McCudden Brothers Tragedy

cspellman · 18 July 2003, 08:17 AM

Looks as if this could have been a 'Saving Private Ryan' type situation. So, were there only 3 McCudden brothers? To have all three killed during the war must have torn the family deeply. Were there any siblings left at all?

Gregvan · 18 July 2003, 04:08 PM

Hello,

Well, Alex Revell can answer this far better than I can, but he's undoubtedly busy. There was a sister, Mary, who lived to be quite elderly. I know that Alex met her, and I've seen her interviewed in a WWI documentary - I think it was that otherwise awful thing on

Billy Bishop by the Canadian Film Board.

The following comes from Alex's biography of

James McCudden, done for Albatros Productions. After his last leave home, as he was heading off to take command of 60 Squadron, on the morning of July 9 he said goodbye to Mary. As he was about to get into his taxi, he handed her an envelope, saying, "Id like you to look after these, Sis." Back at her office, she opened the envelope and found all of his decorations.

The next day, as Mary returned to the family home after work, she saw the blinds were drawn in the house. "I knew it was Jimmie" she said.

None of her brothers survived the war.

Elder brother Sgt Pilot William J. McCudden died in a flying accident in May 1915.

John Anthony McCudden was killed in action on 18 March 1918 after attaining eight victories with 85 Squadron.

James Byford McCudden died 9 July 1918.

I apologize to Alex for plagiarizing his wonderful work.

Ginger. · 19 July 2003, 12:38 AM

Just about sums it up does that reply. The terrible price paid by that generation in fine young men.

retread · 19 July 2003, 04:54 AM

* *I am an admirer of

James McCudden, who impresses me as a man of very strong and equally quiet will. A scientist of the airwar on the level of Boelcke. And shockingly a man who kept his decency intact throughout it all.
* I don't know much about his brothers but it is probably safe to assume they shared many qualities.To lose three such sons in the war had to be a burden on the hearts of the family that they in turn carried throuhout their own lives.

alex_revell · 20 July 2003, 08:42 AM

Yes, and to add to the tragic story, just after the war McCudden senior got up to offer his railway seat to a lady and leant back against the carriage door. It wasn't properly fastened and he fell out onto the line and was killed.
After the war, in 1921/22, Mrs McCudden as 'Britain's Gold Star Mother' was invited to the US to place a wreath on the tomb of the unknown warrior. She visited many cities and meet Mrs Harding at the White House. She had a tremendous reception and made quite an impression. There are some shots of her during the visit in the British Pathe News website and no doubt there is some record of it in the equivilant American newsreels.

Jonathan Saunders · 1 July 2004, 06:16 AM

I see this is an old thread but as my aviation interest, which has ultimately brought me here, is based on local research I recently undertook on the McCudden family, so it seems apt for me to make my first post here.

There was a fourth brother, Maurice Vincent McCudden born in 1901. Unlike his three elder brothers, he went straight into the RFC rather than the Royal Engineers. He enlisted as a "Boy" around 1916.

To cut along story short, in 1920 he was accepted for pilot training, I think at the direct intervention of Trenchard who had somehow ensured the family would be able to cover any costs. However Maurice failed the medical due to a childhood head injury and it was then arranged he would be released from the service, and would be able to gain his pilot licence with the Royal Aircraft Factory/Establishment in a civilian role. He then went on to become a very well respected test pilot before I think ill health grounded him. During this period he also raced motorbikes (another McCudden family passion) at Brooklands. In 1933 he became gravely ill with abdominal problems and died shortly after an operation in 1934, aged 33.