RFC escaper - early 1915

[QUEX]

Something so far outside my experience that I don't know where to start, so I'm appealing to the collective wisdom of the forum for a steer.

This is taken from the diary of an intelligence officer at GHQ BEF. 

'English aviator'

Crashed 'near Lille' - an event described in Apr 1915 as having happened 'recently'

Never captured

With assistance from locals makes it across the border to Holland

Crosses to UK ( Flushing-Folkstone ???) accompanied by Belgian

By 8 April the Belgian is being debriefed at GHQ BEF.

Any suggestions who the aviator might be, or where I might start looking? Don't mind doing the research graft, but a starting point would be good.

Thanks in advance

Q

 

[pierssc]

Gibb Mapplebeck?

https://greatwarlondon.wordpress.com/2015/08/18/gibb-mapplebeck-early-aviator-and-escaper/

[QUEX]

37 minutes ago, pierssc said:

Gibb Mapplebeck?

https://greatwarlondon.wordpress.com/2015/08/18/gibb-mapplebeck-early-aviator-and-escaper/

Wow! Looks a good contender.  Now the digging starts ... 

Many, many thanks.

[fetubi]

Hi Q,

There is a File out at the UK National Archives in AIR1 that I have copied, which covers the whole story of Mapplebeck's capture and escape.  He wrote more than a dozen typed-up pages describing everything that happened. Plus there is other info in it, and I have a couple of other related pages - it appears four Civilians were executed by the Germans for helping him... If you get in touch via the email on the Site below, which is all about my Book, the Sky Their Battlefield II, I can hopefully send you copies of what I have (all fairly large .jpgs right now, so I'll need to shrink them a bit for you!). I have a photo of him in my book, too.

www.theskytheirbattlefield2.com

Cheers,

Trevor

[QUEX]

Trevor,

that is exceedingly kind  of you - email inbound

Q

 

[Black Maria]

There is also a book about him written by his nephew ( £12.53 on Amazon ) 

[QUEX]

1 hour ago, Black Maria said:

There is also a book about him written by his nephew ( £12.53 on Amazon ) 

 

VMT - that'll go in the pile for my next trip to the British Library

[nils d]

Quex -you mentioned he was never captured so he's not an escaper he's an evader. There's a difference.

Gilbert Mapplebeck.

[nils d]

On 19/10/2023 at 11:13, Black Maria said:

There is also a book about him written by his nephew ( £12.53 on Amazon ) 

Ive just ordered this book.Thanks for pointing it out Black Maria. Obviously I can't wait until I get to the British Library.  (as if!)

[Black Maria]

3 hours ago, nils d said:

Ive just ordered this book.Thanks for pointing it out Black Maria. Obviously I can't wait until I get to the British Library.  (as if!)

[QUEX]

On 22/10/2023 at 09:52, nils d said:

Quex -you mentioned he was never captured so he's not an escaper he's an evader. There's a difference.

Gilbert Mapplebeck.

Thank you -  distinction noted.

[nils d]

On 22/10/2023 at 13:11, nils d said:

Ive just ordered this book.Thanks for pointing it out Black Maria. Obviously I can't wait until I get to the British Library.  (as if!)

I now have the book but I'm told l can't open it for another 59 days.🎄

[Black Maria]

2 hours ago, nils d said:

I now have the book but I'm told l can't open it for another 59 days.🎄

 Hopefully it will be worth waiting for .