Ernest Siddeley

[JPAE]

I have been reading an interview that W.B. published in Motor Sport, Oct. 1980, with Ernest Siddeley, younger son of Sir John Siddeley, about Armstrong Siddeley Motors of Coventry, which made fine motor-cars, "to aero-engine standards".

Ernest Siddeley returned from the War to assist his father on the engineering side of the Company. The article states that he had flown Maurice Farman short and long-horns in the RFC in 1915, but does not go into any detail of service or his actual leaving date. Was this a very short stint as a pilot or had Ernest been in the thick of it at the front? Wondered if anyone knew, because for such a detailed two-page story it seemed to leave an obvious gap.

I can PM the article if anyone is interested. In it he remembers a pre-war Siddeley Special intended for Eyston to attack the World 24 Hour record. Etc.

Phil.

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Did he have a middle initial? There are army papers for WO 339/33130 SIDDELEY E H, Lieut; RFC records are a standard army search. If he went on to serve in the RAF his RAF record might be in AIR 76/461.

[Terry_Reeves]

Phil

I would be interested in a copy of the article. I'll PM my e mail address. A quarter of all the military aircraft produced in the UK during WW1 were made in Coventry, and of course the Siddeley factory was one of those involved. There are records locally which I can check to see if the gaps can be filled.

TR

[JPAE]

Terry,

Just sent a PM first! Will send article to you asap tomorrow.

CHEERS FOR NOW

PHIL.

[JPAE]

per ardua.....

No middle initial in the article. Brother the Hon. Cyril. Their father later became Lord Kenilworth. [Not another Lloyd George I hope].

Thank you for the research information. He simly "returned from the war" after 1915--thats all.

Cheers ,

Phil.

[Terry_Reeves]

Ernest Hall Siddeley was the second son of John Siddeley. He was seconded to the RFC from the 3rd Royal West Kent Regiment joining 2nd Brigade RFC on 29 November 1915, returning to his parent unit on the 6th February 1916. He was subsequently posted to 6th Royal West Kents on the Western Front.

In September 1916 his father wrote to the War Office asking for him to be released from the Army so as to work as a Assistant Superintendent in the new aircraft shop that was being constructed. Ernest had served his apprenticeship at the factory and was apparently highly regarded by senior managers there. Siddeley senior wrote to General MacInnes:

"I fully appreciate in making this request I may seem to taking a selfish line, but I hope that in view of the fact that my eldest boy is also in the Army, and that I am prepared (assuming my second boy can be returned for employment at the works) to send my second son, who is now 18, into the OTC for training on (sic) to take up a commission." John Siddeley appears to have the backing of the Ministry of Munitions in this as well as the Permanent Secretary at the War Office E C Cubitt who wrote to his superiors that "This firm is engaged on very urgent and important contracts for aeronautical material and in order to increase the supply of aeroplane engines and aeroplanes, are building a new erection shop."

GHQ in France were less impressed however and wrote to the War Office that he "can only be spared with the greatest difficulty." Nevertheless, in November 1916, the Army Council sanctioned his release from regimental duties. Unfortunately for all concerned , Ernest had contracted an acute case of trench fever and was in hospital in Boulogne and could not be released until he had fully recovered. He was passed fit for light military duties in February 1917 and reported to the Parkside works in Coventry on 26th March the same year. He remained there for the rest of the war.

TR

[Adrian Roberts]

In it he remembers a pre-war Siddeley Special intended for Eyston to attack the World 24 Hour record. Etc.

Was this the one in the Shuttleworth Collection?

[JPAE]

Adrian,

I have done some brief research and 253 Siddeley Specials were made 33/37 with tourer/saloon/limo bodies. The Shuttleworth model may have original bodywork[unlikely], but the one I have seen at Car shows IS a total rebuild, on an original chassis, but with the 5 litre engine 'blown' with a marchall S/charger. However this is now totally off WW1, but your photograph deserved a reply.

Regards.

Phil.