Victoria Cross

[Barrett]

Anybody know of any air VC recommendations that were denied? McElory comes to mind. Also, I sorta/kinda recall hearing that one of the early Zep slayers was nominated for The Big One but downgraded to a DSO (or something) because by '16 it was becoming a more frequent occurrence.

Some years ago, half-way through my research on RCAF honours and awards, I turned up about eight Second World War cases of the RCAF personnel who had been recommended for the VC and did NOT get it (one was downgraded to a DSO, several to Mentions in Despatches, at least one got nothing). *With limited time and tunnel vision in those years, I did not pursue this with respect to other nationalities, although I have since been provided with information by British contacts on one or two other Second World War cases where VCs were recommended and not awarded. *An article on the unsuccessful Canadian air VCs has been published in CANADIAN MILITARY HISTORY, Autumn 1996 (copies available from the publisher, c/o Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3C5 ($ 12.00 Canadian each). * Again, with respect to Canadians only, I know of one RCN and about eight army types who were recommended for the VC (Second World War) and did not get it; I do not have information on other nationalities so do not know how often this occured with respect to British, Australian, New Zealand. South African or Indian personnel.

When Carl Christie wrote his excellent study of Alan McLeod, VC, he publicised the fact that McLeod had originally been recommended for a Mention in Despatches which was subsequently upgraded to a VC.

First World War recommendations that failed ? Well, I have speculated that "Zeppellin" killing was gradually demoted from a VC exploit to a DSO deed to an MC/DSC/DFC accomplishment as the act itself increased in frequency (and why not ? *Zeppellins did not get any more deadly as the war progressed, whereas the technology to destroy them did - gradual downgrading of the award merely recognized this fact). *However, my musing were speculations based on observations - I had not (and still have not) seen a documented instance of a First World War aerial VC nomination that was downgraded to something lesser.

Were there aerial VC nominations that failed in the First World War ? *Almost certainly. *Barrett mentions McElroy; you must enlighten me her. **Is there surviving documentation for any ? *Likely. *How can we find out ? By somebody going through the surviving documents dealing with awards, part of AIR 1 records in the Public Record Office, systematically. *Any volunteers ?

[Barrett]

Hi Hugh: Sad to relate, my "memory" of McElroy as a VC nominee is very nonspecific. Cannot recall fershure that it's even an accurate impression--just something that popped up on my mental screen. It would, OTOH, be interesting to see just what the subsequent Zep killers did receive after Leefe-Robinson and Warneford.

From an aerial DSO data base:

BRANDON, Alfred de Bathe, rank ?, MC, Royal Flying Corps - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 4 October 1916. Incident involved Zeppelin L.33, 23 September 1916. First New Zealand airman awarded DSO.

In recognition of his gallantry and distinguished service in connection with the successful attacks on enemy airships.

* * * * *

CULLEY, Stuart Douglas, Lieutenant, Royal Air Force - unit ? - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 2 November 1918 - Born 23 August 1895 in Omaha, Nebraska of English father and Canadian mother; educated in California and Vermont; summer home was Dixie, Quebec; joined RNAS in Ottawa, 19 April 1917; in UK 21 May 1917; at Calshot, 10 November 1917; at Falmouth, 23 February 1918; to Felixstowe in autumn of 1918.

Ascended to a height of 19,000 feet, at which altitude he attacked an enemy airship, and brought it down in flames completely destroyed. This was a most difficult undertaking involving great personal risk, and the highest praise is due to Lieutenant Culley for the gallantry and skill he displayed.

* * * * *

GALPIN, Christopher John, Flight Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service - unit ? - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 22 June 1917. No citation. Who's Who in Aviation, 1928 (London, Airways Publications, 1928, copy consulted in Canada Air Museum, Ottawa) states he was born 13 July 1892; joined RNAS, May 1915; Flight Sub-Lieutenant (Wireless) at Gallipoli; Yarmouth Air Station, 1916-1917 as Flight Commander; destroyed Zeppelin L.22, 12 May 1917; Air Staff Operations, 1918-1919; commanded No.4 Communications Squadron, Felixstowe, 1919; first Scandinavian flight, July 1919; transferred to Secretary's Department, Air Ministry, 1919; Air Ministry Auditor, Egypt and Palestine, 1922-1925; at time of publication he was attached to Department of Supply and Research, Air Ministry.

* * * * *

PULLING, Edward Laston, Flight Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service - unit ? - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 5 December 1916. Participated in the destruction of Zeppelin L.21, 27/28 November 1916; see Christopher Cole and E.F. Cheeseman, The Air Defence of Britain, 1914-1918.

In recognition of the skill and gallantry he displayed on the morning of November 28th, 1916, in pursuing out to sea, attacking at close range and destroying a Zeppelin, which had been engaged in a raid on England. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Pulling was exposed to machine gun fire throughout the attack.

* * * * *

PYOTT, Ian Vernon, 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps - No.36 Squadron - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 15 December 1916. The incident mentioned was the destruction of Zeppelin L.34, 27/28 November 1916; see Christopher Cole and E.F. Cheeseman, The Air Defence of Britain, 1914-1918.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in connection with the destruction of an enemy airship.

* * * * *

SOWREY, Frederick, 2nd Lieutenant - Royal Fusiliers and Royal Flying Corps - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 4 October 1916.. Born in Gloucester, 25 August 1893. Educated at King's College School, Wimbledon and King's College, London. Was studying for Indian Civil Service when war declared. Commissioned in Royal Fusiliers, served in France (wounded at Loos in September 1915, then at Ypres; invalided to England in November 1915; joined RFC in January 1916, and took his pilot's certificate in June 1916. Destroyed Zeppelin L.32, 23/24 September 1916. See Christopher Cole and E.F. Cheeseman, The Air Defence of Britain, 1914-1918. Cited with A. de B. Brandon.

In recognition of their gallant and distinguished services in connection with successful attacks on enemy airships.

* * * * *

TEMPEST, Wulstan Joseph, 2nd Lieutenant, General List and Royal Flying Corps - No.39 Squadron - Distinguished Service Order - awarded as per London Gazette dated 13 October 1916. Born in England; home in Perdue, Saskatchewan; appointed Flying Officer, 17 June 1916 while a 2nd Lieutenant with KOYLI. To No.39 Squadron, July 1916. Not sure when he went to No.100 Squadron (appears to have been on a raid as of 29/30 April 1917); commanded that unit, 11 December 1917 to 12 June 1918. His DSO was for the destruction of Zeppelin L.31, 1/2 October 1916; see Christopher Cole and E.F. Cheeseman, The Air Defence of Britain, 1914-1918.

In recognition of conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in connection with the destruction of an enemy airship.

* * * * *
I would not at this time hazard a guess as to how many Zeppelin kills resulted in MC, DSC or DFC awards, but see Robert Leckie on the Canadian Air Force Association website.

I have speculated that "Zeppellin" killing was gradually demoted from a VC exploit to a DSO deed to an MC/DSC/DFC accomplishment as the act itself increased in frequency (and why not ? *Zeppellins did not get any more deadly as the war progressed, whereas the technology to destroy them did - gradual downgrading of the award merely recognized this fact). *However, my musing were speculations based on observations - I had not (and still have not) seen a documented instance of a First World War aerial VC nomination that was downgraded to something lesser.

I recall looking up a bit on Zeppelins when you first expounded your theory over coffee a couple of years ago in Melbourne, Hugh. The first Zeppelin raid over the United Kingdom occurred on 19 January 1915 when 2 dropped bombs from 3,000 feet. They were capable of speeds of around 70 mph. The first attack on London occurred on 31 May 1915. After August 1916 Zeppelins over London were operating at 13,000 feet. The first brought down by British aircraft occurred on 12 September 1916. Thereafter the Zeppelin factory turned out a series called Height Climbers, designed to operate above 20,000 feet but still capable only of speeds of around 70 mph. From late 1916, the speed of British aircraft available to attack Zeppelins would have been considerably more than 70 mph although the ability to be a steady gun platform at 20,000 may not have been present until later.

In 1918, Zeppelin produced a series of extremely long range Zeppelins. The intention was that in August 1918, L-70, L-65 and L 53 were to fly across the Atlantic, bomb New York and return without stopping. All three were lost in bombing raids over London in August 1918, before the New York mission was to have been undertaken.

Howlong would such a flight have taken and what would have been achieved by it ? Do you or anybody else know anything about the New York adventure ?


Vin

[Graeme]

The list of airships destroyed with the intervention of British etc aircrew and the associated awards is:

7 June 1915 – LZ37 destroyed by R A J Warneford in a Morane L 3253 – Victoria Cross

31 March 1916 - L15 destroyed with assistance of A de B Brandon, No 39 Sqn, in BE2c - Military Cross

2 September 1916 – SL11 destroyed by W L Robinson, 39 Sqn RFC, in BE2c 2693 – Victoria Cross

24 September 1916 – L33 destroyed with assistance from A de B Brandon, No 39 Sqn in BE2c - Distinguished Service Order

24 September 1916 – L32 destroyed by F Sowrey, 39 Sqn, in BE2c 4112 – Distinguished Service Order

2 October 1916 – L31 destroyed by W J Tempest, 39 Sqn, in BE2c 4577 - Distinguished Service Order

27 November 1916 – L34 destroyed by I V Pyott, 36 Sqn, in BE2c 2738 - Distinguished Service Order

28 November 1916 – L21 destroyed by E L Pulling (BE2c 8626) & E Cadbury (BE2c 8625), RNAS Great Yarmouth – Pulling awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Cadbury awarded the Distinguished Service Cross

14 May 1917 – L22 destroyed by C J Galpin, R Leckie, V F Whatling and J R Laycock, RNAS Great Yarmouth, in Curtiss H12 8666 – Leckie awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Galpin awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Whatling and Laycock awarded the Distinguished Service Medal

14 June 1917 – L43 destroyed by B D Hobbs, R F L Dickey, H M Davis and A W Goody, RNAS Felixstowe, in Curtiss H12 8677 – Hobbs awarded the Distinguished Service Order, Dickey awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Davis and Goody awarded the Distinguished Service Medal

17 June 1917 – L48 destroyed by F D Holder + S Ashby (FE2b B401), L P Watkins (BE12 6610) and R H M S Saundby (DH2 A5058) – Holder awarded the Military Cross, Ashby awarded the Military Medal, Saundby awarded the Military Cross, Watkins awarded the Military Cross

21 August 1917 - L23 destroyed by B A Smart, HMS Yarmouth, in Pup N6430 – Distinguished Service Order

5 August 1918 – L70 destroyed by E Cadbury & R Leckie (DH4 A8032) and R E Keys & A T Harman (DH4 A8039), Great Yarmouth, - Cadbury’s part in this was not acknowledged with an award Leckie was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Keys was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Harman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal.

11 August 1918 – L53 destroyed by S D Culley, HMS Redoubt, in Camel N6812 – Distinguished Service Order

Graeme

Graeme,

“With the assistance of A De B Brandon” L 15 and L 33 were claimed by Anti-aircraft crews. What was Brandon’s role in their demise and is this why he did not receive the VC ?


Vin

Brandon's encounters with the Zeppelins were inconclusive in their own right; maneouvering at height, gun problems etc enabled him to shoot holes in both airships without actually "flaming" them. Christopher Cole and E.F. Cheeseman, The Air Defence of Britain, 1914-1918 is a great study of this part of the air war, as is Raymond L. Rimell's Zeppelin ! A Battle for Air Supremacy in World War I.

For more on VC recommendations see PEOPLE and thread on RAF in South Russia (posts re Anderson).

[Graeme]

Alfred de Bath Brandon attacked L15 three times with explosive darts, incendiary bombs and his machine gun, but apparently did not cause significant damage to the Zeppelin. The worst of the damage was caused by shrapnel from rounds fired by the guns at Purfleet, Abbey Wood, Erith Marsh, Southern Outfall, Plumstead Common and Plumstead Marsh (all close to where I live).

It seems that as the airship turned towards the coast, one of the guns at Purfleet scored a hit that tore open a hole in the Zepplein's flank. L15 was then attacked by 2nd Lt Claude Ridley in a BE2c from Joyce Green, but he managed to get of only 20 rounds before the airship disappeared in the dark.

Brandon then made his attack which seems to have caused sufficient (or further) damage to force the airship onto the sea near the Kentish Knock Lightship just after midnight.

Although not directly responsible for the destruction of L15, his action was rewarded with an MC - "For conspicuous gallantry and skill in dropping bombs on a Zeppelin at night."

Incidentally, Ridley also received a Military Cross - "For conspicuous gallantry and good work during Zeppelin raids."

L33 was initially hit by a round from the gun located at Bromley (also close to where I live) which damaged a number of gas cells. Another shell, fired from the gun at Colchester, damaged more cells and the airship was already descending when Brandon made his attack, using a full drum of Brock, Pomeroy and Sparklet ammunition which did not cause the anticipated fire. After changing drums, Brandon opened fire again, only for the gun to jam after nine rounds and it was as he was attempting to clear the jam that he lost sight of the airship. L33 came down gently and the crew attempted to destroy the airship using signal flares but so little gas remained that the hull was not badly damaged.

His role in the capture of L33 was less obvious but he had taken part in actions resulting in the loss of two Zeppelins and this resulted in a DSO - "In recognition of gallantry and distinguished service in connection with the successful attack on Enemy Airships.".

Another source of information is Dr Douglas Robinson's epic work The Zeppelin In Combat.

Graeme