Robert Stannard Herbert

[Gustywinds]

I've been around Flanders for the past week and seen hundreds of graves, each with its own tragic story but every so often you come across one that makes you smile, such as this one at Dunkirk Town, in the next row up from my great uncle.

 

[GreyC]

Hi,

that to me embodies British humor!

GreyC

[mancpal]

Can't fail to agree with GreyC. A fabulous tribute to the lost soldier, possibly not unique though I've not seen anything even similar. Does anybody know anything of 2nd Lt. Stannard?

 

Simon

[nieuport11]

He served with 108 Squadron and died of his injuries following a mid air collision with another machine piloted by Lt Daulton during formation practice.

He was flying DH9 C6345 with 110709 Sgt RG Hext who also died of his injuries

[Gustywinds]

28 minutes ago, nieuport11 said:

He served with 108 Squadron and died of his injuries following a mid air collision with another machine piloted by Lt Daulton during formation practice.

He was flying DH9 C6345 with 110709 Sgt RG Hext who also died of his injuries

 

I believe Hext is in the adjacent grave. I didn't photograph it but I remember the unusual name.

Talking of unusual names, do you have anything on Theophilus Chater Vernon? And unusual name and an unusual monument. Buried at Malo Les Bains cemetery near some of my great uncle's erstwhile colleagues from the FAU.

 

Edited 14 June , 2017 by Gustywinds

[PRC]

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission site adds that he was "Son of Leonard and Adele Herbert, of 18, Argyll Mansions, Addison Bridge, Kensington, London. Educated at Bedford School."

 

The Headstone document attached to the same web-page shows the request for "Well played, sir" came from a Mr. L. Herbert, (presumably his father), of the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall S.W.1.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/617229/HERBERT, ROBERT STANNARD

 

In the Personals column in the edition of Flight Magazine dated October 17, 1918 he is recorded as Killed while Flying, He is down as the only son of Leonard and Adele Herbert, of 18, Argyll Mansions, Addison Bridge, Kensington, London.

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918 - 1177.html

 

On the 1911 census the 11 year old Robert Stannard Herbert, born Paris, was recorded living at 44 Edith Row, West Kensington, West London. This was the household of his parents, although only his mother, Adele, aged 38 and a Fashion Artist, born Weymouth, Dorset, was actually at home on the night of the census. It is her who has completed and signed the form. She and her husband have been married 15 years and they have had two children, both then still alive. The other child was a daughter, Kate Adele, aged 13 and born Paris. There is also a live in Cook and Parlourmaid.

 

It doesn't look like the family were in either England or Wales at the time of the 1901 census.

 

regards,

Peter

[PRC]

Flight Magazine doesn't have much on Theophilus.

 

The edition dated 15th February 1917 records that Flight Lieutenant T C Vernon RNAS has been reappointed Acting Flight-Commander.

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1917/1917 - 0165.html

 

The Roll of Honour in the edition dated 27th September 1917 has him in the Admiralty notices. He is recorded as Killed. His rank is given as Acting Squadron Commander.

https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1917/1917 - 0994.html

 

CWGC has nothing to add - no age, squadron or additional information. There is a Concentration Report attached to the web-page, detailing an exhumation and relocation of the grave in 1920, but that seems to be within the same cemetery.

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/617523/VERNON, T C

 

The Catalogue entry at the National Archive for his Officer Service Records shows him as born on the 5th September 1887.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8237088

 

There is no obvious birth in England and Wales, but a check of the Censuses of England and Wales brought up an interesting possibility. On the 1901 census there is a 13 year old "Theophillus" Vernon, born Hong Kong, who was a Boarding School Student at Beaumont College, Old Windsor.

 

A check of a website dedicated to the Great War Fallen of Hong Kong confirms this is the future Squadron Commander. There is more on him, including a picture, but I'll quote the circumstances of his death.

 

He was killed, not flying a plane but trying to rescue one which had been forced to land in ‘No Man’s Land’ to prevent it falling into the hands of the ‘Hun’. A team of men led by Vernon had been working for ninety minutes in the middle of the night. They had managed to move the plane about thirty yards, when they were spotted, the Germans opened fire with a machine gun. Commander Vernon was hit in the head by two bullets.

http://www.treatyportsport.com/vernon--t-c--1908-.html

 

The 1918 Probate Calendar records that  Theophilus Chater Vernon, of 6 Artillery Mansions, Westminster, Middlesex, a Squadron Commander R.N., died 15th September 1917 in France. Administration was granted in the London Court on the 12th January 1918 to John Yardley Vernon Vernon, gentleman.

https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Vernon&yearOfDeath=1918&page=1#calendar

 

regards,

Peter

[Gustywinds]

Thank you.

That would explain the 'killed at the front' comment.

[pete-c]

10 hours ago, Gustywinds said:

 

 

Talking of unusual names, do you have anything on Theophilus Chater Vernon? And unusual name and an unusual monument.

 

 

Sqn Cdr TC Vernon 9 Squadron.  Crashed [?] 14.9.17. Died of injuries 15.9.17  seemingly during the attempted salvage of Sopwith Camel B3933 shot down 13.9.17.

 

Details from Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911-1919.  Sturtivant.

Edited 15 June , 2017 by pete-c

[MikeW]

Only 5 years late to the party

The night of 14th September 1917

During the night, SCdr Vernon led a party out into “No-man’s-Land” to salvage Campbell-Orde’s Camel B3820. The enemy opened fire on the salvage party and SCdr Vernon, who had been working on the Camel, was shot. Lt. Trussell and W.O. Simpson carried Vernon back to the front line trench with some difficulty. From there, Vernon was transported to La Panne Hospital where he died. Vernon was subsequently buried at Malo Cemetery on the 17^th September. No further attempts were made to salvage the Camel and it was written off as a total loss.

There is evidence to believe that FLt AR Brown was a member of the Salvage party and that he received a gunshot wound to the leg for which he subsequently had to receive hospital treatment.

 

1 Trussell was the 9 sqn armaments officer, Simson, the squadrons engineering officer.

2 Roy Brown subsequently had to get hospital treatment for a bullet wound to his leg, no mention in any of his profuse number of letters home (thought the censor might have struck it out), or in any combat report of his being injured in the leg in aerial combat.

 

Mike