McCudden

[Jonathan Saunders]

As James McCudden grew up close to where I live a lot of local material is available to research. Recently I have found myself looking into the deaths of his father in 1920 and his youngest brother, Maurice, in 1934. I've got myself slightly hooked into the family so will be searching for info on his mother and two sisters. I know a few of the PALS have a big interest in the war in the air and if there is anyone with a specific interest in McCudden and are intrigued by his family, let me know and I will be happy to share all I find with you.

I did find his eldest brother's grave at Chatham, which also commemorates James, his father, his other two brothers and a brother in law, but I couldnt downsize my digi-pics to put them on the forum.

[Dolphin]

Signals

Major James McCudden is one of the most interesting pilots of the War and I'm sure I'm not the only one who will be pleased to learn what you can discover about the McCudden family.

Cheers

[Jonathan Saunders]

Pleased to oblige. First up is James McCudden's father:

William Henry McCudden

Originated from Ireland and joined the Royal Engineers as a Bugler Boy in 1872, aged 14.

When still a Bugler Boy, aged 16, he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for Life Saving at Sea when rescuing a child from drowning whilst on voyage to Bermuda.

As a Corporal-Bugler he was present at the Battle of Tel-El-Kebir in September 1882. Later, he was Sergeant-Major Instructor in survey and astronomy – this post is believed to have been at Brompton Barracks, and this is likely where he met his future wife, Amelia Emma Byford, whose family were from nearby Chatham.

All six of his children are believed to have been born during his period at Brompton. The family had lived at 22 Belmont Road, Gillingham.

Around 1910, William left the Royal Engineers but remained with the service in a civilian capacity working as a clerk with the Corps at Sheerness and moved his family to 27 Alma Road, Sheerness.

He appears to have remained in the position until 1918, when he moved to the Publication Dept of the Air Ministry and at the same time moved home to 37 Burton Road, Kingston, Surrey.

Sadly William died 5 July 1920, at Bolingbroke Hospital, Wandsworth, from injuries received two day previously, having fallen from the 3pm Waterloo to Kingston train. He was aged 56 years. The carriage had been full and he was standing next to the door and it is believed he inadvertently sprung the catch and fell on to the line near Vauxhall. One report said his foot had been crushed by a train travelling in the opposite direction.

His body was returned to Chatham for a military funeral and he was interred in the grave of his eldest son, William, in the Roman Catholic part of the Palmerston Road cemetery. William had returned to Kent just a couple of weeks before and visited his son’s grave having had a memorial erected over it to his sons, William, James and Jack and his son-in-law, Arthur Scott Spears, who had been killed in the HMS Princess Irene disaster in May 1915. (I have some digital photos of the memorial if anyone would like to view them I can send on – unfortunately I cant downsize to add to this thread).

[Jonathan Saunders]

Correction to William Henry McCudden - when he took his civilian job with the Corps at Sheerness it was not with the Royal Engineers but with the Army Service Corps.

Amelia Emma McCudden – mother of James McCudden

Born Amelia Emma Byford, her family is said to have had it roots in Chatham for at least 150 years previously. It was also reported that her families military service went back for the same period and whilst I was at first sceptical about this, as Chatham was both a dockyard and garrison town, it was probably true or very close to the truth. It was said she had 25 close relatives fighting in the armed services during WW1.

Amelia was born at Chatham barracks and was the daughter of a Royal Marine. Her father, Thomas Byford had retired as a Drum-major and then worked for 30 years for the Chatham Board of Health, retiring as Assistant Sanitary Inspector and Street Keeper for Chatham. As well as Amelia, Thomas is known to have had a son, William, and another daughter, Catherine (Kate) (died 1941). I quick look on the 2002 Street Directory suggests Byford's still live locally.

Amelia married William McCudden at St Michael’s Catholic Church, Chatham, in 1890. Her first child William (later Fl/Sgt, killed May 1915) was born in 1891, then Mary Amelia in 1892. The most famous of her children, James, followed in 1895 and John (Jack) (2/Lt, kia March 1918) in 1898. A second daughter Kathleen came in 1900 and their final child, Maurice, was born in 1901. Maurice also had an illustrious career involved with speed which I will detail in a continuation post.

Following the death of her three sons and in consequence of James having been bestowed the VC, two DSO’s, two MC’s, an MM and the Croix de Guerre, Amelia was elevated to almost celebrity status for a short period after the Armistice. She attended Buckingham Palace garden parties and was selected by the Pilgrim Fathers Association to travel to America and lay a wreath on behalf of the British mothers at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Washington. Accompanied by one of her daughters (probably Kathleen), her trip took place between October and December 1921, by which time she had also been widowed. During the course of this trip her company was courted by the British Consul and several members of the British aristocracy and she also met Marshal Foch on several of the engagements.

Amelia appears to have remained in Surrey after her husband’s passing although she never lost interest in her home town – possibly it just held too many memories. Through the local newspaper, she wrote a letter of condolence to the parents of the Royal Marine Cadets killed when a bus lost control in Dock Road, Chatham in 1951. (I forget but the total number of deaths was around 14 – it is still remembered locally today).

She may have lived with her sister Kate at 38 St Andrew’s Square, Surbiton, for that is where Kate died in 1941 and Amelia is also reported to have died at Surbiton (address was not given), aged 87, in January 1955. The family grave at Chatham does not suggest she was buried with her husband.

I will write up my notes on William (Junior), Jack and Maurice and post these in due course.

[Dolphin]

Signals

Thank you very much for the information you have posted so far. I look forward to further installments.

Cheers

[Will O'Brien]

Signals..........This is great........Can't wait for the follow up posts

[Jonathan Saunders]

Dolphin, Will,

No further update ready as yet - as I have not been able to find another published and detailed account of Jimmy McCudden's brother, William's, death I need to find time to type up the full account that was provided in the local newspaper ... probably wont be until after Verdun now. (Will - I will be happy to discuss the McCudden's in the mini-bus and the bar).

With regard to the father, also named William. I have found reference that he worked for both the Royal Engineers and the Army Service Corps in a civilian capacity at Sheerness. This might be an error or as I suspect, he performed duties for both Corps.

I also noticed one source gave him as joining the RE as a bugler boy in 1872, aged 14, which I repeated. However according to the 1901 census and the inscription on his grave, his year of birth works back to 1865, so he presumably joined the Corps in 1879. His rank at Tel-el Kebir in 1882 was reported as Corporal-Bugler. If I get the opportunity I will look up the RE medal roll for Egypt and confirm this.

Minor details I know, but I like to get things in order if possible.

[Will O'Brien]

Dolphin, Will,

No further update ready as yet - as I have not been able to find another published and detailed account of Jimmy McCudden's brother, William's, death I need to find time to type up the full account that was provided in the local newspaper ... probably wont be until after Verdun now. (Will - I will be happy to discuss the McCudden's in the mini-bus and the bar).

Signals.......First drink on me

[Jonathan Saunders]

Signals.......First drink on me

You're on!

[Guest Biplane pilot]

Lt. John A. McCudden was nearly 2 years younger than Jimmy; joined the engineers in 1912, serving in France in 1916 before learning to fly. He was a DH-4 pilot, claiming 2 victories (one by his gunner.) He joined 84 Sqn. in 1918, flying with Beauchamp-Proctor, and reputedly was overly aggressive on account of James' rep. John claimed 6 more victories (3 destroyed) but was KIA 18 March in a fight with JG.I (Hans Wolff got the credit.)

[Neil Clark]

HI There

Im in Gillingham every weekend. If you want any photos or research in Medway, let me know...

James lived for a while at 22 Belmont Road, Gillingham. His family then moved to Surrey near Kingston.

[Jonathan Saunders]

HI There

Im in Gillingham every weekend. If you want any photos or research in Medway, let me know...

James lived for a while at 22 Belmont Road, Gillingham. His family then moved to Surrey near Kingston.

Between living at 22 Belmont Road and 37 Burton Road, Kingston, they lived at 27 Alma Road, Sheerness. See earlier posts.

I am in Wigmore/Rainham. Are you interested in the McCuddens? I have been through a lot of local material at Strood Archives, Sittingbourne and Sheerness reference libraries. Also found the family plot at Chatham cemetery but cant downsize the pic to post it on the forum.

Will / Dolphin - Hope to complete my write up on Fgt-Sgt William McCudden and 2/Lt Jack McCudden over the weekend. Also another brother, Maurice and some sundry family info I have noted, in due course.

[Will O'Brien]

Will / Dolphin - Hope to complete my write up on Fgt-Sgt William McCudden and 2/Lt Jack McCudden over the weekend. Also another brother, Maurice and some sundry family info I have noted, in due course.

Jon.............looking forward to it ..............after our chats about the McCuddens' in Verdun, my interest this already fascinating thread has grown tenfold

[Jonathan Saunders]

William Thomas James McCudden - elder brother of James McCudden

William, like his other siblings was born in the Female Hospital at Brompton Barracks. He was the eldest of six children and born in 1891, a year after his parents marriage. Similar to his brothers and sisters, his schooling began in the Barracks school and like his father before him and his brother after him, he joined the Royal Engineers as a Bugler Boy, The year was 1905 and William was aged 14.

On becoming a Sapper in 1910 he joined the Balloon Company and later posted to the Air Battalion. Ultimately joining the Air Battalion would change the course of his family history with all four brothers serving in the RFC/RAF and three of them dying as a direct result of aviation before they reached the age of 25. Neither was his father spared although his connection was more tenuous – killed in a rail accident on the way home after leaving his work at the Air Ministry. Certainly William's more famous brother, Jimmy McCudden, said William had been a great influence on his own desire to fly.

I believe the Air Battalion, RE, and possibly a large part of the Balloon Company transferred en-masse when the RFC was formed, 13 May 1912. William certainly transferred to the RFC on this date. His ambition was to fly and he gained his Royal Aero Club licence as a pilot in July or August 1912, thus becoming one of the first of the pilot-NCOs.

According to his obituary in the local newspaper, William served as a pilot on the Western Front before returning to the UK to take up a pilot-instructor role at Fort Grange Military Aerodrome, near Gosport in April 1915. He had been in this role just two weeks before the accident happened. Newspapers did make mistakes in their reporting and I just want to flag up that I don’t recall having read William served in France from any other sources, or that he had any skirmishes in the air, which you would expect from a pilot serving on the WF for several months.

At about 5:40pm on 1 May 1915, William tested and passed as fit for flying instruction, a Bleriot that had recently been returned from Brooklands after repair. At about 6:30pm William took up Lt Reid for instruction. William would have had sole control of the plane. The engine was given a test run before he took off again but as William became airborne, Major Philip Leigh Herbert, a witness to the accident, said the plane sounded as if the carburettor had flooded. William took her up to about 150 ft and must have noticed something was wrong for he performed two left-hand turns and was about to turn again, presumably to return to the aerodrome, when the Bleirot made a side slip to the left and went into a nose dive. Another officer at the Enquiy, Captain Lionel Seymour Metford said the correct procedure to take the plane out of a sideslip was to make a nosedive but William did not have sufficient height or speed for this manoeuvre. William let the plane fall 80 ft before trying to bring the nose back up to gain attitude but it was impossible at that height and he crashed into the ground.

Within seconds William and Lt Reid were being taken out of the plane and taken to Hasler Military Hospital but William never regained consciousness and died at about 11pm that evening. He had a large bruise to the side of his head and had suffered injury to his kidneys from the straps on impact. It appears no autopsy was performed and the Enquiry into his death said died from head injuries, “probably a fracture to the base of the skull”.

William was a very experienced pilot with over 200 hours flying time in his logbook. To be posted as an instructor he was considered a very competent flier but in his statement, Leigh-Herbert, said he believed William had not diagnosed the flooded carburettor otherwise he could have corrected the problem whilst airborne.

William's boody was taken to Chatham by an RFC detail and he was buried at Palmerston Road Cemetery with full military honours. His brother, Jimmy McCudden, wrote in his memoirs that he felt his brother’s loss very deeply.

[Will O'Brien]

Excellent stuff..............Would William McCudden's MIC clarify whether the newspaper report was correct, for surely if he served on the WF at that time he would be entitled to a 14-15 star?

[Jonathan Saunders]

Will,

Whether it is a 1914 or 1914/5 Star it should have the date he crossed to F&F. Unfortunately no trips arranged to the PRO in the near future but I might have a first look at the on-line MICs.

[Jonathan Saunders]

John Anthony McCudden – younger brother of James McCudden.

I have not found a lot of new information on 2/Lt JA McCudden from local sources and would recommend Mike O'Connor's "Cambrai: Airfields and Airman" from the Battleground Europe series for a good and succinct account of the career of this McCudden.

Known as Jack amongst his family and friends, John Anthony McCudden was born at the Female Hospital, Brompton Barracks, 14 June 1897. His early life followed a familiar family pattern of attending the Barracks school before enrolling as a Bugler Boy in the Royal Engineers in 1912, when aged 15.

Upon reaching the rank of Sapper in 1915, he applied for transfer to the RFC but his application was rejected. Eventually he went to France in May 1916 as a Dispatch Rider with the RE and three months later was granted his transfer request.

Between August 1916 and March 1917, Jack was primarily working on aircraft maintenance at Rouen. At the end of March he returned to Netheravon for pilot training with No. 8 Reserve Squadron and went solo after just over three hours instruction. Jack commenced to advanced training at Joyce Green and this coincided with his brother Jimmy’s return from France to instruct new pilots (but to all intense purposes to ensure he had a period of rest and recuperation). Jimmy – the consummate professional – became all to aware of an over confidence in Jack’s attitude to flying and may have been instrumental in ensuring his brother was eventually posted as a Sergeant-Pilot to 25 Squadron flying DH4 bombers. Before this, Jack was believed to have flown under the Kingsland Bridge over the River Severn. This was strictly forbidden but was typical of the kind of risk taking that Jack would portray on the Western Front.

Disappointed not to have gone to a fighter squadron, Jack is reputed to have flown the DH4 like a fighter anyway, chasing and shooting down at least one Albatros two seater. During this period, Jack often visited his brother, who became increasingly aware of Jack’s rashness and vulnerability if he encountered a seasoned German pilot.

In December 1917 Jack was commissioned and posted to 84 Sqn flying from an aerodrome south-west of St. Quentin, thus realising his dream to fly fighters – SE5a’s – and emulate his more famous brother. Jimmy on the other hand, became more and more troubled and spoke to the 84 Sqn CO, Major Sholto Douglas, expressing his concerns for his brother. Sholto Douglas tried to make Jack a more disciplined fighter and Jimmy often reminded his brother of the dangers of becoming over confident but right from the first Jack met with success – shooting down an Albatros DV on his first patrol – and his own self confidence grew. He usually followed down his victims to ensure they crashed, this was considered a most dangerous tactic and an opportune moment for an enemy to bounce you.

In early March, Jack’s score stood at 11 planes and 1 observation balloon and an MC followed with two weeks home leave. Considered to be amongst some of the more foolhardy things Jack had done was swooping on enemy machine gun positions or anti-aircraft batteries but to date his luck had held fast.

Piecing together his last leave home, he visited his parents who by that time were living in Kingston, Surrey, and then stayed with Mr and Mrs H.C. Taylor of 43 New Road, Chatham. Mike O’Connor in his Cambrai: Airfields and Airman, states Jack became unofficially engaged during this last leave – I speculate whether it the daughter of the aforesaid Mr and Mrs Taylor.

Jack returned to his squadron in France on the 17 March and was killed in action the very next day. Aware that a large German offensive was imminent, the RFC had bombed the German aerodromes at Busigny on the 16 and 17 March. It was decided to return for a third consecutive day and 84 Sqn would act as escorts. The Germans were prepared and one of the largest and most chaotic of air battles to that date then ensued. Jack was shot down near Escaufort by Hans Joachim Wolff – it would be the first of 10 victories before Wolff was himself killed in May 1918.

Almost identical in looks to Jimmy, there the similarities ended. Jim McCudden was a thinking fighter always looking for an advantage when engaging the enemy, Jack was impetuous, over-confident but above all, incredibly brave.

The local newspapers did not report him missing until 8 April and confirmation of his death must have taken another four weeks as his obituary did not follow until 4 May.

[Will O'Brien]

Jon.............An excellent final instalment................Jack was no doubt not only fighting the Germans but trying to compete with his elder brothers’ reputation too.

[Jonathan Saunders]

.............An excellent final instalment................

I've still got Maurice yet!

[Will O'Brien]

.............An excellent final instalment................

I've still got Maurice yet!

Oops ......sorry Jon............

[Guest Sidcupman]

A fascinating thread. My grandmother was a McCudden, the brothers being her cousins. Much of what I know of the family history is coloured by Cole's biography - for example the incident of the grandfather saving a sailor from drowning. I recall my Grandmother and her sisters speaking of Jimmy as if he were still around, not having been deceased 50 plus years. It is my understanding that one of my grandmother's cousins of that generation (ie another cousin of the brothers) is still alive, although unfortunately her age has caught up with her.

My dad has done a bit of research into the family history away from the war - I'll ask him, particularly with regards to Amelia.

With regards to the youngest brother, it is my understanding that he for a while raced cars at Brooklands and also died relatively young (I hope I'm not stealing someone's thunder here).

[Jonathan Saunders]

Sidcupman,

I think you might have a lot of information that will interest me. As you can see it is not only Jimmy and his brothers but the whole family that I am trying to research.

Maurice raced motorcycles ... I have found no mention of cars. He did serve in the RAF but I am not sure if it was as a flyer. He died aged 33. If you arr interested in going to the family grave at Chatham I would be happy to meet you.

As a direct result of this thread the Aviation author Alex Revell contacted me earlier this week and said Amelia's son had also been RAF ... Sqn Leader. I presume he was also a pilot.

[Guest Sidcupman]

Signals

I may well be incorrect about the cars - that is simply a recollection of conversations I had with my grandparents when I was a young lad 15 plus years ago! I seem to recall being told that Maurice had medical issues that prevented him from following in the footsteps of his brothers, and as a result felt a need to prove himself.

I mentioned this thread to my dad. His recollections of Amelia, "Aunty Minnie", are very few. He thinks she may have lived in the Croydon / Wallington area for a time. He recalls one McCudden family do in particular where as a young boy he overheard adults discussing someone who had seen James McCudden's body after his death and talking about the state it was in. It was only years later he realised the significance of the conversation.

When I asked him if he remembered her passing away, he said it was a few years back.... When I pointed out that it was in the fifties he replied that to him that was a few years back!

I don't think I can be much help to your research, everything I know has been told to me by relatives - however it is possible that I may be able to put you in touch with people who know more than I.

(To think I came onto the site today looking for info on the Royal West Kent Regiment!)

[Jonathan Saunders]

I can confirm Maurice died from complications following an operation - but I dont know what the operation was for.

Have you been to the Royal West Kent Museum at Maidstone - very small but worth a look and its free as I recall.

I am definitely interested in finding our more about the McCudden family and if you can facilitate that in anyway I would be very grateful.

[Guest Sidcupman]

Having spoken to my dad a number of times over the past week I can't add to the above accept to say that the size of the McCudden families ("good Catholic families" ) and the habit of using pet names make recollections difficult. Dad seems to think the sisters were referred to by my Grandmother as Cissy and Minnie but doesn't recall much more (I am currently trying to contact my aunt who may know a little more as she is a few years older than dad). Dad thinks the link to the WW2 Squadron Leader mentioned above (possibly Wing Commander later) may have come via another cousin of the clan - the sister of the surviving cousin. I have a horrible feeling I have confused his name with someone else so will post it once I have checked and confirmed. Another loose link to the air in the extended family - the surviving cousin married a man who spent much of his working life at Farnborough working on projects such as the Comet.

On a related topic, I have had a browse through the forums and am not sure whether the following has been discussed. One book I read claimed that James McCudden was one of von Richthofen's "victories". A few websites I have seen reflect this but don't elaborate. The cased argued in the book was pretty convincing and interesting, yet the book is relatively recent. Is this a generally accepted view and has it been debated on these boards?