JohnWorden Posted 19 July , 2019 Share Posted 19 July , 2019 Hello all. Came across this site while looking for info on an uncle (more like great great uncle I think), Cecil Worden who I believe was an RE 8 pilot during the war. I've been told he crashed, and lived, but the observer did not live. I don't know if this was in training or at the front. Beyond that I know nothing and looking for anything on him-info, pics, plane info, sources I should look at, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 19 July , 2019 Share Posted 19 July , 2019 (edited) John, Welcome to the Forum. This isn't my area of expertise and I'm sure a specialist will come along soon. But in the meantime, you could post a few more details about him, such as family (parents, wife, siblings, children) and dates (birth, marriage, death). A cursory glance at Ancestry reveals no medals, so he may not have made it overseas. Acknown Afternote: Was he George Cecil Worden, born in Canada? Edited 19 July , 2019 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quemerford Posted 19 July , 2019 Share Posted 19 July , 2019 (edited) Injured aero accident 4 July 1918. Record card says 'Salisbury' so probably Old Sarum, Lake Down or Stonehenge. Will have a look in 'Airmen Died' to see if anything else crops up for the observer. EDIT: RAF Museum vault shows 3TDS, Lopcombe Corner so accident in Salisbury area rather than based there. Aircraft was an Avro 504. http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/worden-g.c.-george-cecil 'Tappet rod broke and tore off cowling causing forced landing' no other crew. Edited 19 July , 2019 by quemerford Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnWorden Posted 19 July , 2019 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2019 (edited) Wow, thanks. Guess I need to ask around as to why it was believed he was flying an R.E. 8 and why an observer died. The records don't lie though. I only ever heard him referred to as Cecil, so I didn't even know his actual name was George. Edited 19 July , 2019 by JohnWorden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 19 July , 2019 Share Posted 19 July , 2019 You can look at a watermarked preview version of both his service files at the National Archive Discovery website. George Cecil Corden, born 10th February 1897, gives a home address, that of his father, in St John, New Brunswick, Canada. Injured on the 4th July 1918, he spent time in Tidworth hospital. He was found fit for duties on the 8th November 1918 and was transferred to the Ground Staff. It's not clear what it refers to because of a watermark but there seems to be a reference to him being a Private in the 16th Canadian Field Ambulance. I couldn't however find anything in the Canadian National Archive, so possibly that is a red herring and sight of the unwatermarked document will make things clearer. There is no reference to any previous crashes and no certification or any plane types flown so no definative as to whether he ever took to the air in the cockpit of an R.E.8. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8244213 The file for G C Corden shows he was released on the 14th January 1919 as surplus to requirements. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8244214 If these records aren't on Ancestry or FindMyPast then they can be downloaded from the National Archive for £3.50 each, although be warned there is very little in the G C Corden file :-) Hope that helps, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 July , 2019 Share Posted 19 July , 2019 1 hour ago, PRC said: If these records aren't on Ancestry or FindMyPast Findmypast have 3 relevant records for G C Worden. The Inquiry per StoryVault (reverse of card, as linked by quemerford above) shows pilot error, stalled whilst turning close to the ground. A classic training error even in 1918. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 July , 2019 Share Posted 19 July , 2019 1 hour ago, PRC said: I couldn't however find anything in the Canadian National Archive His Canadian file is here Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 19 July , 2019 Share Posted 19 July , 2019 34 minutes ago, charlie962 said: His Canadian file is here Mea culpa. I see he is noted as deceased 28th July 1959. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnWorden Posted 20 July , 2019 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2019 Thank you Charlie! That's a ton of info, that I never expected to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 21 July , 2019 Share Posted 21 July , 2019 On 20/07/2019 at 15:55, JohnWorden said: That's a ton of info, that I never expected to see. Peter gave the lead. Once you've read it do come back with questions. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetubi Posted 21 July , 2019 Share Posted 21 July , 2019 Well done all of you - the Forum at its best. Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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