Wilfred Thompson FOTHERGILL, KIA 20/08/18

[wwrsimon]

Hello again

I've got another casualty I'd be grateful for any details about: Lt. Wilfred Thompson Fothergill of 5 Sqn, RAF, killed on August 20th 1918 and buried in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.

Son of Dr. Leopold Fothergill, M.B., B.S., andMargaret Annie Fothergill, of Cowpen Grove, Blyth, Northumberland. I've done a search for him on the TNA site and not found anything.

Many thanks

Simon

[Stephen Nulty]

I took a picture of his grave when I was there earlier this year.

ping me an email via my site below if you would like the high resolution version

[Chris_Baker]

He has a service record in the DocumentsOnline section of TNA's website. Reference AIR76/168.

[fetubi]

Hi Simon,

I can tell you that Lt Fothergill was on patrol in RE8 C2596 of 5Sqn with observer Lt GWH Parlee when they were hit by an AA shell and shot down and both killed. "Patrol" in this case is most likely to be associated with artillery work or maybe photography reconnaissance on the eve of the battle of Bapaume, but unfortunately the Casualty Report, from which these details are obtained, isn't specific.

Here's a bit more info about 5 Sqn in August from something I put together on the unit a couple of years ago:

"5 Squadron had moved to 15 (Corps) Wing in V Brigade and carried out intensive tactical support over the Canadian front. In August, some three thousand artillery calls were relayed to the ground. This work led to close association between the unit and the Canadian Corps, a fact which would be later commemorated in use of the maple leaf in the Squadron’s badge. It also dropped hundreds of bombs and took four hundred photographs in this time. Some fifty thousand rounds were fired at ground targets in this month as well. Squadron casualties were high in August and September, several crews being lost in this work."

Hope this helps.

On the eve of the 11th of November I want to add that Fothergill and Parlee's sacrifice that day, along with all their comrades, will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace.

Regards,

Trevor

[wwrsimon]

Many thanks Trevor, and I echo your sentiments.

Regards

Simon