Arthur Gelston Shepherd

[chrisharley9]

I wonder if anyone can help my with any info on this lad please -

Reference: COR/1/3/79

Creation dates: 12 Mar 1915

SHEPHERD

Scope and Content

Arthur Gelston, Flight Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service, son of Arthur Mutrie Shepherd of 'White Lodge' Foxcombe Hill, near Oxford, 20; fell into the sea with his aeroplane, 200 yards from the foreshore, 1/4 mile east of the Fishing Station, Eastbourne; misadventure

As mentioned in another thread Im working on a data base concerning service personnel who perished in E Sussex during the Great War & who were the subject of a coroners report

Chris

[MikeW]

This is an unusual one! Shepherd was flying a Short-Sommer pusher biplane, RNAS serial number 2.

This machine has a history, built at Eastchurch, fitted with flotation gear and landed on the Medway, flown from a platform on HMS Africa, Flown off Hibernia when underway, one of the earliest night flights and so on. It was rebuilt and re-engined many times. I think its last moment of fame before Shepherd wrote it off was to fly Winston Churchill on 29th November 1913.

Can't tell you much about Arthur Gelston Shepherd, other than he attained RAeC "ticket" No.849 on the 21st June 1914.

There is a photo of No.2 on HMS Hibernia on page 18 of Sturdivant & Page's Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units pub. by Air-Britain.

Mike

[chrisharley9]

Thanks very much Mike

CHris

[MattyBoy]

Hi Chris,

Vide the Aeroplane - 17th March, 1915:-

The death of Flight Sub-Lieut. Shepherd, RNAS, was the subject of an inquest held at the Town Hall, Eastbourne, on March 12th.

The East Sussex Coroner, Dr, D. G. Vere Benson, stated that this was the first fatal accident to an aviator that had occurred in his jurisdiction.

Sub-Lieut. Shepherd was taking a biplane from the seaplane sheds to the aerodrome, and rose quite well. After one circuit it was noticed that he was in difficulties. Apparently he intended to fly over the crest of the beach, but was seen to fall into the sea.

Three witnesses gave evidence to the effect that they saw the biplane fall into the sea near the beach. They had noticed that it had been flying very low.

Squadron Comander Philip Shepherd, RN, who stated he was not related to the deceased officer, said he would like to tell the jury an important fact which had been ascertained as the result of a certain amount of loss of life, and the loss of a good many machines, namely, that if an aviator were flying over smooth water he could not tell whether he was 10 feet, 100 feet, or 200 feet above the water.

Witnesses saw Mr. Shepherd flying and thought he intended to make a turn and come in towards the land. Before he could turn he hit the water through not being able to judge the height. Witness had examined the machine and found no defect in it or in the engine.

Flight Lieut. Graham Donald, RNAS, stated that on seeing the machine in the water he swam out 200 or 300 yards. He had some difficulty in finding Mr. Shepherd owing to the waves, but he eventually succeeded in doing so. The Coroner warmly complimented witness on his gallantry, and the jury signified their acquiescence in this commendation.

Dr. Rainey, the medical witness, attributed death to the injuries to Lieut. Shepherd's head. A large cut on the scalp was caused by contact with a stretched wire.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Arthur Gelston Shepherd was born at Abingdon-on-Thames on January 18th, 1894, and so was only just over 21 years of age. He took his certificate (No. 849) on a Grahame-White biplane at Hendon on July 21st, 1914, and for some little time after the outbreak of war acted as assistant-instructor.

[chrisharley9]

Matt

excellent piece of info - thanks very much

Chris