Eric Hughes RFC

[stevenbecker]

Mates,

Do you have any details on the death of Lt Hughes during a mid crash with at 73 Sqn RFC plane near Edinburgh Scotland 14-11-17

What I have;

HUGHES Eric 2375 Pte 05 LHR 16R to AATD UK 6-16 to Dvr 4 DAC 8-16 F&B disch to British Army prom 2/Lt cadet pilot 13 Trg Sqn RFC at Dover 4-17 to 77 Sqn RFC (night fighter) BE 2e killed in mid flight crash with 73 Sqn RFC plane near Turnehome near Edinburgh Ex 7R/02 LHR (1077) DNE deserter 4-8-15 brother Robert 5 LHR

Cheers

S.B

[mickdavis]

The collision was with a Camel, B6262, of 73 Training Squadron over Corstorphine.. Hughes was in BE2e B4011, a re-built machine by 2 (N) ARD Coal Aston. Armstrong had been doing landing practice in a machine that had only been with 73 TS for 10 days.

[topgun1918]

As Mick says, the collision was with Camel B6262, flown by 2nd Lt Hilliard Mark Armstrong, who was also killed.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, Hughes was buried in Edinburgh (Comely Bank) Cemetery, grave reference K.901 and Armstrong in the same cemetery, grave reference K.904.

Graeme

[stevenbecker]

Mates,

Thanks for the details fills a gap.

Cheers

S.B

[frev]

Steve - you may find another gap-filling detail in my file from my accidental deaths database - Frev

HUGHES, Eric

Tpr 2375, 5^th LH – 4^th DAC – DAHQ – 2^nd Lieut, RFC

Born 18/2/1893 Eidsvold, Qld – son of Robert HUGHES & Elizabeth Stirling DUNCAN (of Woongarra St, West Bundaberg, Qld)

Siblings: Robert Francis b.1891 Mt Perry, Qld – WW1: L/Cpl 2822, 15^th LH; Gertrude Clarissa b.1895; Wilhelmina Elizabeth b.&d.1906

Religion: Church of England

Occupation: Telegraphist

WW1:

Enlisted 28/10/1915 Bundaberg, Qld, age 22

Height 5ft 5½in, weight 154 lbs, dark complexion, grey eyes, dark hair

Trooper 2375 embarked at Sydney 5/4/1916 on the A47 Mashobra with the 16^th Reinforcements of the 5^th Light Horse

TOS of 2^nd LH Tng Regt 9/5/1916 Egypt

Transferred to Artillery Details, Tel-el-Kebir 25/5/1916 & embarked at Alex on HMT Corsican 28/5/1916 – disembarking Plymouth 12/6/1916

AWL 12/6 – 14/6/1916

(Gunner) To 4^th Div Arty 20/7/1916 – embarked to join Unit 30/7/16 – TOS of 4^th DAC 9/8/1916 France – temp attached 4^th DA HQ 21/8/1916

Detached from 4^th DAHQ & seconded to RFC 4/11/1916 – detached to 1^st RFC Officers Cadet Battalion, England 14/11/1916 – M/I to Exeter 26/1/1917 & TOS of RFC No.3 School

Discharged in England & granted a commission in the RFC 16/3/1917

Address in April, June 1917: No.13 [Tng] Squadron RFC, Swingate Downs, Dover

Address in Oct 1917 No.17 Training Squadron RFC, Yatesbury, Wiltshire

Died 14/11/1917, age 24, in an aeroplane collision. Eric (in BE2e B4011), and *2^nd Lieut Hilliard Mark Armstrong, R.F.C. (a Canadian), were flying at a considerable height above the railway line between Corstorphine and the Firth of Forth, when their planes collided and caught fire.

Buried Edinburgh (Comely Bank) Cemetery (grave K 901)

Flight, Nov 22, 1917 (p.1231):

Fatal Accidents

2^nd Lieut H.M. Armstrong, R.F.C., and 2^nd Lieut E. Hughes, R.F.C., were killed on November 14^th in an aeroplane collision above the railway line between Corstorphine and the Firth of Forth. The machines were flying at a considerable height when they came into collision and took fire.

The Brisbane Courier (Qld), Wed 28 Nov 1917:

PERSONAL NOTES

Lieutenant Eric Hughes (South Bundaberg) has been reported killed in aeroplane accident.

*2^nd Lieut Hilliard Mark Armstrong, age 21, was the son of Mark & Marion Armstrong of Markdale, Ontario, Canada. 73 Tng Sqn, RFC – Pilot, flying Camel B6262. He is buried in grave K 904 at Edinburgh (Comely Bank) Cemetery.

[stevenbecker]

Frev,

Thanks mate.

This poses a question here, his unit in Oct 1917 is shown as 17 Trg Sqn RFC in Yatesbury Wiltshire, but he is mentioned as being in 77 Sqn RFC in Scotland in Nov 1917 when killed?

was he a member of 77 Sqn or attached for training from 17 trg Sqn?

S.B

[frev]

Steve - I obviously need to update my file! 'Airman Died In The Great War' has him as 77Sqn, and he was definitely in Scotland - so he'd moved on from the 17th Tng Sqn (where he was on the 10/10/17) - I've just neglected to include this info......(hopeless, I know!!) Cheers, Frev

[Granton Chaz]

Hi

I have just come back from Comely Bank Cemetery in Edinburgh. I live 5 minutes away.

I see the post of yours & was wondering if you have pictures of the gravestones. If not i think i do.