2nd Lieut Malcolm Glassford Begg MC & Bar 2nd Rifle Brigade

[stiletto_33853]

Was wondering if any aviation guru can help me with this officer. Malcolm Glassford Begg commissioned into the Rifle Brigade on 13/1/15, attached to The Royal Flying Corps. He won the M.C., L.G. date 22/9/16 and Bar to the M.C., L.G. 14/11/16. I have the citations but any further information would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Andy

[John S]

Was wondering if any aviation guru can help me with this officer. Malcolm Glassford Begg commissioned into the Rifle Brigade on 13/1/15, attached to The Royal Flying Corps. He won the M.C., L.G. date 22/9/16 and Bar to the M.C., L.G. 14/11/16. I have the citations but any further information would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Andy

On 3 Sep 1916 he was observer in BE2e No 5817 (9 Sqn) with pilot 2Lt SW Mann on contact patrol when the longeron was shot through and they were forced to land. Both ok.

On 25 Sep 1917 with 63 Sqn in Mespotamia. Pilot in RE8 with ACpl OW Grant as observer. In combat with Halberstadt over Tekrit. Possible engine failure and forced to land. Both reported as POW.

From Sky Their Battlefield

Air Communiques for 8 Aug 1916 report a Lt Begg , an observer with Pilot Lt Anderson with 9 Sqn on contact patrol from 0840 to 1105. Obtained contact with Battalion HQ and position of our troops by means of mirrors and sheets of tin on men's backs. A map was dropped to Corps HQ giving the osition of our troops.

Hope this helps a little

Regards

John

[stiletto_33853]

John,

Many thanks for this information. The citations read as follows

M.C. , L.G 22-9-16

For conspicuous gallantry and skill in contact work. A close reconnaissance was required of a certain locality and he came down to 700 feet to obtain valuable information under a heavy fire from the ground.

Bar to M.C. , L.G. 14-11/16

For conspicuous gallantry in ation. He has on many occasions carried out successful contact patrol work at low altitudes, rendering most valuable reports and displaying great courage and determination.

Andy

[Stebie9173]

Not sure if you wnated bio details, but:

From the Times:

March 29th, 1935

Mr M G Begg and Miss Buchanan

The engagement is announced between Malcolm Glassford Begg, younger son of the late Mr & Mrs Robert Begg of Beunos Aires, and Pamela, daughter of Mr Calvert Buchanan, of Johannesburg and Mrs Buchanan of 35 Shepherd Street, London.

Steve.

[stiletto_33853]

Steve,

Many thanks for that extra bit of information, much appreciated.

Andy

[stiletto_33853]

Just revisiting this one. He was repatriated from Turkey on 24/11/18, arriving in Dover on 16/12/18, does anyone know what camp he was a P.O.W. in???

Andy

[quemerford]

Have you seen this?

http://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/5092268/1873/52247/

Repat ex-Alexandria, but a related card, R.53556, isn't available yet. I think it may be unlikely to tell you which camp he was in.

[Verrico2009]

I could only find this - no access to the card itself, unfortunately:-

Name: M G Begg

Rank: Lieut.

Regiment: Mesopotamia. R.A.F.

Date Missing: 25 Sep 1917

Repatriation Date: 16 Dec 1918

Record Number: 7841

Section: East Theatre of War.

[fetubi]

QUOTE (stiletto_33853 @ Nov 29 2005, 12:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Was wondering if any aviation guru can help me with this officer. Malcolm Glassford Begg commissioned into the Rifle Brigade on 13/1/15, attached to The Royal Flying Corps. He won the M.C., L.G. date 22/9/16 and Bar to the M.C., L.G. 14/11/16. I have the citations but any further information would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Andy

On 3 Sep 1916 he was observer in BE2e No 5817 (9 Sqn) with pilot 2Lt SW Mann on contact patrol when the longeron was shot through and they were forced to land. Both ok.

On 25 Sep 1917 with 63 Sqn in Mespotamia. Pilot in RE8 with ACpl OW Grant as observer. In combat with Halberstadt over Tekrit. Possible engine failure and forced to land. Both reported as POW.

From Sky Their Battlefield

Air Communiques for 8 Aug 1916 report a Lt Begg , an observer with Pilot Lt Anderson with 9 Sqn on contact patrol from 0840 to 1105. Obtained contact with Battalion HQ and position of our troops by means of mirrors and sheets of tin on men's backs. A map was dropped to Corps HQ giving the osition of our troops.

Hope this helps a little

Regards

John

Following on from John's reply, this is the expanded and more detailed entry in my re-published The Sky Their Battlefield II, for the loss of this crew on 25 September 1917

RE8 63Sqn

**Rec TIGRIS on return attacked Halberstadt 1-Str over TEKRIT A’dr ~8am chased it down but top plane extensions folded 5,000’ managed ldg in control until 100’ when ss cr wr MIA (Lt MG Begg MC POW/Lt LN Baillon POW) Baillon cut over eye, speed indicator showed 115mph

Typically, there is a huge amount more detail, from another 19 years of research - almost 6,000 new or revised entries in the main part, plus the new Accidents Addendum with between 4 and 5000 more new entries. Much of the added material in this case looks as though it came from these men's Repatriated Prisoner Statements. I incorporated a huge number of these.

I invite all to take a look at the website link below!

Trevor

PS It turns out Cpl Grant with in another machine, also lost that day, with Capt JR Philpott piloting.

[stiletto_33853]

Thank you everyone, trying to tidy up a few bits and pieces.

Trevor, what a marvelous book, very well researched and I am sure an absolute must for all aviation enthusiasts, thank you very much.

Andy

[Droocoo]

I believe Begg was interned with a pilot whose medals I have- Captain John Reginald Philpott MC of No. 63 and No. 12 Squadrons

Luckily I saw this post because I have a vast amount of information on both Begg and Philpott. When I have finished my write-up (which has already taken me 15 typed pages!) I will send you through the details.

Feel free to PM me

[fetubi]

Thank you everyone, trying to tidy up a few bits and pieces.

Trevor, what a marvelous book, very well researched and I am sure an absolute must for all aviation enthusiasts, thank you very much.

Andy

Andy, Thank you so much for your comments. They mean so much.

Best regards,

Trevor

[cvlangdon]

I believe Begg was interned with a pilot whose medals I have- Captain John Reginald Philpott MC of No. 63 and No. 12 Squadrons

Luckily I saw this post because I have a vast amount of information on both Begg and Philpott. When I have finished my write-up (which has already taken me 15 typed pages!) I will send you through the details.

Feel free to PM me

Hello Andy,

I'm working at a local museum where Capt. J.R. Philpott, M.C. is commemorated on the towns roll of honour.

I am taskd with researching all of these names, and came across this feed that is quite fortunate. Would it be poossible to share any information with us here at the museum so as to add to the profile of Capt. Philpott? Any information would be much appreciated!

Chris

[charlie962]

On 29/11/2005 at 10:06, John S said:

On 25 Sep 1917 with 63 Sqn in Mespotamia. Pilot in RE8 with ACpl OW Grant as observer. In combat with Halberstadt over Tekrit. Possible engine failure and forced to land. Both reported as POW.

Trevor also added -  PS It turns out Cpl Grant with in another machine, also lost that day, with Capt JR Philpott piloting.

 

 

just a note about Grant:

Oliver William Arthur Grant was involved in an escape attempt in 1917 along with a number of others. There is a detailed description in PW Long's 'Other Ranks of Kut' and in Dorina Neave's 'Remembering Kut'.  Long refers to Grant as Cpl Grant 'DCM' but his RAF service record card doesn't seem to show this? He was mentioned in despatches for valuable services in captivity (attempting to escape, I presume) LG 12/12/1919.

The son of a clergyman, he was born in India 1892.  He first enlisted in the ASC in 1910 but was almost immediately dismissed for misconduct (theft from a comrade). He joined the RFC in 1916 (No 46448) and had time to get married in 1917 before being sent to Mesopotamia. After the forced landing referred to earlier in this thread he remained in captivity until 1919.Deemed discharged 1920. A publicised divorce in 1924  which mentions he had been working in Algeria and a mention of election to a  local council in Kenya in 1945 are all I find before his death in 1954 registered Westminster.

 

His Army and RAF service records are on FindmyPast as well as newspaper coverage of his divorce.

 

Charlie

 

 

Edited 18 November , 2018 by charlie962

[josquin]

More about Capt. Malcolm Glassford Begg, M.C. & Bar:

 

born at Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 27 January 1896 (British Subject)

in 1901, living in Streatham, London

in 1911, he was a student at Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire

he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade when he was attached to 9 Squadron, R.F.C., as an Observer; graded

    a Qualified Observer on 15 May 1916, to be Temporary Lieutenant as of 1 June 1916, then as Flight Commander/Captain with 63 Squadron in 1917

repatriated 16 December 1918

died in 1969 ,death registered at Winchester, Hampshire

 

More about Capt. John Reginald Philpott, M.C.:

born at Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire, in 1893

in 1901 and 1911, his family's residence was Southend on Sea, Essex; in 1911, he was a student at Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire

he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment when he was attached to the R.F.C., becoming a Flying Officer on 4 December 1915,

    posted to 12 Squadron on 16 December 1915, to be a Temporary Lieutenant on 1 April 1916, and to be a Flight Commander/Captain on 1 April 1916.

Captain Philpott and his observer were shot down and captured near Tikrit on 25 September 1917, and Philpott died of dysentery on 15 January 1918

     whilst a prisoner at Afion-Kara-Hissar

Captain Philpott was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 20 October 1916)

 

More about Lieut. Edward Noel Baillon:

born in the village of Flackwell Heath, near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on 25 December 1893 (although he lists 1895 on his Attestation Paper,

    census and travel records confirm 1893), he emigrated to Canada in 1912 and was employed as a bank clerk when he attested in the British Columbia

    Regiment, C.E.F.,  at Vancouver B.C., on 22 March 1915.  In 1911, his residence was Eccles, Lancashire.  Attached to the R.F.C., he qualified as a

    Wireless Operator/Observer on 31 March 1917 and served with 63 Squadron.  Shot down and captured on 25 September 1917, Lieutenant Baillon

    was repatriated on 17 February 1919. Not "L.N. Baillon" as per Trevor's post.

 

Adding to Charlie's excellent post for Corporal Grant--Oliver William Arthur Grant (R.F.C. 46448 Corporal & Aerial Gunner) listed his civilian occupation

as "engineer" when he attested in 1916.

 

Josquin