Captain A.T Greg

[kingsnorth36]

I am researching Captain Arthur Tylston Greg RFC, I was told that on 23rd April 1917 the date of his death one of his opponents was Herman Goering, can any pal verify or assist, any other information into any of Gregs actions would be appreciated.

[Andrew Smith]

I am researching Captain Arthur Tylston Greg RFC, I was told that on 23rd April 1917 the date of his death one of his opponents was Herman Goering, can any pal verify or assist, any other information into any of Gregs actions would be appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

G'day,

"The Sky Their Battlefield" shows your man being shot down over Urvillers flying DH4 A7408. "Under the Guns of the German Aces" shows that Goering attacked a Fe2b over Barelle later that day. A check of geography should show if Jasta 26 was in the same area as your man.

Regards,

Andrew.

[Dolphin]

I am researching Captain Arthur Tylston Greg RFC, I was told that on 23rd April 1917 the date of his death one of his opponents was Herman Goering, can any pal verify or assist, any other information into any of Gregs actions would be appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As Andrew has said, Capt A T Greg was killed while flying DH 4 A7408, with AMI R W Robson as observer, when he was killed. DH 4s of No 55 Sqn, together with Martinsyde G.100s of No 27 Sqn, and escorted by four Nieuports from No 29 Sqn, set out to bomb an ammunition dump at Boue and a factory at Lechelle. On their return journey, the formation was attacked by seven Albatros scouts from Jasta 12 and Jasta 26. Despite being shot up, the British machines made it back to the Allied side of the lines. A7408 crashed at Ervillers [or Urvillers] with the pilot dead and the observer wounded, while the crews of A7410 (Lt T Webb and AMI W Bond) and A2147 (Lt I V Pyott DSO and 2Lt A D Taylor) were safe, though 2Lt Taylor was wounded in the arm.

Bloody April . . .Black September indicates that Uffz Reinhold Jorke and Vzfw Grigo from Jasta 12 were credited with victories over DH 4s on 23 April, but this isn't reflected in Above the Lines and The Jasta Pilots, respectively.

So the answer to your enquiry is that it's quite likely that Ltn Göring was involved in the action against No 55 Sqn on 23 April.

I hope that this helps.

Gareth

[jon_armstrong]

I'm glad someone is researching Arthur Tylston Greg, as in reading about local men who died he always struck me as an interesting character. There seems to have been something of the poet about him - his description of being wounded at 2nd Ypres contains some wonderful phrases - and I guess this is probably in keeping with his girlfriend having been a poet or sorts.

From what I gather he was killed less than a month after returning to France with the RFC... I have wondered what made him volunteer for what he must have known was a pretty finite life as a pilot when he'd already had a pretty eventful war in the infantry, having been wounded at least twice, at least one of those times severely.

[Dolphin]

I've now had time to do a little more searching on the fate of A7408's crew, and found that Capt Greg's observer, 21451 AMI Robert William Robson, died of his wounds on 18 May 1917. He's buried at Boisguillaume.

Gareth

[kingsnorth36]

Guys Thanks

I feel that you are right. I was lucky enough to purchase his medals, memorial plaque and that of his brother earlier this year and the Auction house had not picked up on the his connection to the war Poet Marian Allen who he was engaged to or the fact that one of his attackers was likely to be Hermann Goering. To my mind it makes the group rather special. The poem Wind in the downs is one ofthe most important war verse written wriiten by a female hand it is very evocative

The Wind on the Downs

I like to think of you as brown and tall,

As strong and living as you used to be,

In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,

And standing there and laughing down at me.

Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,

Because I can no longer see your face,

You have not died, it is not true, instead

You seek adventure in some other place.

That you are round about me, I believe;

I hear you laughing as you used to do,

Yet loving all the things I think of you;

And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?

You follow and are watchful where I go;

How should you leave me, having loved me so?

We walked along the tow-path, you and I,

Beside the sluggish-moving, still canal;

It seemed impossible that you should die;

I think of you the same and always shall.

We thought of many things and spoke of few,

And life lay all uncertainly before,

And now I walk alone and think of you,

And wonder what new kingdoms you explore.

Over the railway line, across the grass,

While up above the golden wings are spread,

Flying, ever flying overhead,

Here still I see your khaki figure pass,

And when I leave the meadow, almost wait

That you should open first the wooden gate.

Marian Allen

[Guest grolstar]

I am researching Captain Arthur Tylston Greg RFC, I was told that on 23rd April 1917 the date of his death one of his opponents was Herman Goering, can any pal verify or assist, any other information into any of Gregs actions would be appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[kingsnorth36]

Yes I can confirm that one f Arthur's Opponents that day was young Hermann Goering, I acquired his war medals and that of his brother earlier this year and have improved the research.