Geoffrey Victor Randall died July 1916

Megsmum · 1 November 2009, 04:00 AM

Hi - i am looking for more information on my great uncle killed in action with RFC 20th July 1916. Commemorated in Arras Flying Services memorial. Interested in finding more about which squadron he was in, what he was flying, etc.

Froggy · 1 November 2009, 06:21 AM

Bonjour

here is an article about him in Flight magazine

suffolk regt | yorkshire regt | lord petre | 1916 | 0728 | Flight Archive

Information is now to hand of how Second Lieut-
GEOFFREY VICTOR RANDALL, R.F.C., whose death was
announced in " FLIGHT " on August 1 ith, met his end. A
fortnight before he was killed he and his observer were
attacked by four hostile machines. Lieut. Randall brought
one enemy machine down, and kept the other three at a
distance until he reached the British lines. Later he was
attacked by eight hostile machines, shot through the head,
and killed instantly. His observer climbed into the pilot's
seat, and managed to get hold of the controls, when he was
rendered unconscious by a shot. The aeroplane circled and
grounded 400 yards from our front trenches. The observer
was rescued by a padre and a sergeant under heavy fire*
Lieut. Randall's squadron-commander writes :—" I am verycut
up, and so is the whole squadron at losing him. . . .
Twice lately I have brought his name before the proper
authorities for brave and useful work, and only a few days
ago I was ordered to convey to him the personal congratulations
of the G.O.C., R.F.C., in the field." And again in
another letter :—" He was overwhelmed with eight hostile
machines, but all accounts agree that he went straight into
the middle of them, and he would never have cared if it had
been 18 instead of eight."

Bruno

Megsmum · 1 November 2009, 07:25 AM

Bonjour a vous Froggy,

Thank you so much for your prompt reply. I am always amazed at the knowledge and enthusiasm that the internet can tap into! The accounts you sent from Flight are very interesting indeed. Do you have any idea what machine he might have been flying or where the action took place? Can I access the original articles in Flight - is it available on-line?
I have found a picture of Geoffrey in 1915 when he joined the RFC and the card showing he qualified in a Maurice farman Biplane (oct 1915).
Many thanks again.
Megsmum

Froggy · 1 November 2009, 07:38 AM

re-bonjour

I have put the thread to access the article online in my precedent message
If you cannot see it

go to the site of Flight magazine site
"http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/default.aspx"
then type 'Geoffrey victor Randall 'on the search zone
You will obtain several documents about him in PDF format

Cordialement
Bruno

Froggy · 1 November 2009, 07:51 AM

here is Casualties details about him on GWC site
He belonged to 4th Squadron

He was only 19 old when he died!

Megsmum · 1 November 2009, 08:00 AM

Thanks Froggy.

Graeme · 1 November 2009, 01:57 PM

Megsmum

Lt G V Randall and 2nd Lt G M Ainger were in BE2e 2481 when they were shot down, near Contalmaison, a short way north-east of Albert.

This was reported in RFC Communique number 44: On the IIIrd Army front there was no activity, but on the front of the Reserve Army hostile patrols were more active and came down the line. A machine of 4 Sqn, 2nd Lt Randall and 2nd Lt Angier, was brought down, the pilot being killed.

Graeme

Megsmum · 1 November 2009, 11:52 PM

Dear Graeme - Thank you so much for finding this. I will now be able to locate the place of his death and find details of the aeroplane. He was only 19 when he died and as far as I know I no other family members know any details of his RFC career. I feel I owe it to him to record all that I can. My dad was RAF in WW2 and a career pilot so maybe thats why I feel connected.
Thanks again.
Irene

Graeme · 2 November 2009, 10:46 AM

Hi Irene

I've had a chance to dig around and found a bit more - this from Flight, 29 October 1915:

Aviators' Certificates.—The granting of Aviators' Certificates Nos. 1820 to 1891 was confirmed.

The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed:-

1917 2nd Lieut. Geoffrey Victor Randall (Maurice Farman Biplane,
Military School, Farnborough). Oct. 13th, 1915.

The link is shoreham | 1915 | 0829 | Flight Archive

Happy hunting

Graeme

Megsmum · 2 November 2009, 12:11 PM

Hi Graeme - Thanks again - what a star you are. I dont suppose you know if there are any of the Maurice Farmans (dont know which model it would have been) or the BE2e's still either flying (unlikely!) or preserved in collections anywhere? From the photographs they look really frail. How I wish I had paid more attention and asked my Dad loads when he was still alive (and he would have been super interested in all this history )
Thanks again.
Irene