Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant H. A. Churchward, Royal Flying Corps, late 2nd County of London (Westminster Dragoons) Yeomanry, an R.E.8. pilot who was killed in action during a photo-reconnaissance operation near Boesinhge, 16 August 1917

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. H. A. Churchward. 2/Co. Of Lond. Y.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. A. Churchward.); Memorial Plaque (Hubert Alan Churchward) nearly extremely fine (4) £700-£900

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2010.

Hubert Alan Churchward was born in Aldershot, 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 with the West Kent Yeomanry and 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, and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps for training as a pilot in May 1917.

Churchward was posted as a pilot for operational service with 9 Squadron (R.E.8’s) at Quevenvillers in July 1917. He was driven down by an enemy aircraft whilst carrying out a photo-reconnaissance operation with Lieutenant W. Nuttall as his Observer near Boesinghe, 12 August 1917:

‘Driven down by E.A. All main planes damaged by gun fire, centre section rudder, fin and propeller smashed, centre section wiring plates badly pulled, fuselage badly strained, 2 struts in R.H. side of fuselage and rudder controls shot through, top rear longeron shot through (R.H.) bottom rear R.H. longeron split, strut in rear of engine bearers supporting carburettor throttle control rod smashed, front L.H. and 2 rear centre section struts shot through, strut in L.H. side of observer’s cock pit shot through, u/carriage wrecked, exhaust pipe short through, front carburettor broken away from engine. Observer wounded.’ (R.F.C. Casualty Report refers)

Just four days later Chuchward was killed in action over France, aged 25 years. A letter to his father, The Rev. M. W. Churchward, C.B.E. Assistant Chaplain-General, London District, from his C.O., 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.