Great War>The War in the Air

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No. 2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps    No 2 Squadron of the RFC played a part in the battles of Mons and Ypres in 1915, at Loos and the Somme in 1916, at Arras in 1917 and the second battle of the Somme in 1918. It was redesignated No. 2 Squadron, Royal Air Force in April 1918. 26th February 1913  3rd August 1914 Mobilisation 13th Aug 1914 On the Move 16th Aug 1914 Aircraft Lost during retreat from Amiens 21st August 1914 Friendly fire 22nd August 1914 Reconnaissance casualties 23rd August 1914 Retreat 25th August 1914 First air combat success 26th Aug1914 Aircraft Downed 4th September 1914 On the move 12th September 1914 Aeroplanes destroyed in a storm 3rd October 1914 Long distance reconnaissance 17th October 1914 On the move 17th October 1914 Return to Britain 26th October 1914 Aircraft markings altered 12th March 1915 RFC Supports Attacks   26th April 1915 Award 27th Dec 1915 Aircraft Lost 5th Jan 1916 Aircraft Lost 5th Jan 1916 Aircraft Lost 9th Jan 1916 Aircraft damaged 2nd Feb 1916 Aircraft damaged 29th Feb 1916 Pilot wounded 1st Mar 1916 Aircraft damaged 12th Mar 1916 Aircraft damaged 18th Mar 1916 Aircraft damaged 19th Mar 1916 Aircraft damaged 2nd May 1916 Aircraft damaged 3rd May 1916 Aircraft damaged 29th May 1916 Aircraft damaged 8th Jun 1916 Aircraft damaged 17th Jun 1916 Aircraft damaged 27th Jun 1916 Aircraft damaged 28th Jun 1916 Aircraft damaged 29th Jun 1916 Aircraft damaged 29th Jun 1916 Aircraft damaged July 1916 In Action 1st July 1916 In Action  Throughout the time No 25 Squadron had been in France, it had been undertaking experimental night flying sorties. At the opening of the Battle of the Somme on 1st of July 1916 No. 2, 10 and 25 Squadrons were formally tasked with night bombing strategic targets, including enemy aerodromes and railway junctions, depots, sidings and dumps radiating from Lillie. One of the largest sorties during the battle involved 12 FEs of No 25 Squadron, 7 BEs of No 16 Squadron and 7 BEs of No 10 Squadron all coordinating to attack Douai Railway station. http://www.25squadron.org.uk/History.htm 4th Jul 1916 Aircraft damaged 8th Jul 1916 Aircraft damaged 8th Jul 1916 Aircraft damaged 22nd Jul 1916 Aircraft damaged 30th Jul 1916 Aircraft damaged 9th Aug 1916 Aircraft Lost 9th Aug 1916 Aircraft damaged 9th Aug 1916 Bad Landing 19th Aug 1916 Aircraft damaged 20th Aug 1916 Aircraft Lost 20th Aug 1916 Aircraft Lost 7th Sep 1916 Aircraft damaged 9th Sep 1916 Aircraft damaged   16th Sep 1916 Aircraft damaged 26th Sep 1916 Aircraft damaged 27th Sep 1916 Aircraft damaged 28th Sep 1916 Exercise   22nd Oct 1916 Aircraft damaged 27th Dec 1916 Aircraft Downed 27th Dec 1916 Aircraft damaged 27th Dec 1916 Aircraft damaged 27th Dec 1916 Aircraft damaged 27th Dec 1916 Aircraft damaged 1st Jan 1917 Appreciation 23rd January 1917 German destroyers move to Zeebrugge 28th of February 1918 Divisional Defence Scheme   27th Mar 1918 Brave Actions 28th Mar 1918 Aircraft Shot Down 3rd of April 1918 Le Rutoire Shelled   6th Apr 1918 Enemy Aircraft 28th of April 1918 Demolition Plans   25th August 1914 Repeated moves If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about No. 2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps? There are:70 items tagged No. 2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with No. 2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps during the Great War 1914-1918. Hammond MC.. Arthur William. Lt. Harvey-Kelly DSO MID.. Hubert Dunsterville . Maj. (d.1st May 1917) Knuckey Verner Gladders. Pte. Marwood Frederick Chalres. Cadet McLeod VC. Alan Arnett. Lt. McLeod VC.. Alan Arnett. 2nd Lt. (d.6th Nov 1918) Rhodes-Moorhouse VC.. William Bernard. Lt. (d.27th April 1915) Thompson Charles Aubrey William. F/O. Wilkin MM.. Cyril William. Spr. All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List Records of No. 2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps from other sources. The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2024 marks 25 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 19th Nov 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 264989 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 1205824 Lt. William Bernard Rhodes-Moorhouse VC. 2nd Sqd. (d.27th April 1915) William Bernard Rhodes-Moorhouse died of wounds on the 27th of April 1915, aged 27. He is buried in the grounds of Parnham House, West of the house. He was the son of Edward Moorhouse, of Parnham House, Dorset and husband of Linda Rhodes-Moorhouse. An extract from The London Gazette, dated 22nd May, 1915, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery on 26th April, 1915, in flying to Courtrai and dropping bombs on the railway line near that station. On starting the return journey he was mortally wounded, but succeeded in flying for 35 miles to his destination, at a very low altitude, and reported the successful accomplishment of his object. He has since died of his wounds." s flynn Add to this record. 264280 F/O. Charles Aubrey William "Jox" Thompson No.2 Squadron Jox Thompson was my grandfather. From his service records held at the National Archives, I can see the dates for his time flying with No.2 Squadron as an Observer, in all probability artillery spotting for the very men he used to be part of when in the Artillery at the beginning of his service. And I can see that he was wounded and hospitalised on the 27th of December 1916, then posted to 86 Squadron in early 1918. Charles Thompson was the youngest of three brothers. The middle brother, Clive Duncan Thompson, was a POW at that point in the war (having been shot down on the 16th of August 1917). The older brother, Eric Barton Thompson, was a Royal Naval Air Service aviator, killed on the 8th of April 1918. What a family. Michael Harwood Add to this record. 263993 Spr. Cyril William Wilkin MM. 249th Field Company Royal Engineers Cyril Wilkin from Royston in Hertfordshire joined No 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps in October 1912 aged 19 or 20 as an 2nd Air Mechanic and was stationed at Montrose. He went with his squadron to France in August 1914 immediately after the war being declared. Soon after his arrival he was injured after the plane he was in was brought down and after recovering was discharged from the RFC on 16th of January 1915. Cyril Wilkin subsequently enlisted as a Royal Marine Engineer in the Royal Naval Division on 3rd of February 1915 who were soon sent to the Dardanelles and landed at Helles on April 25th of April 1915. Sapper Wilkin was in No 3 Field Company R.M.E. and was a plumber by specialist trade. During the campaign, he was shot through the hand although was only in hospital for a short time before returning to the fighting line. After being evacuated from the Dardanelles in Feb 1916 he was stationed in Stavros, Greece for four months. He subsequently was sent to the Western Front where his company had been re-designated as the 249th Field Company R.E. In the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and was now within the British Army rather than the Royal Marines. Sapper Wilkin was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in carrying out details under gas and shell fire on or around 11th of March 1918. He was severely gassed in this action and was blind for about 4 days. He was initially hospitalised at Rouen before continuing his recovery in Cardiff. After the war Cyril married Nellie and had 3 children (Eileen, Derek and Graham) and worked as a plumber. He also served as a fire officer for many years when it was a volunteer service. Cyril was also one of a handful of local ex servicemen who established the Royston branch of the British Legion. He also represented Royston at football and cricket. During the Second World War, Cyril worked as a fitter for the air ministry initially for the RAF and subsequently for the US Air corps when they took over the local air base. Cyril died in 1979. Glyn Wilkin Add to this record. 246487 Maj. Hubert Dunsterville "Bay" Harvey-Kelly DSO MID. 19 Squadron (d.1st May 1917) Major Hubert Harvey-Kelly DSO MID known as Bay, was born on 9 February 1891 in Teignmouth, Devon son of Colonel H.H. Harvey-Kelly (Indian Army). He passed out from the Royal Military College Sandhurst in 1910 and joined the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment in the Channel Islands on 5 October 1910, commissioned as Lieutenant on 23rd October same year. On 30 May 1913 he graduated from the Central Flying School, Upavon and on 14th August 1913 he transferred on commission to the Royal Flying Corps Reserve before joining No.2 Squadron Royal Flying Corps at the new base at Montrose, Scotland, patrolling the North Sea to protect the Fleet. At the outbreak of War his squadron were ordered to fly over to France and even though he left Montrose on the 3rd August 1914, bad weather and damage to his plane hampered his way, not arriving in Dover until 9th August and crossing the channel on the 13th to become the first RFC pilot to land in France. The London Gazette dated 18th of February 1915 shows he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order "for services in connection with operations in the field", he was also mentioned in Despatches 3 times. He was promoted to Captain on 23rd May 1915 and then Squadron Commander and Temporary Major on 30th of January 1916, serving with 19 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. CWGC shows he died on 29th April 1917 but this is in fact incorrect, he was reported missing presumed dead on that date when he was shot down by Lt. Kurt Wolff of Jasta 11, his 24th victory. He died of head wounds three days later on 1st of May 1917 in a German Hospital, aged 26 years. His personal belongs were returned to his unit by the Germans, and then sent on to his mother. He is buried in the Browns Copse Cemetery, Roeux, France. He was a victim of what the Royal Flying Corps referred to as Bloody April when they lost over 250 aircraft. He was well liked and his antics became legendary in his unit, a fellow pilot, Archibald James, described him as "The funniest man I have ever met. He kept me in roars of laughter the whole time". A replica Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2, the plane he had flown in as a Lieutenant, along with a plaque dedicatated to him, hangs in the main hall of the Imperial War Museum, London. Considering his bravery and achievements, it is poignant that he is not remembered on any memorials other than the one at his old school. He was a pupil of Bedford Modern School 1901-03 and is commemorated on the School�s War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1923 and in the Roll of Honour, published in The Eagle, December 1923. Information courtesy of www.roll-of-honour.com. Caroline Hunt Add to this record. 225501 2nd Lt. Alan Arnett McLeod VC. 2 Squadron (d.6th Nov 1918) Alan McLeod was born on 20th of April 1899 in Stonewall, Manitoba, the son of a doctor. He enrolled in The 34th Fort Garry Horse in 1913 at age 14, but when the war started in 1914 Alan was sent home, as under age. When he became 18 he enrolled in the Royal Flying Corps in Toronto. After obtaining his pilot’s licence at Long Branch near Toronto, he was sent to France on 20th of August 1917 He was originally posted to No. 82 Squadron flying scouts, but then transferred to 51 Squadron on Home Defence duties, flying the B.E. 12 at night. However he was transferred back to France in December 1917 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, where he was posted to No. 2 Squadron flying from Hesdigneul in northern France. With Lt. Comber as his gunner, he was mentioned in dispatches for bringing down a Fokker and an observation balloon near Beauvin in January 1918. On 27th of March 1918 with his observer Lt. Arthur Hammond, in an Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 he destroyed an enemy triplane and but they were immediately attacked by eight more, three of which they brought down. However their plane was hit and burst into flames and both pilot and observer were wounded. McLeod, by side slipping steeply, tried to keep the flames away from his observer, and when the machine finally crashed in No Man's Land, the young pilot, despite his own injuries, dragged his comrade from the burning wreckage and under heavy fire carried him to safety. McLeod was wounded three times in the side and Hammond was wounded six times. Hammond lost a leg but was awarded a bar for his Military Cross. McLeod received the Victoria Cross. He returned to Canada to recuperate but sadly died from Spanish flu on the 6th November 1918. Add to this record. 225485 Lt. Arthur William Hammond MC. Royal Flying Corps Arthur Hammond was born on 29 August 1890 in Walton on the Hill, Lancashire. He was the son of Henry and Alice (née Kincaid) Hammond. His father was a Master Mariner. Hammond joined the Royal Horse Guards as a trooper, but in October 1915 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and was attached to the Royal Flying Corps as an observer in the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 biplane. Whilst the prime purpose of his duties was reconnaissance, he was also the aircraft's gunner and engaged in ground attack. Hammond received the Military Cross for action on the 22nd of April 1918 “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When acting as observer on photographic work, though his machine was attacked by six enemy aeroplanes, he with great coolness shot down two of these. On two later occasions a large number of hostile battery positions were photographed, engaged and successfully silenced, as well as some of our long range batteries calibrated on hostile targets. The eminently satisfactory manner in which all these tasks were accomplished is due to this officer's keenness, conscientiousness and devotion to duty." He was awarded a bar to his Military Cross for action on the 26 July 1918: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in aerial fighting. Whilst attacking hostile troops at about 500 feet he was encountered by eight triplanes, which dived from all directions, firing their front guns. He fired bursts at each machine in turn, shooting three of them down out of control. He was wounded himself six times, but continued the action until his machine caught fire. The pilot, although wounded five times, with great skill and coolness managed to climb to the left hand bottom plane and controlled the machine from the side of the fuselage, side-slipping to the ground. The machine crashed in "No Man's Land," and the pilot managed to extricate Hammond from the flames and dragged him to a shell-hole, from which they were rescued by the infantry." His pilot on this mission (mentioned in this citation) was Alan McLeod, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for the same action. Hammond lost a leg due to his wounds and left the RFC. At the end of the war, he emigrated to Canada. In the Second World War, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He died in Victoria, British Columbia, on 22 December 1959, aged 69 Add to this record. 217593 Pte. Verner Gladders Knuckey 8th Light Horse Regiment, Australian Royal Flying Verner Gladders Knuckey was born at Cobar, New South Wales on 8th July 1886. When he enlisted, he listed his profession as a clerk in the Commonwealth Treasury and was living in East Malvern, Victoria. Knuckey had previously spent two years with the Light Horse Regiment before enlisting as a Private with the 8th Light Horse Regiment on 16th July 1915. Knuckey left Melbourne for Egypt on 10th November 1915 aboard HMAT Ascanius. Since the Light Horse Regiment was considered unsuitable for the initial operations at Gallipoli, they were deployed without their horses. The 8th Light Horse Brigade formed the first two waves for the disastrous attack on the Nek on 7th August 1915 and left the Gallipoli Peninsula on 20th December. Knuckey returned to Egypt and with the 8th Light Horse Brigade defended the Suez Canal and participated in the advance which eventually turned the Turks at Romani. In January 1917 Knuckey volunteered for the 2nd Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps in Egypt as an electrician because he wanted to see England and France. He later trained as a wireless operator. The 2nd Squadron was initially drawn from 67 Australian Squadron and supplemented by volunteers from the light horse regiments from Australia. From England Knuckey went to France on 6th May 1918 before returning back to England in February 1919. Verner Knuckey returned to Australia on 23rd September 1919. s flynn Add to this record. 217417 Cadet Frederick Chalres Marwood No.2 Cadet Wing My Grandfather Frederick Charles Marwood, was born in 1888 near Birmingham. He was in the Territorial Force (Warwick) for 1 yr. 315 days, & was discharged in 1908, when he was going to Canada. He became a Royal North West Mounted Police, then later was a Constable with Regina Police Force, Regina, Sask. Canada. He joined up with the Canadian Air Force, originally with the 38th Overseas Battery. On Oct. 6th he was awarded a medal for bravery at the Somme with helping a fellow officer in heavy Fire. He was discharged from the Canadian Air force on the 11/8/1918 since he was appointed Flight Cadet with the R.F.C. He was with No. 2 R.F.C Cadet wing, No. 2 Squadron Reg. No. 301609. Date of joining Wing was 23rd Jan 18. Around 1919 he was 2nd Lieut. I knew he flew a Camel airplane. I am lucky that I have most of his documents from his life in the Air Force etc. Elizabeth Cribbie Add to this record. Recomended Reading. Available at discounted prices.

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