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Remembered Today:

Flag Commander R O B Bridgeman


Peter Beckett

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This memorial to Flag Commander The Honourable Richard Orlando Beaconsfield Bridgeman DSO is in the Anglican Cathedral at Zanzibar. If anyone is researching him, I will email them a higher resolution picture.

Peter

post-163-1181893180.jpg

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Peter,

A nice memorial tablet

A snippet from Brad King's book on the RNAS (p.51)

This was a reconnaissance flight which ended badly,

Bridgeman drowned and Flight Lieutenant Moon was taken prisoner

Hopefully someone else can add more details

regards

Michael

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From a previous thread on Castle Bromwich War Memorial

Hon R.O.B Bridgeman

4th son 4th Earl of Bradford (1845-1915) and Ida, Countess, of Weston Park and Castle Bromwich.

Richard Orlando Beaconsfield

Born 28.2.1879

Killed on active service East Africa 9.1.1917,aged 37. Commander, RN. HMS Hyacinthe. Dar-Es-Salaam War Cemetery.

DSO

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Hopefully someone else can add more details

Mentioned briefly in the latest issue of Cross&Cockade:

"Moon & Bridgeman undertook a reconnaissance of the Rufiji Delta in Short 8254, operating from [seaplane carrier HMS] Himalaya. On their way back the engine failed and they made a forced landing in a creek... they spent the next three days walking and swimming towards the mouth of the river. Sadly, Bridgeman died after a raft they had made was swept out to sea. Moon was captured.. later awarded a DSO"

A footnote says that Bridgeman was greatly liked by the RNAS with whom he had worked closely over the previous year.

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I expect he's related to Geoffrey John Orlando Bridgeman, an Etonian who survived the war; although they couldn't be brothers.

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Thanks for those extra details Adrian

regarding "A footnote says that Bridgeman was greatly liked by the RNAS with whom he had worked closely over the previous year"

King says that he acted as Observer on several flights during the Konigsberg operations

re his DSO

from the supplement to the London Gazette, 14 July 1916

The KING has further been graciously

pleased to approve of the following appointments

to the Distinguished Service Order and

of the award of the Distinguished Service

Cross to the undermentioned officers in recognition

of the services stated: —

To be Companions of the Distinguished Service

Order.

C'dr. The Hon. Richard Orlando Beaconsfield

Bridgeman, R.N.

Cdr. Bridgeman displayed great courage

and coolness on the 19th August, 1915, in

command of two whalers which proceeded

into Tanga Harbour. The manner in which

the whalers endeavoured, though -subjected

to a heavy and accurate fire, to carry out

their orders and board the S.S. Markgraf

was worthy of the best traditions of the

Royal Navy.

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And this appears to be the DSO for Moon

from the London Gazette

Admiralty,

15th June, 1917.

The following despatch has been received

from the Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good

Hope Station, describing the later coastal

operations by H.M. ships against German East Africa

H.M.S. "Hyacinth,"

28th January, 1917.

SIR, — Be pleased to lay before their Lordships

the following report of the later coastal

operations against German East Africa by

H.M. ships under my orders.

.......................................................................

In connection with the operations

covered by this despatch I append a list of

officers and men whom I specially desire to

bring to the notice of their Lordships for

meritorious services.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

(Signed) E. CHARLTON,

Rear Admiral,

Commander in Chief.

Admiralty, 15 June, 1917.

The KING has been graciously pleased to

give orders for the following appointments to

the Distinguished Service Order and for the

award of the Distinguished Service Cross to

the undermentioned Officers in recognition of

their services in the operations described in the

Commander-in-Chief's despatch: —

To be Companions of the Distinguished

Service Order: —

Flight Lieutenant Edwin Rowland Moon,

R.N.A.S. (now prisoner of war).

Since April, 1916, has carried out constant

flights over the enemy's coast, including

reconnaissances, bomb-dropping and spotting

for gun fire in all weathers. Has shown

great coolness and resource on all occasions.

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It seems that Moon did not outlast his companion Bridgeman by too many years

But he did manage to get a bar to his DSO

from the CWGC

Name: MOON, EDWIN ROWLAND

Initials: E R

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Squadron Leader

Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force

Age: 33

Date of Death: 29/04/1920

Awards: D S O and Bar

Additional information: Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.

Son of the late Edwin Wade Moon, and of Mrs. E. T. Sims (formerly Moon);

husband of Isabel M. Moon, of 3, Cecil Court, Tunbridge Wells.

Born at Southampton.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 69 K. 68. Cemetery: SOUTHAMPTON OLD CEMETERY

Does anyone have the rest of his story?

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I believe E Keeble Chatterton's book The Konigsberg Adventure has a account of his actions that won him the DSO and his death.

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Thanks for the information all.

Btw was his rank actually Flight Commander?

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It seems that Moon did not outlast his companion Bridgeman by too many years

Does anyone have the rest of his story?

The Times of 30/4/1920 reports:

FLYING BOAT ACCIDENT OFF FELIXSTOWE

FOUR AIRMEN DROWNED

The Air Ministry regrets to announce that while a flying-boat was engaged on an instructional cruise yesterday morning it crashed into the sea off Felixstowe.

There were five officers and one airman on board and of these four have been drowned

Those missing are Squadron Leader E R Moon, Flying Officer A J Fyfield, Sub Lieutenant Fonsecea (from Portugese Navy) and 165985 AC2 Bass

Flight Lieutenant C O F Modin and Observer Officer L H Pakenham-Walsh were slightly injured

The next of kin have been informed

A Felixstowe correspondent telegraphs that the crew of the Venture, a divers' boat working on a wreck saved Observer-Officer Walsh and Lieutenant Modin was rescued by Mt Litte, a fisherman and his son. Squadron Leader Moon who was a well known Felixstowe officer, had a very narrow escape when pilot of the Felixstowe Fury when she started on a voyage to the Cape, which ended disastrously a few minutes after she left Felixstowe.

The bodies of Squadron Leader Moon and Flying Officer Fyfield were recovered in the afternoon

The weather was sunny with a light breeze and a calm sea at the time of the accident, and several witnesses state that the machine was about 1700ft above the sea when it went into a spin

Sue

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Sue,

Very many thanks for that; it's most interesting

The more so since I recognise another name from that crash; Modin

During the course of the war this chap was in the Navy, the Marines and the Air Force

Charles Oscar Frithiof Modin first joined the RNVR and served with the Naval Division at Antwerp in October 1914

Sub-Lt Modin was MiD by Maj-Gen Paris (LG 10 Nov 14) and he received a DSC in the next New Years honours

for his escape from the Germans and refusing to be interned in Holland

While this was happening he switched from the RNVR to the RM, gazetted a Temp. Capt. 1 Dec 14

In January 1917 he switched from the RM [63rd (RN) Dvnl. Train] to the RFC Mil. Wing. as Flying Officer, Temp Capt. C. O. F. Modin, Gen. List.

Later in 1917 he was Wing Instr in Gunnery (Graded as Flight Comdr)

and the same year became Brig Instr in Gunnery (Graded Sqdn Cmdr) and to be temp Major whilst so employed

July 1918 Staff Officer 2nd Class until October when he reverted at his own request

Granted the Hon. rank of Maj. October 1918

Transferred to the unempld list mid-1919

Granted a Short Service commission 10 October 1919 as Flight Lieutenant Charles Oscar Frithiof Modin DSC retaining the seniority in the substantive rank last held prior to the grant of the SSC

the London Gazette found the search for such an unusual name quite easy B)

The photograph below shows him as a Captain, RM

[from Len Sellers' magazine 'RND' Issue 20, March 2002, p1963]

ModinDSC.jpg

thanks again and best regards

Michael

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Per,

I think that it is Flag Commander

and not Flight Commander for Bridgeman

He was RN, and not RNAS

The 1917 Naval Who's Who has him as

'First Lieutenant of "Medina" during voyage of the King and Queen to India, November, 1911, to February 1912; promoted Commander from date of ship's paying off, 15 February, 1912; DSO., 14 July, 1916"

The War Supplement gives him as Comm. "served in the operations which resulted in the destruction of the German cruiser 'Königsberg' up the Rufiji River, German East Africa, between 6th and 11th July, 1915.

Mentioned in Vice Admiral King-Hall's despatch dated 15th July 1915 (London Gazette, 8th December 1915)" Then comes the DSO mentioned above.

I may be wrong but I think that the reference to 'Flag' rank refers to his position vis-à-vis the Admiral, CinC, Cape of Good Hope.

regards

Michael

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Charles Modin rose to the rank of Air Commodore and was a POW of the Japanese in WW2.

http://www.rafweb.org/Biographies/Modin.htm

The above link also gives more details on the Flying Boat accident:

At the inquest, on May 1, on the bodies of Squadron-Leader Moon and Flying Officer Fyfield, Observer-Officer Pakenham Walsh said that the flying boat started off all right, and it had made several practice landings on the water. After about an hour, and at 2,000 ft. up, Squadron-Leader Moon took control, as he wished to do a glide. When about 1,500 ft. up the machine received a bump on the tail, which threw the machine out of control and developed into a spin. Squadron-Leader Moon then did all he could to right the machine, but the distance from the water was not sufficient to allow of a complete recovery. The machine struck the water on a fairy natural keel. Witness was of the opinion that if they had had another 100 ft. to 200 ft. they would have got out of it all right. On striking the water the machine absolutely collapsed. It was impossible to do anything, because the boat was upside down. Witness went under, and when he came up he did not see anybody else.

The Coroner said, so far as he could make out, there was nothing wrong with the machine or the piloting. It appeared to be a pure accident. He recorded a verdict of 'Death from injuries received through the sudden accidental fall of a flying boat'"

The coroner seems to be displaying an ignorance of aerial matters: as far he could make out, there was nothing wrong with the machine or the piloting. It appeared to be a pure accident..... the sudden accidental fall of a flying boat'" :huh:

If it wasn't the fault of the machine or pilot, what was it - aircraft don't fall for no reason. The bump from the tail suggests structural failure to me, unless they hit a seagull.

I've heard the name Pakenham Walsh as well, but can't place him - any ideas?

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It's real "Boys Own Paper" stuff isn't it - what amazing characters they were

Re Charles Modin - seems his son was killed in Normandy while he was a POW in WW2:

Name: MODIN, CLIVE ERIC

Initials: C E

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Major

Regiment/Service: The King's Regiment (Liverpool)

Unit Text: 9th Bn.

Secondary Regiment: East Yorkshire Regiment

Secondary Unit Text: attd. 2nd Bn.

Age: 30

Date of Death: 18/07/1944

Service No: 121313

Additional information: Son of Charles Oscar Friti of Modin and Sophie Eileen Modin, of Southsea, Hampshire. B.A. (Cantab.).

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 1.

Cemetery: BANNEVILLE-LA-CAMPAGNE WAR CEMETERY

Charles died in Portugal on 11th December 1966.

Re Edwin Moon - a quick google search found an interesting mailing list posting from 2003 at http://pease1.sr.unh.edu/pipermail/cci/200...ber/000319.html that gives some further background to him:

Eric Rowland Moon managed the family marine business (Moonbeams Ltd., Royal

Pier Gates, Town Quay, Southampton) and, in 1909, began the construction of

his first aircraft. This was a 'Demoiselle type', known as Moonbeam

Monoplane No1. This had flown by early June 1910, as Moon wrote to 'Flight'

to tell them about it. It is believed that these early flight trials took

place from fields near Fawley.

A second monoplane, Moonbeam Monoplane No2, may well have been a development

of No1 : certainly there is evidence to suggest that the same fuselage was

used. This had a 24 feet wingspan, weighed 260 lbs, and was powered by a

20hp JAP 4 cylinder engine driving a 6 feet diameter prop. No2 was flown

from fields at Beaulieu, Ower and North Stoneham, Eastleigh.

(British Aircraft Before the Great War, by MH Goodall & AE Tagg, Schiffer)

Moon was commissioned in to the RNAS and served in East Africa. He was

awarded the DSO and bar, the citations for which are :

Flt Lt RNAS (LG 15.6.1917)

"Since April, 1916, has carried out constant flights over the enemy's coast,

including reconnaissance, bomb-dropping and spotting for gunfire in all

weathers. Has show great coolness and resource on all occasions."

Sqn Cmdr (LG 16.3.1918

"In recognition of the resource and gallantry displayed by him in the

following circumstances : On 6 January 1918, whilst on a reconnaissance

flight over the Rufigi Delta with Commander the Honourable Richard OB

Bridgeman, DSO, RN, as observer, he was obliged by engine trouble to descend

in one of the creeks, where it became necessary to destroy the seaplane to

avoid the possibility of it being captured. For three whole days the two

officers wandered about the delta in their efforts to avoid capture and to

rejoin their ship. During this time they had little or nothing to eat, and

were continually obliged to swim across the creeks, the bushes on the banks

being impenetrable. On the morning of 7th January they constructed a raft of

three spars and some latticed window frames. After paddling and drifting on

this for the whole of the 7th and 8th January, they were finally coursed out

to sea on the morning of the 9th, when Commander Bridgeman, who was not a

strong swimmer, died of exhaustion and exposure. In the later afternoon

Flight Commander Moon managed to reach the shore, and was taken prisoner by

the Germans. He was released from captivity on 21st November 1917. He

displayed the greatest gallantry in attempting to save the life of his

companion."

These awards were both in relation to action against the light Cruiser

'Koeningsberg' which was hiding in the Rufigi Delta.

Moon made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the French.

In August 1919 Moon was the pilot of the Felixstowe Fury when it crashed.

Moon was among the six crew who were rescued. Unfortunately the wireless

operator was drowned.

In April 1920 Squadron leader Moon was killed in the crash of a 230 squadron

flying boat on a routine training flight from Felixstowe. Under supervision

of Moon, who was CO of Felixstowe, the 'boat carried five officers and an

airman and the training consisted of practise landings on the sea. About an

hour after leaving Felixstowe the flying boat suddenly spun in to the sea

from 1 700 feet. Moon was demonstrating the 'boat's gliding ability when a

"sudden bump was felt on the tail and the flying boat became unmanageable".

The flying boat was too low for Moon to recover and it struck the water on a

fairly even keel. Unfortunately the force of the impact submerged the

aircraft and it broke up on partially resurfacing. Four of the crew,

including Moon, were drowned.

Moon's body was taken to his home at Bassett, and then taken on a gun

carriage to the cemetery chapel. The band of the RGA, Portsmouth, played the

Funeral March. Detachments from Calshot and Felixstowe were in attendance,

including Lt Pakenham Walsh who was a survivor of the crash. Rev G H

Collier, chaplain to the RAF, officiated.

(The Solent Sky : A local history of Aviation from 1908 to 1946 with special

reference to Southampton (Eastleigh) Airport, Peter T New)

Cheers

Sue

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My thanks to Sue and Adrian for expanding my knowledge of Modin

who I had previously heard of only in connection with the RND

and Yes, sorry for stretching your thread Peter, but I think you will agree that it has been a fascinating trail

regards

Michael

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To all have added to this topic, my sincere thanks.

Little did I or my wife realise when we took the pic about 2 weeks ago, that we would learn so much about Flag Commander R O B Bridgeman or his compatriots in such a short time. Well done to all and the plaque means much more to me now.

It has also brought to the foreground a glimpse of events far from the Western Front.

Peter

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