GW aircraft crashes Essex

[PRC]

13.10.18 Camel E5147, 44 Sqn, Hainault Farm, Lost control in searchlight beam, Hainault Farm area

               Lt Claud Handley Trotter (23) killed
Sourced: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918c.htm

Lieutenant Claude Handley Trotter, Canadian Infantry Regimental Depot, (Alberta) and 44^th Squadron, RAF, died on the 13^th October 1918, aged 23. He is buried at Chigwell Row (All Saints) Churchyard. The Cemetery Register includes the note “Killed while flying (crashed) 13^th Oct. 1918.”
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2757511/claude-handley-trotter/

The death of the 23 year old Claud Handley Trotter was registered in the Ongar District in Q4 1918.

 

Lieutenant Claud Handley Trotter sourced https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2757511

The Casualty Card for Lieutenant Claud Handley Trotter, 44 Squadron,  records him as the Pilot  of Sopwith Camel E5147 who lost control of his machine whilst in a searchlight beam night flying and was killed.  His unit is given as 10^th Canadian Battalion attached RAF.  The court of inquiry held that he switched his engine off to get out of the beam and went into a spin. To get out of the spin he switched his engine on again, but they believed that due to the lag on the altimeter after a rapid descent he misjudged his height from the ground and flew into it. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/trotter-l.h.-claud-handley

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

18.10.18 Camel E1417, 54 TDS, Fairlop,    Stalled inverted and sideslipped, Ilford

               Capt Francis Balfour Sedgwick (22) killed
Sourced: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918c.htm

Captain Francis Balfour Sedgwick, No. 54 Training Depot Station, RAF, died on the 18^th October 1918, aged 22, and is buried at Brookwood Cemetery. His private headstone is noted “Killed while Flying.” https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/402211/francis-balfour-sedgwick/

The death of Francis Balfour Sedgwick, aged 22, was registered in the Romford District  in Q4 1918.

Francis Balfour Sedgwick was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Suffolk Regiment in June, 1916, transferring to the Royal Flying Corps the following year. After successfully passing pilot training he went to France, initially flying a Vickers Gun Bus at the Front. In 1917 he went to Canada (where he had lived and worked for a time) as an instructor at Deseronto Camp. Promoted to Captain in October, 1917, he was sent to Texas to help train American airmen, eventually returning to the U.K. in the summer of 1918. A vastly-experienced flyer, he was killed when his Sopwith Camel (F1417) stalled and crashed at Ilford (Fairlop). https://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=20924.0

His Casualty Cards add no additional information. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000257764-sedgwick-f.b.-francis-balfour

His Roll of Honour entry at the RAF Museum storyvault has him “Killed while flying at Ilford, London 18 October 1918 aged 22”. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/sedgwick-f.b.-francis-balfour

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 18 December , 2023 by PRC
Formatting

[PRC]

22.10.18 Camel C8367, 189 NTS, Hornchurch, Broke up in dive, Hornchurch
               Lt James Gustave Schmolle (19) killed (South African)
Sourced: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918c.htm

Lieutenant James Gustave Schmolle, 189^th Night Flying Squadron, RAF, died on the 22^nd October 1918, age 19, and is buried at Hornchurch (St. Andrew) Churchyard. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/357020/james-gustave-schmolle/

The death of James Gustave Schmolle, aged 19, was registered in the Romford District.

His Casualty Card records him as the Pilot of Sopwith Camel C8367 when it crashed on the 22^nd October 1918 at 12.30 for no apparent reason.  The Court of Inquiry subsequently decided that Lieutenant Schmolles’ flying had subjected the aircraft to excessive strain. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000284756-schmolle-j.g.-james-gustave

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

31.10.18 Camel F1980, 189 NTS, Hornchurch, Spun off attempted loop, Hornchurch
              Flt Cadet Arthur Ernest Trafford (22) killed
Sourced: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918c.htm

Flight Cadet Arthur Ernest Trafford, RAF, died on the 31^st October 1918, aged 22, and is buried at Hornchurch (St. Andrew) Churchyard.
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/357025/arthur-ernest-trafford/

The death of Arthur Ernest Trafford, aged 22, was registered in the Romford District in Q4 1918.

The Casualty Card records Air Cadet Arthur Ernest Trafford as the Pilot of Sopwith Camel F1980 when the plane crashed at 10.00 P.M. on the 31^st October 1918. The cause of the accident was summarised as “Apparently Stunting”. Cadet Trafford attempted to loop, lost control while on his back and fell into a spin and never again regained complete control before hitting the ground. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000287564-trafford-a.e.-arthur-ernest

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 18 December , 2023 by PRC
Formatting

[PRC]

6.11.18   Bristol Fighter F4576, 138 Sqn, Chingford, Forced landing into trees, Chingford
               Lt John Simpson Bower-Binns (28) killed
               Sgt Walter Henry Martin (28) killed
Sourced: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1918c.htm

Lieutenant John Simpson Bower-Binns, 138th Squadron, RAF, died on the 6th November 1918 and is buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/356855/john-simpson-bower-binns/

The death of a John Simpson Bower (surname) Binns, aged 28, was registered in the West Ham District in Q4 1918.
The death of a Walter Henry Martin, aged 28, was registered in the West Ham District in Q4 1918.

The Casualty Card for John Simpson Bower-Binns, 21st Battalion Ontario Regiment attached RAF, doesn’t add anything about the crash. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/binns-j.s.b.-john-simpson-bower

I could not find a Casualty Card for Walter Henry Martin. On the Roll of honour at the RAF Museum his service number is recorded as 114640. His Airmans statement of services on FindMyPast may give a little more detail about the crash.

Cheers,
Peter

[stephen p nunn]

Thank you again Peter. 15 pages worth of Essex crashes now!

[PRC]

12.3.16  ?, 11 RS, Northolt  Sideslipped and nose dived, Barkingside, Essex

               William Matthew Muir (56) killed
               2Lt Robert Kilpatrick Muir (20) (son) injured
Source: http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1916.htm

Aviation Safety Network adds this was a Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus of  11 (Reserve) Sqn RFC.

Written off (destroyed) when Side slipped and nose dived into the ground, Barkingside, Essex. Of the two crew, one - William Matthew Muir (passenger, aged 56) - was killed; the pilot 2nd Lt Robert Kilpatrick Muir (aged 20, and son of William Muir) was injured. According to a contemporary report in ‘Flight’ magazine  “Second Lieut. R. Kilpatrick Muir was landing after a flight with his father, Mr. William Muir, when the machine was caught by a gust of wind and crashed to the ground. Mr. Muir was thrown out and killed instantly, but his son escaped with slight injuries."
Source: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/218838

No obvious Casualty Card at the RAF Museum Storyvault.

The death of a 56 year old William Matthew Muir was registered in the Romford District in Q1 1916.

The 1916 Probate Calendar records that a William Matthew Muir of 38 Arden Road, Church End, Finchley died on the 12 March 1916 at Barkingside, Essex.

The British Newspaper Archive has a report of the incident in the edition of the Eastern Counties Times dated Friday 24^th March 1916 – subscription access needed to view the article.

Cheers,
Peter

[stephen p nunn]

Thanks for this latest one Peter - how tragic.

Regards.

Stephen (Maldon).

[PRC]

On 17/12/2023 at 11:04, stephen p nunn said:

5/6/17 Sopwith 1½ Strutter crashed Stow Maries. Young Australian pilot, 2^nd/Lt. Roy Walter Mouritzen (37 Squadron), was flying a Sopwith 1½ Strutter. Returning to Stow at dusk, he attempted a downwind landing when, according to one eyewitness, he struck a steamroller (some say it was a caravan). He was only 20 years old and had gained his wings nine days earlier.

The Aviation Safety Nerwork add that the aircraft serial number was A8305 and has transcribed the court of inquiry verdict. 

"Court if Inquiry 87/acc/124
6/6/17
Flying accident; pilot killed. Machine crashed while landing. It was the opinion of the Court of Inquiry that the pilot was killed through inexperience, in that he landed down wind. He touch down 100 yards from a hut, and when he opened the throttle to rise, the machine banked, in order to miss a marquee, and collided with a caravan."

Also

The accident that resulted in his death was described in newspapers at the time: “Having gone up for a flight from a military aerodrome in Essex, he returned at dusk and, when close to the ground, collided with a contractor's travelling caravan, which had arrived during his absence. The result was that he fractured his spine and died two hours later.”
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/221686

The Casualty Card is here in the RAF Museum storyvault, alhough that records him as killed rather than died of injuries. https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/mouritzen-r.w.-roy-walter

Cheers,
Peter

[stephen p nunn]

Thanks Peter - that adds interesting context on a well discussed incident. Regards. Stephen (Maldon).

[Pb69]

On 25/11/2023 at 19:21, Fovant said:

I originally did the research for an article in the North Weald Arfield newsletter, which I used to produce when I worked there on Airfield Operations. Before I retired I created a series of pdf booklets of the various historical articles which are available for download on the Airfield website. Here is the link to the page. Scroll down to the bottom, Booklet 1 covers World War 1. The others have articles up to the Cold War period.

https://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/northweald/history/

I also have an interest in the Liittle Wigborough Zeppelin. My maternal grandfather was a pre-war Hampshire Territorial, serving with the 9th Cyclist Battalion. When the unit was sent to India he was deemed unfit for overseas service. According to his entry in the National Roll of the Great War he was retained for coastal defence duties and was involved in several Zeppelin raids. I have read an account from someone else that his relative was also a Hampshire cyclist and was a member of the party sent from Mersea Island to collect the L33 Zeppelin crew from the police, so it is possible my grandfather was there too. He was eventually invalided out in 1917 as a Lance Sergeant.

Attached is a memento I have from L33 acquired separately

Hello I recommend visiting Little Wigborough Church as they have a display & booklets for sale, I made several videos on YouTube type in paul butterworth billericay 

[stephen p nunn]

2 hours ago, Pb69 said:

Hello I recommend visiting Little Wigborough Church as they have a display & booklets for sale, I made several videos on YouTube type in paul butterworth billericay 

Yes, thank you Paul - been there many times and covered it in my book....

The Little Wigborough incident

Locals slowly picked up the pieces, got over the shock of war on the home front and repaired the damage. Zeppelin L6 was never really used against England again and soon degenerated into a reconnaissance ship. Buttlar was promoted to a Kapitanleutnant for his efforts and commanded a succession of new Zeppelins, including L11 and L54. He very nearly came to grief in October 1917 when his airship was pursued and severely damaged by a Royal Flying Corps biplane piloted by one Flight Lieutenant C.S. Nunn! There were no further Zeppelin attacks on Maldon, but Dr. Salter talks of other raids on Ipswich (30/4/1915), Southend (10/5/1915), Ramsgate and Margate (17/5/1915), Burnham and Latchingdon (29/5/1915), Woodbridge, killing 10 people (14/8/1915), and London (8/9/1915). But the tide had begun to turn and allied aircraft were intercepting many of these raiders. As Salter puts it in an entry for 7/6/1915; a “Zeppelin (was) brought down in Belgium by an English airman named Warneford”. In September of the following year, on the dark still, but starlit night of the 23^rd, Zeppelin L33 carried out a bombing mission on East London, killing 11 people. It was, in turn, attacked by the Royal Flying Corps from Hornchurch. The stricken airship unloaded a large amount of fuel over Woodham Ferrers, appeared to follow the railway line, lost height and only just cleared Maldon. It crashed in a field within a few yards of New Hall buildings, between Little Wigborough and Peldon and the commander and his crew set their craft on fire. The huge wreck looked just like “a Crystal Palace without its glass” and a small section of that structure can still be seen in Great Wigborough Church, along with an explanation of the event (in a frame also made from the wreckage). Police Constable (354) Charles ‘Zepp’ Smith, assisted by Special Constable Nicholas, organised the capture of the enemy airmen, who were promptly marched to the Rev. C. Pierrepont Edwards, MC, at Church House, Mersea Island. (Rev. Edwards was known as the ‘Fighting Parson’. He became vicar of West Mersea in 1898 and served as an Army Chaplin in Gallipoli). The Germans were locked in a barn at Mersea and then transferred to Colchester Garrison. Meanwhile the wreckage was guarded by the men of the Lancashire Fusiliers. At the same time all of this was happening Dr. Salter was called from his bed to go to Abbots Hall, Wigborough, where a local, Mrs. Clarke, was in the final moments of labour. The child, a healthy girl, was duly delivered by the doctor and later christened – Zeppelina! She went on to marry and Zeppelina Williams, as she became, only died on the 30/9/2004. It would seem that the Zeppelin raids on our district had an impact on the local community in more ways than one!

Regards.

Stephen (Maldon).

 

 

 

[Pb69]

It was interesting for me, I've met with so many if the residents today, it's a loverly all but forgotten part of Essex, I've walked the same route & wondered what it must have been like for these folk on that night, a crash and a bang then a load a German fellas with beards wondering around in the dark, how they haven't made a film.I don't know, I look after the Cemetery where L32 were buried, the whole night must have been a shock for Essex 

[stephen p nunn]

2 minutes ago, Pb69 said:

It was interesting for me, I've met with so many if the residents today, it's a loverly all but forgotten part of Essex, I've walked the same route & wondered what it must have been like for these folk on that night, a crash and a bang then a load a German fellas with beards wondering around in the dark, how they haven't made a film.I don't know, I look after the Cemetery where L32 were buried, the whole night must have been a shock for Essex 

Many years ago I interviewed someone who witnessed it and her family recovered bits from Bocker's burnt great coat.....

Just now, stephen p nunn said:

Many years ago I interviewed someone who witnessed it and her family recovered bits from Bocker's burnt great coat.....

 

[stephen p nunn]

1 minute ago, stephen p nunn said:

Many years ago I interviewed someone who witnessed it and her family recovered bits from Bocker's burnt great coat.....

 

 

[Pb69]

An incredible experience, I like the crown or is it a Bishops Mitre with the Cross of Jesus just in view, I talked with a landowner who's neighbour drained the pond looking for the thrown weapons, he met Zeppelina when she was elderly & later would move to the same lane, I met the new owner of the cottage which Bocker knocked on the door, it's a very strange thought to think this all happened there, not so long ago the village celebrated 100 years & I didn't think to go down there