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6 March 2002, 11:20 AM

BIGSWORTH, Arthur Wellesley, Squadron Commander, Royal Naval Air Service - unit ? - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 13 September 1915. Biographical details from Who's Who in Aviation, 1928 (London, Airways Publications, 1928, copy consulted in Canada Air Museum, Ottawa) and Aeroplane, 5 December 1928. Born in Croydon, London, 27 March 1885; educated by private tutor. Entered Royal Naval Reserve as Midshipman, 1903; Acting Sub-Lieutenant, 1909; Acting Lieutenant, 1911. Learned to fly on a Bristol biplane at Salisbury Plain ( Royal Aero Club Certificate No.396 dated 21 January 1913). In April 1913 he was placed on Supplementary List of the Royal Navy and seconded to RNAS as a Flying Officer. Appointed Flight Commander, July 1914. Went overseas in September 1914. In March 1915 he was commended for good work, notably an attack on German troops massing, and for locating a heavy gun at Leffinge. Promoted Squadron Commander, May 1915 and in the same month took a distinguished part in attack by aircraft from Dunkirk on a Zeppelin patrol; from an Avro he dropped four 20-pound bombs onto LZ.39 from 10,000 feet over Ostend; the airship regained its shed at Evere severely damaged and with one crewman dead. Who's Who claimed he was thus "first officer to drop bombs on a Zeppelin (May 17, 1915) and to destroy a submarine with bombs (August 25, 1915)" - the latter probably inaccurate (see citation). War in the Air, Volume 2, described the action, stating he piloted a Henry Farman to Zeebrugge, surprised the sub on the surface six miles northwest of Ostend; two of his 65-pound bombs appeared to make direct hits. Appointed Wing Commander, December 1916 and posted to command in Home Waters (see Bar to DSO). On formation of RAF appointed Lieutenant-Colonel; created CMG, January 1919 "in recognition of distinguished services during the war". Promoted to Acting Colonel, May 1919 while commanding a Group; awarded AFC, June 1919; secured permanent commission in the RAF, August 1919 as Wing Commander. Posted to Malta, September 1919; took over Armament and Gunnery School, Eastchurch, July 1920; promoted Group Captain, January 1923; in March 1923 appointed to command RAF in the Mediterranean. Restored to Home Establishment, August 1925 and posted to command RAF Training Base, Leuchars. To Headquarters, Coastal Area, 11 November 1929 (Chief Staff Officer)..

For his services in destroying single-handed a German submarine on the morning of 26th August 1915, by bombs dropped from an aeroplane. Squadron Commander Bigsworth was under heavy fire from the shore batteries and from the submarine whilst manoeuvring for position. Nevertheless, displaying great coolness, he descended to 500 feet, and after several attempts was able to get a good line from dropping the bombs with full effect.

NOTE: Aeroplane of 1 September carried the following including caustic queries by C.G. Grey about awards in general and how the Victoria Cross seemed to be granted or withheld in capricious fashion:

The Secretary of the Admiralty made the following announcement on August 26th:-

Squadron Commander Arthur W. Bigsworth, R.N., has destroyed single-handed a German submarine this morning by bombs dropped from an aeroplane . The submarine was observed to be completely wrecked and sank off Ostend.

It is not the practice of the Admiralty to publish statements regarding the losses of German submarines, important though they may have been, in cases where the enemy has no other source of information as to the time and place at which these losses have occured.

In the case referred to above, however, the brilliant feat of Squadron Commander Bigsworth was performed in the immediate neighbourhood of the coast in occupation of the enemy, and the position of the sunken submarine has been located by a German destroyer.

This communique is complicated by a later German communique which denies that the submarine was sunk. It is not the custom of German official communiques (as distinct from their wireless messages) to lie, so that one is left somewhat in doubt until the Admiralty makes a more circumstantial statement. However, in the event of the information proving exact, what is the adequate reward for the pilot ? If one Zeppelin is worth a VC, and one submarine is worth a dozen Zeppelins as a weapon, if not as a scout, what decoration can be given ?

In any case, Commander Bigsworth is to be congratulated for another good piece of work, of which he has a very large amount to his credit already.

6 March 2002, 11:20 AM	#67 (permalink)
Hugh_A._Halliday Guest Posts: n/a	BIGSWORTH, Arthur Wellesley, Squadron Commander, Royal Naval Air Service - unit ? - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 13 September 1915. Biographical details from Who's Who in Aviation, 1928 (London, Airways Publications, 1928, copy consulted in Canada Air Museum, Ottawa) and Aeroplane, 5 December 1928. Born in Croydon, London, 27 March 1885; educated by private tutor. Entered Royal Naval Reserve as Midshipman, 1903; Acting Sub-Lieutenant, 1909; Acting Lieutenant, 1911. Learned to fly on a Bristol biplane at Salisbury Plain ( Royal Aero Club Certificate No.396 dated 21 January 1913). In April 1913 he was placed on Supplementary List of the Royal Navy and seconded to RNAS as a Flying Officer. Appointed Flight Commander, July 1914. Went overseas in September 1914. In March 1915 he was commended for good work, notably an attack on German troops massing, and for locating a heavy gun at Leffinge. Promoted Squadron Commander, May 1915 and in the same month took a distinguished part in attack by aircraft from Dunkirk on a Zeppelin patrol; from an Avro he dropped four 20-pound bombs onto LZ.39 from 10,000 feet over Ostend; the airship regained its shed at Evere severely damaged and with one crewman dead. Who's Who claimed he was thus "first officer to drop bombs on a Zeppelin (May 17, 1915) and to destroy a submarine with bombs (August 25, 1915)" - the latter probably inaccurate (see citation). War in the Air, Volume 2, described the action, stating he piloted a Henry Farman to Zeebrugge, surprised the sub on the surface six miles northwest of Ostend; two of his 65-pound bombs appeared to make direct hits. Appointed Wing Commander, December 1916 and posted to command in Home Waters (see Bar to DSO). On formation of RAF appointed Lieutenant-Colonel; created CMG, January 1919 "in recognition of distinguished services during the war". Promoted to Acting Colonel, May 1919 while commanding a Group; awarded AFC, June 1919; secured permanent commission in the RAF, August 1919 as Wing Commander. Posted to Malta, September 1919; took over Armament and Gunnery School, Eastchurch, July 1920; promoted Group Captain, January 1923; in March 1923 appointed to command RAF in the Mediterranean. Restored to Home Establishment, August 1925 and posted to command RAF Training Base, Leuchars. To Headquarters, Coastal Area, 11 November 1929 (Chief Staff Officer).. For his services in destroying single-handed a German submarine on the morning of 26th August 1915, by bombs dropped from an aeroplane. Squadron Commander Bigsworth was under heavy fire from the shore batteries and from the submarine whilst manoeuvring for position. Nevertheless, displaying great coolness, he descended to 500 feet, and after several attempts was able to get a good line from dropping the bombs with full effect. NOTE: Aeroplane of 1 September carried the following including caustic queries by C.G. Grey about awards in general and how the Victoria Cross seemed to be granted or withheld in capricious fashion: The Secretary of the Admiralty made the following announcement on August 26th:- Squadron Commander Arthur W. Bigsworth, R.N., has destroyed single-handed a German submarine this morning by bombs dropped from an aeroplane . The submarine was observed to be completely wrecked and sank off Ostend. It is not the practice of the Admiralty to publish statements regarding the losses of German submarines, important though they may have been, in cases where the enemy has no other source of information as to the time and place at which these losses have occured. In the case referred to above, however, the brilliant feat of Squadron Commander Bigsworth was performed in the immediate neighbourhood of the coast in occupation of the enemy, and the position of the sunken submarine has been located by a German destroyer. This communique is complicated by a later German communique which denies that the submarine was sunk. It is not the custom of German official communiques (as distinct from their wireless messages) to lie, so that one is left somewhat in doubt until the Admiralty makes a more circumstantial statement. However, in the event of the information proving exact, what is the adequate reward for the pilot ? If one Zeppelin is worth a VC, and one submarine is worth a dozen Zeppelins as a weapon, if not as a scout, what decoration can be given ? In any case, Commander Bigsworth is to be congratulated for another good piece of work, of which he has a very large amount to his credit already.