13 Sqdn. Loss, 1 July 1916

I am seeking information on Capt./Flg. Off. Thomas Weston Peel Long CHALONER, who later became Lord Gisborough, 2nd Baron Gisborough of Cleveland, Yorks.

He was a 2 Lt. in the 4 Btn., Alexandra, Princess of Wales’ Own Yorks. Regt. on 20 July 1909 and seconded to the RFC as Lt. & Assistant Equipment Officer on 5 June 1915. Promoted to Captain on 10 August 1915 (gaz. 30 May 1916), he became a Flg. Off. on 23 October 1915. I understand he was with 17 Sqdn. in Egypt from November 1915-February 1916, after which he was posted to 13 Sqdn.

Chaloner was shot down over France (no exact location, but undoubtedly somewhere on the Somme) on 1 July 1916. He was taken prisoner and remained a POW until the end of the war.

The family (the current Lord Guisborough) is unable to shed any further light on the events of 1 July 1916, and unfortunately The Jasta War Chronology commmences just a month later, in August 1916.

Is anyone able to help me, please, with more information on Chaloner's loss on 1 July 1916? My total information on the event is shown above, so any additional information on this man would be most appreciated.

Thanks and regards
Steve

[Frank_Olynyk]

According to Henshaw: The Sky Their Battlefield, Capt TWPL Chaloner was flying a BE2c, serial 2763, on a bombing mission to St Quentin. He left at 4-31PM and is noted as MIA, POW, escaping to Holland on May 16, 1918. Cause of the loss is not stated. Another aircraft on the same mission, 2Lt C Monckton is noted as MIA, KIA, in combat with enemy aircraft. I have never checked into the reports filed by returning POWs, but as an escapee I would assume that there would be an interrogation report. If it exists it will be at the NA/PRO in Kew. Most escaped POWs received an MC; you could check that at the London Gazette website (although be warned, it can be very frustrating to try to locate an entry).

Frank.

Thanks Frank; this is of great help. The family did not mention an escape, so I will pass this on to them to see if it jogs an old memory. In any case, he certainly did not receive the MC, but I will check the escapee interrogation reports at the NA to be sure. Thanks for the lead.
Regards
Steve