Lt Wilfred Menadue Roskelly.

[Bob Coulson]

I have the details from Sky Their Battlefield but would appreciate any other info on this gentleman if anyone could oblige.

I think he is on the memorial I am researching but trying to tie in a local connection.

Bob.

[mickdavis]

It's an unusual surname and a search of my RE8 database produced the following :-

A92 - AID Farnborough 9.12.16, allotted to EF France. 1 AD St Omer dd ex England 24.12.16. 52 Sqn dd ex ex 1AD 27.12.1916. 34 Sqn ex 52 Sqn and wrecked when overturned in forced landing on rough ground 1.3.17 (Sgt Clarke & Lt T Tilden-Smith on patrol when a cylinder blew off the engine at 600ft - crew OK) then crashed, cause unknown, 20.4.17 (2Lt Roskelly & Pte Gibbs on patrol escort - crew OK) then wrecked taking off from forced landing en-route for St Omer 18.6.17 (2Lt R St Amory & 2Lt LC Tyson - the crew became lost in a rainstorm and landed at Hesdin - engine cut on take-off and ran into barbed wire. A thunderstorm developed during recovery the machine was blown over and wrecked). 2AD Candas 6.7.1917 - not worth reconstruction.

52 Sqn had an unhappy time with their first RE8s and exchanged them for 34 Sqn's BE2es. 52 Sqn re-equipped with RE8s during May 1917. I wonder whether, if it was the same person, Roskelly transferred across at that point.

[apwright]

For the local connection, try the following:

Births Jan/Feb/Mar 1892 Stockton (Tees) RD - ROSKELLY Wilfrid Menadue (Vol 10a Page 51)

1901 census:

11 Upper Milbank St, Normanby, Middlesbrough

William J Roskelly, Head, 36, Superintendent Of Insurance Agents, born Cornwall

Mary A Roskelly, Wife, 35, born Leadgate, Durham

Ethel Roskelly, Daughter, 15, born Durham City

William H Roskelly, Son, 13, born Gateshead, Durham

Wilfred M Roskelly, Son, 9, born Stockton On Tees, Durham

Harold Roskelly, Son, 6, born Stockton On Tees

Mary O Roskelly, Daughter, 4, born South Bank, Yorks

Evelyn Roskelly, Daughter, 4, born South Bank, Yorks

Mabel J Roskelly, Daughter, 2, born South Bank, Yorks

Adrian

[Bob Coulson]

Mick/Adrian,

Many thanks for your help and info most useful, the local birth seems to confirm I am on the right track.

Bob.

[ralphjd]

Bob, Your man appears in the London Gazette:- no 29801 d/d 24-10-1916 . no 29928 d/d 2-2-1917 Temp 2L/T W M Roskelly attached W Yorks Regt to be trans to General List 24-Dec 1916. no 30218 d/d 3-8-1917 General List The undermentioned temp 2L/T gen list to be temp L/ts whilst serving with the RFC 1-7-1916 W M Roskelly. Ralph.

[Bob Coulson]

Thanks Ralph, the picture builds.

Bob.