Lt D.L. Arthur 5 Bn Royal Munster Fusiliers att RFC

[ARMAGH]

Requested by a friend Pat Anderson of Letham near Montrose to post this in the Great war site,who is trying to contact next of kin if possible.

Courier & Advertiser : Craigie column :

Monday 24th May 2010:

May 27th will be the anniversary of the death of LIEUTENANT DESMOND LUCIUS ARTHUR , 5th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers attached to the 2nd Squadron ROYAL FLYING CORPS in 1913 . He was 29years old when his BE2 biplane crashed to the ground near Lunan Railway Station at Lunan Bay on the south side of Montrose.

PATRICK ANDERSON of Letham , has provided details of his story and says that Lieutenant Arthur's machine was built during June 1912 , and had been fitted with new wings during AUGUST of that year . On the Morning of May 27th , 1913 , Lieutenant Arthur flew off from the tented airfield at UPPER DYSART FARM on a training exercise when in good conditions he met his death.

At a height of 2,000 feet the wing suddenly collapsed causing the plane to fall to the ground. The officer's body was found a hundred yards from the aeroplane and it was said that had the pilot not been thrown out he might have survived .

The Military Funeral took place from St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Church in Montrose and then made its way to Sleepyhillock Cemetery in the town. The officer's brother , Capt C W A Arthur from Limerick paid for the grave and had a headstone erected with the wording , " DESMOND L . ARTHUR , LIEUTENANT , ROYAL FLYING CORPS , killed at Montrose 27 May 1913."

" The Airman's story is not well known nowadays in Angus. " says Mr Anderson. " I was taking photographs of Lieutenant Arthur's grave and a local couple spoke to me . I told them about the Montrose Airman Ghost but they hadn't heard that story either .

"There were several reports of the ghost . An Officer returned to the Old Mess at Panmure Barracks and he identified a figure in full flying kit walking ahead of him on the path.

"The figure walked up to the door but did not open it. The same officer saw the mysterious figure again and another officer ahd an encounter but this time it was inside the barracks. There were also other sightings .

"As a matter of interest, the then Commanding Officer , Major C J Burke , said that the Upper Dysart site was not ideal as an airfield and after scouting around found a site at Broomfield Farm .

"Situated on the edge of Montrose links , north of Montrose , the field was nearer to the town. The Squadron moved from Upper Dysart to their new home at Broomfield Farm on New Year's Day 1914.

"The headstone could do with a wee clean as the sap from the overhead trees seems to cover the Sleepyhillock Cemetery headstones ."

.

[johnny_doyle]

there is a GB Aviators Certificate for him on Ancestry to indicate that he was from Glanomera, Co Clare, born 31st March 1884; Aviators Cert 18th June 1912.

More info re family etc at:

http://www.msoi.eu/journal-archives/136-jo...desmond-arthur-

photo online at :

http://www.limerickcitylib.ie/WebApps/Muse...&RowID=3510

a bit about his will

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/p...-10--1----0-all

and some info about the accident

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/vie...20-%200649.html

my old man was from Dublin, joined the RAF and was stationed in Montrose for a short while (playing as a part time goal keeper for Montrose)

[ARMAGH]

Thanks Johnny

Will pass on to Pat Anderson

Joe

[AlanCurragh]

Comment from new member Michael Kelly, via "Report a Post"

My name is Michael Kelly and I am a distant relative of Desmond Arthur however I am writing to let you know that his great grand nephew is living in Suffok in England and his brother lives in California. He is the geat grandson of Charles William Augustus Arthur Desmonds older broyher. Best Wishes, Michael Kelly.