Ross-Hume 8 Squadron Mystery

[Grid]

I'm looking for help with Ross-Hume RFC. In the AIR 1 Record Book for 8 Squadron there appears a Captain Ross-Hume flying operations over July and August 1916 as a flight commander (see attached). However, In Jone's War in the Air Vol. 2 p. 458 a Major Ross-Hume is commanding 23 Squadron during the Battle of Somme.

 

('Pip' Playfair was commanding 8 Squadron for July and much of August during this period.)

 

Is Jones in error, or this a different Ross Hume?

 

I could only find one Ross-Hume in a search of the National Archives Kew: Alexander Ross-Hume and there is no mention of 8 Squadron in the attached AIR76.

 

Unfortunately I don't have the WO file. 

 

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Adam

[Coldstreamer]

some info on him

https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/87971608

only one I could see with his name

[pierssc]

There were two Ross-Humes around at the same time  - A, (Alexander) in 23 Sq, and PG (Percy Gilbert) in 8.

 

See https://www.casualtyforms.org/search?surname=Ross-hume for dates etc

 

Further details under "R" at http://airhistory.org.uk/rfc/people_index.html

Edited 23 January , 2020 by pierssc

[Grid]

Excellent, just what I was looking for. This is a great help, all sorted now.

[Grid]

Does anyone have a contemporary photo of Percy Gilbert Ross-Hume or of the squadron in 1916?

[josquin]

Temporary/Major Percy Gilbert Ross-Hune was born at Cirencester, Gloucestershire, 13 September 1888.

He served with the King's Own Scottish Borderers, as a 2nd Lieutenant, prior to the R.F.C.  He qualified as

a pilot on 24 December 1914, with a Royal Aero Club Certificate, was posted to 4 Squadron and 12 Squadron

in 1915, and was posted to 8 Squadron on 22 February 1916 (appointed Flight Commander in March, 1916).

Awarded the Military Cross, in 1918 he was the officer commanding 2 Squadron, later 81 Wing and 1 Wing,

and was posted to Home Establishment 25 February 1919.  I do not have any photos, unfortunately.

Captain (Temp. Major) Alexander Ross-Hume was born at Chirnside, Berwickshire, Scotland, 29 January 1884,

and served with the Scottish Rifles prior to the R.F.C.  Qualifying as a pilot (Royal Aero Club Certificate) 25 February

1914, appointed a Flying Officer 30 June 1914, he embarked to France 13 August 1914 and was posted to

6 Squadron 7 October 1914 (appointed Flight Commander 2 November 1914).  In 1915, he was a Flight Commander

with 14 Squadron, later appointed squadron commander, and he was posted to 23 Squadron 24 April 1916.

He was appointed a Wing Commander 22 September 1917.  He died in London, in 1950.

 

Josquin

[travers61]

 

On 23/01/2020 at 22:31, Grid said:

Does anyone have a contemporary photo of Percy Gilbert Ross-Hume or of the squadron in 1916?

 

His Royal Aero Club Certificate index card is on ancestry, but without a photo from their albums of pilots who passed the Pilot's Licence.  Ancestry says it has scanned 34 books of photos, and book no 4 is missing from the original collection.

 

The original albums are I believe held at the RAF Museum, Hendon.

[Grid]

All good stuff, thanks so much.  I've contacted Hendon to see what they might have in the way of a photograph.

[travers61]

Have had a further look on ancestry & this confirms that his photo would have been in the missing book no 4.

 

Book 3:  Pilots Licences 0753 - 0924

Book 4:  Missing from the original collection

Book 5:  Pilots Licences 1480 - 1900

 

Hope he is shown on other photos at Hendon.