Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Lieutenant Hubert Alan Churchward, Royal Flying Corps, late 2nd County of London (Westminster Dragoons) Yeomanry, killed in action, 16 August 1917

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., 2/Co. of Lond. Y.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.); Memorial Plaque (Hubert Alan Churchward) extremely fine (4) £350-450

Hubert Alan Churchward was born in Aldershot on 25 November 1891 and was educated privately and at Corpus Christi, Cambridge. He joined the 2nd County of London Yeomanry in September 1914, having formerly served in the West Kent Yeomanry and the King Edward’s Horse. Attaining the rank of Sergeant with the County of London Yeomanry in October 1914, he was discharged to a commission in the regiment on 20 May 1915. He entered the Gallipoli theatre of war on 16 October 1915. Later serving as a Pilot with No. 9 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, he was killed in action over France on 16 August 1917, aged 25 years. A letter to his father, The Rev. M. W. Churchward, Assistant Chaplain-General, London District, from his C.O., No. 9 Squadron, dated 31 August 1917 reads -

‘I cannot hold out any hope as to his fate. He went out on the 16th with 2nd Ltt. Ward as his observer on artillery observation about midday. About an hour later he rang me up on the phone from another aerodrome saying that his engine had given trouble and that he would go up as soon as it was put right. He left at about 3 pm. and about 5 pm. another observer saw a R.E.8 go down out of control the other side. He thought it had been hit by anti-aircraft fire. I can find out nothing further. I am very much afraid it looks as if he had been killed instantaneously or stunned by a splinter and had gone down out of control, falling from 5000 feet about. I am afraid there is very little hope ....’

Having no known grave, Lieutenant Churchward’s name is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. Sold with the recipient’s original commission document appointing him a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd County of London (Westminster Dragoons) Yeomanry. Also with a quantity of copied service papers.