Captain W ROOPER - died when?

[Cnock]

Hello,

At Bailleul Communal Cemetery is buried Captain William Victor Trevor ROOPER - 1 Sqn

AT CWG he is listed as died on 9/10/1917, (date on his headstone)

In ' TSTB' is mentionned that ROOPER died of wounds on 25/10/1917, see also 'Above the lines'

What day did ROOPER died exactly?

Did any German pilot claimed downing ROOPER?

Regards,

Cnock

[APW]

Cnock

Flight magazine on 25 October 1917 listed him as wounded; on 1 November Flight ran an obituary giving date of death as 9 October; on 8 November they corrected their general listing from wounded to confirmed killed.

Patrick

[Dolphin]

Cnock

Airmen Died has Capt William Victor Trevor Rooper, Croix de Guerre (Belgium), of No 1 Sqn RFC (formerly 24th Bn, Royal Welch Fusiliers) being killed in action on 9 October 1917 while flying Nieuport 27 B6767. He was credited with 8 victories at the time of his death.

However, Above the Trenches indicates that he was shot down by Ltn Helmut Dilthey of Jasta 27 (who claimed a 'Sopwith' - the 5th of Dilthey's eventual 7 victories) and crashed in the front line trenches, breaking his thigh, on 9 October. He died from his injuries on 25 October.

I hope that this helps you.

Gareth

[auchonvillerssomme]

Just for information, Officers Died in the Great War has his date of death as 09/10/17 as well.

Mick

[Cnock]

Hello guys,

In 'Above the Lines' Dilthey is credited on 9/10/1917 shooting down a Spad of 19th Sqn.???

Regards,

Cnock

[Cnock]

...and 'The Jasta War Chronology credits Dilthey a Sopwith at Poelkapelle, but no reference to Rooper.

Regards,

Cnock

[Dolphin]

Cnock

I should have checked the Supplement to Above the Trenches, where the authors correct the statement about Capt Rooper to say that he was shot down by Ltn Xaver Dannhuber of Jasta 26.

However, Above the Lines has Dannhuber's 7th victory on 9 October as a Spad. Unfortunately, aircraft recognition wasn't one of the strongpoints of many of the German aces.

Regards

Gareth

[melliget]

His obit in The Times gives 9 Oct as well:

The Times, Thursday, Oct 25, 1917

FALLEN OFFICERS

CAPTAIN W. V. TREVOR ROOPER, Yeomanry,

attached R.F.C., who was killed in the air on

October 9, aged 20, was the youngest son of Mr.

and Mrs. P. L. Rooper, of Poppy's Corner, Redhill,

and formerly of The Elms, Gresford, Denbighshire.

He was educated at Bilton Grange and Charterhouse,

and enlisted in the Yeomanry on the outbreak of

war, at the age of 17. After five months he was

granted a commission in the Yeomanry, and was

attached to the R.F.C. in September, 1916. He went

to the front last April, and was gazetted captain and

flight commander in August. The chaplain writes:-

"I have never known anyone so universally liked,

loved, and admired as your boy, not only by his

squadron, but by all who came across him...

He was such a splendid type of character - a good

sportsman, a gallant officer, and a thorough gentle-

man." An officer of his flight writes:- "We feel

his loss enormously, but feel proud that he gave his

life so gloriously to save a comrade."

[Cnock]

Gentlemen,

Thank You for Your replies.

So we can assume it was indeed 9/10/1917 ROOPER died.

Regards,

Cnock