commemorative service at Netheravon airfield arranged by the Western Front Association to mark the death of Lt Skene and Air Mech Barlow and later at Bulford cemetery where Barlow is buried. Considering the remote location of the airfield the service was well attended. It was supported by soldiers from Bulford and Tidworth Garrison. The service was at 0900 a few hours later than the crash 100 years before. A message from a distant relative of Lt Skene was read. The weather was fine with a fresh breeze. A moving occasion.

Old Tom

[NigelS]

I attended the commemoration at St Mary the Virgin at Send (2nd Lt Skene's place of burial) yesterday. This too was well attended & it was evident that the parishioners in conjunction with the WFA & the UK Harley Davidson Surrey Chapter had pulled out all the stops to allow an event worthy of the occasion. As well as local residents, WFA members, the bikers, members of British Legion, the local Scout & ATC units, & other local worthies, attendees also included Philip Hammond (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) who, as well as placing one of several wreaths on Skene's grave, read the words of remembrance, the right Revd. Ian Brackley (Bishop Commissary for Guildford) who gave the blessing, and the Mayor of Guildford, David Elms. The short graveside memorial service, led by the Revd. Tony Shutt, which followed the traditional pattern, included, as well as wreath laying and a silence preceded by a bugler playing the Last Post, a short resume of Skene's life and the events which lead to his death, and a reading of the apt 'High Flight' (John Gillespie Magee) by a member of the Surrey Chapter. Prior to the arrival of the bikers (about thirty machines) from Netheravon and Bulford, and the beginning of the service the parish bell ringers made their contribution to the day by ringing the church's bells (re-cast post WWII as a memorial to those of the parish who had lost their lives in both World Wars), and afterwards the parishioners provided, without overstating it, a first-rate, home-made buffet free to all. The sight & sound of the Surrey Chapter on their well kept & highly polished machines heading off down the narrow lane from the church to start the next leg of their journey down to Dover en-route for France - in, it should be said, a well ordered & respectful manner - was, as was the service before their departure, memorable.

Some pictures - with apologies for the advertising - Click

NigelS

[Old Tom]

A picture from Netheravon. The front of the Officers Mess.

[Guest Sue Timberlake]

I am the great niece of Robin Skene.

I was very sorry not to have been able to attend this worthy memorial. I think this was a touching commemoration for the sacrifice given by Robin Skene and Raymond Barlow, two brave men who lost their lives too early, but who did so in the service of their country at the start of what turned out to be a bloody and brutal conflict that claimed so many young men.

My thanks to Steve Whitmore for inviting myself and my cousin Dominik to offer some words for the day.

Sue Timberlake