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Awdry Vaucour

April 09, 2024

Awdry Morris Vaucour, MC & Bar, DFC (8 March 1890 – 16 July 1918) was a First World War flying ace credited with seven aerial victories. For part of his career he flew with observer/gunner Alan Bott, who would go on to become an ace in his own right. Vaucour was killed in Italy in a "friendly fire" incident, when he was shot down by an Italian Hanriot pilot.[1]

Awdry Morris Vaucour
Nickname(s)"Bunny"
Born(1890-03-08)8 March 1890
Topcliffe, Yorkshire, England
Died16 July 1918(1918-07-16) (aged 28)
Vicinity of Monastier di Treviso, Italy
Buried
Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Montecchio Precalcino, Italy
45°39′59″N 11°33′28″E / 45.6665°N 11.5578°E / 45.6665; 11.5578
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1914–1918
RankMajor
UnitRoyal Field Artillery
No. 10 Squadron RFC
No. 70 Squadron RFC
Commands heldNo. 45 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsFirst World War
AwardsMilitary Cross & Bar
Distinguished Flying Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Medal of Military Valor (Italy)

Military career edit

Vaucour, having served as a cadet in the University of London Officers' Training Corps,[2] was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 1 September 1914,[3] soon after the outbreak of the First World War.

On 28 September 1915 Vaucour flew on a reconnaissance mission over Valenciennes and Douai, piloted by Captain Euan Rabagliati, completing the mission despite thick cloud and heavy anti-aircraft fire over the objective. Both men were subsequently awarded the Military Cross. Soon after, on 22 November, Vaucour was officially appointed a flying officer (observer) in the Royal Flying Corps.[4][5] Vaucour, still listed as a member of the Royal Field Artillery, also received a mention in despatches from Field Marshal Sir John French on 30 November, "for gallant and distinguished service in the field".[6]

Vaucour then trained as a pilot, being granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2765 after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military Flying School at Catterick Bridge on 10 April 1916.[1] He was posted to No. 70 Squadron RFC, flying the Sopwith 1½ Strutter. On 24 August, he and his observer, Lieutenant Alan Bott, were shot up and forced to land by Leopold Reimann of Jasta 1. However, on 2 September, he and Bott destroyed a Fokker E over Bourlon Wood, and twenty minutes later, drove down another out of control. They also destroyed a Fokker E over Hendicourt on 15 September,[1] the same day that Vaucour was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain.[7] Within a month he had been awarded a bar to his Military Cross.

Vaucour returned to England and was for a short time posted to No. 28 Reserve Squadron[8] based at Castle Bromwich, before being appointed an instructor at the Central Flying School at Upavon on 23 January 1917.[9] He remained there until 22 August.[10]

Vaucour then returned to combat in Italy, and having been appointed a squadron commander with the acting rank of major,[11] became Commanding Officer of No. 45 Squadron on 24 August. On 24 September he was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Artillery, though remaining seconded to the RFC with his acting rank.[12]

On 27 February 1918, flying a Sopwith Camel, Vaucour accounted for two Albatros D.IIIs over Oderzo–Ponte di Piave.[1] On 18 April he received a second mention in despatches for "distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty", from General Herbert Plumer,[13] and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in the King's Birthday Honours on 3 June.[14] He went on to destroy two further enemy aircraft on 19 and 25 June.[1]

Vaucour was killed in action on 16 July 1918,[15] when he was mistakenly shot down by an Hanriot HD.1 from the Italian 78a Squadriglia near Monastier di Treviso.[1][16] He was buried in the Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension,[17] and is commemorated on the war memorial at St Mary Magdalene's Roman Catholic Church in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.[18] He was posthumously awarded the Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor in November 1918.[19]

Awards and citations edit

Military Cross
Temporary Second Lieutenant Awdry Morris Vaucour, Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and skill on 28th September, 1915, when, accompanied by Captain Rabagliati, they carried out a reconnaissance over Valenciennes and Douai. They had to fly in thick cloud for nearly the whole distance, and several times their aeroplane got into a "spin." The pilot, however, succeeded each time in righting his machine, and they reached their objective and carried out the reconnaissance at 2,800 feet under very heavy fire".[20]
Bar to the Military Cross
Second Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Awdry Morris Vaucour, MC, Royal Field Artillery.
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. He attacked 10 hostile machines and completely scattered their formation. Previously, while returning with a perforated petrol tank, he shot down an enemy machine. Later, he shot down a hostile machine, being engaged with eight altogether. On another occasion he and his observer shot down two hostile machines."[21]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Awdry Morris Vaucour". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. ^ University of London Officers Training Corps, Roll of War Service, 1914–1919. London: Forgotten Books. 2013 [1919]. p. 189. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ "No. 28885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 August 1914. pp. 6889–6890.
  4. ^ "No. 29401". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 December 1915. p. 12420.
  5. ^ "No. 29563". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 April 1916. p. 4328.
  6. ^ "No. 29422". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1915. p. 12.
  7. ^ "No. 29771". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 September 1916. p. 9534.
  8. ^ "RFC and RAF men in Warwickshire". Midland Aircraft Recovery Group. 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. ^ "No. 30239". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 August 1917. p. 8538.
  10. ^ "No. 30279". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 September 1917. p. 9415.
  11. ^ "No. 30235". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 August 1917. p. 8437.
  12. ^ "No. 30594". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 March 1918. p. 3711.
  13. ^ "No. 30711". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 May 1918. p. 6327.
  14. ^ "No. 30722". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1918. pp. 6519–6520.
  15. ^ "Casualties". Flight. X (502): 888. 8 August 1918. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  16. ^ Barrass, M. B. (2015). "Casualties 1918 (V)". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Casualty Details: Vaucour, Awdry Morris". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  18. ^ Graves, Janet; Edwards, Martin; Comber, Chris (2014). "War Memorial at St Mary Magdalene's Church, Bexhill". Roll of Honour. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  19. ^ "No. 30989". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 November 1918. p. 12978.
  20. ^ "No. 29351". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 1915. p. 10894.
  21. ^ "No. 13017". The Edinburgh Gazette. 27 November 1916. pp. 2214–2215.

April 09, 2024
awdry, vaucour, awdry, morris, vaucour, march, 1890, july, 1918, first, world, flying, credited, with, seven, aerial, victories, part, career, flew, with, observer, gunner, alan, bott, would, become, right, vaucour, killed, italy, friendly, fire, incident, whe. Awdry Morris Vaucour MC amp Bar DFC 8 March 1890 16 July 1918 was a First World War flying ace credited with seven aerial victories For part of his career he flew with observer gunner Alan Bott who would go on to become an ace in his own right Vaucour was killed in Italy in a friendly fire incident when he was shot down by an Italian Hanriot pilot 1 Awdry Morris VaucourNickname s Bunny Born 1890 03 08 8 March 1890Topcliffe Yorkshire EnglandDied16 July 1918 1918 07 16 aged 28 Vicinity of Monastier di Treviso ItalyBuriedMontecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension Montecchio Precalcino Italy 45 39 59 N 11 33 28 E 45 6665 N 11 5578 E 45 6665 11 5578AllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchBritish ArmyRoyal Air ForceYears of service1914 1918RankMajorUnitRoyal Field ArtilleryNo 10 Squadron RFCNo 70 Squadron RFCCommands heldNo 45 Squadron RAFBattles warsFirst World War Western Front Italian frontAwardsMilitary Cross amp BarDistinguished Flying CrossMentioned in Despatches 2 Medal of Military Valor Italy Military career editVaucour having served as a cadet in the University of London Officers Training Corps 2 was commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on 1 September 1914 3 soon after the outbreak of the First World War On 28 September 1915 Vaucour flew on a reconnaissance mission over Valenciennes and Douai piloted by Captain Euan Rabagliati completing the mission despite thick cloud and heavy anti aircraft fire over the objective Both men were subsequently awarded the Military Cross Soon after on 22 November Vaucour was officially appointed a flying officer observer in the Royal Flying Corps 4 5 Vaucour still listed as a member of the Royal Field Artillery also received a mention in despatches from Field Marshal Sir John French on 30 November for gallant and distinguished service in the field 6 Vaucour then trained as a pilot being granted Royal Aero Club Aviator s Certificate No 2765 after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military Flying School at Catterick Bridge on 10 April 1916 1 He was posted to No 70 Squadron RFC flying the Sopwith 1 Strutter On 24 August he and his observer Lieutenant Alan Bott were shot up and forced to land by Leopold Reimann of Jasta 1 However on 2 September he and Bott destroyed a Fokker E over Bourlon Wood and twenty minutes later drove down another out of control They also destroyed a Fokker E over Hendicourt on 15 September 1 the same day that Vaucour was appointed a flight commander with the acting rank of captain 7 Within a month he had been awarded a bar to his Military Cross Vaucour returned to England and was for a short time posted to No 28 Reserve Squadron 8 based at Castle Bromwich before being appointed an instructor at the Central Flying School at Upavon on 23 January 1917 9 He remained there until 22 August 10 Vaucour then returned to combat in Italy and having been appointed a squadron commander with the acting rank of major 11 became Commanding Officer of No 45 Squadron on 24 August On 24 September he was promoted to lieutenant in the Royal Artillery though remaining seconded to the RFC with his acting rank 12 On 27 February 1918 flying a Sopwith Camel Vaucour accounted for two Albatros D IIIs over Oderzo Ponte di Piave 1 On 18 April he received a second mention in despatches for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty from General Herbert Plumer 13 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in the King s Birthday Honours on 3 June 14 He went on to destroy two further enemy aircraft on 19 and 25 June 1 Vaucour was killed in action on 16 July 1918 15 when he was mistakenly shot down by an Hanriot HD 1 from the Italian 78a Squadriglia near Monastier di Treviso 1 16 He was buried in the Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension 17 and is commemorated on the war memorial at St Mary Magdalene s Roman Catholic Church in Bexhill on Sea Sussex 18 He was posthumously awarded the Italian Silver Medal of Military Valor in November 1918 19 Awards and citations editMilitary Cross Temporary Second Lieutenant Awdry Morris Vaucour Royal Field Artillery and Royal Flying Corps For conspicuous gallantry and skill on 28th September 1915 when accompanied by Captain Rabagliati they carried out a reconnaissance over Valenciennes and Douai They had to fly in thick cloud for nearly the whole distance and several times their aeroplane got into a spin The pilot however succeeded each time in righting his machine and they reached their objective and carried out the reconnaissance at 2 800 feet under very heavy fire 20 dd Bar to the Military Cross Second Lieutenant Temporary Captain Awdry Morris Vaucour MC Royal Field Artillery For conspicuous gallantry in action He attacked 10 hostile machines and completely scattered their formation Previously while returning with a perforated petrol tank he shot down an enemy machine Later he shot down a hostile machine being engaged with eight altogether On another occasion he and his observer shot down two hostile machines 21 dd References edit a b c d e f Awdry Morris Vaucour The Aerodrome 2014 Retrieved 25 February 2015 University of London Officers Training Corps Roll of War Service 1914 1919 London Forgotten Books 2013 1919 p 189 Retrieved 25 February 2015 No 28885 The London Gazette Supplement 28 August 1914 pp 6889 6890 No 29401 The London Gazette Supplement 10 December 1915 p 12420 No 29563 The London Gazette Supplement 28 April 1916 p 4328 No 29422 The London Gazette Supplement 31 December 1915 p 12 No 29771 The London Gazette Supplement 29 September 1916 p 9534 RFC and RAF men in Warwickshire Midland Aircraft Recovery Group 2015 Retrieved 25 February 2015 No 30239 The London Gazette Supplement 17 August 1917 p 8538 No 30279 The London Gazette Supplement 11 September 1917 p 9415 No 30235 The London Gazette Supplement 14 August 1917 p 8437 No 30594 The London Gazette Supplement 22 March 1918 p 3711 No 30711 The London Gazette Supplement 28 May 1918 p 6327 No 30722 The London Gazette Supplement 31 May 1918 pp 6519 6520 Casualties Flight X 502 888 8 August 1918 Retrieved 25 February 2015 Barrass M B 2015 Casualties 1918 V Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation Retrieved 25 February 2015 Casualty Details Vaucour Awdry Morris Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2015 Retrieved 25 February 2015 Graves Janet Edwards Martin Comber Chris 2014 War Memorial at St Mary Magdalene s Church Bexhill Roll of Honour Retrieved 25 February 2015 No 30989 The London Gazette Supplement 1 November 1918 p 12978 No 29351 The London Gazette Supplement 2 November 1915 p 10894 No 13017 The Edinburgh Gazette 27 November 1916 pp 2214 2215 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Awdry Vaucour amp oldid 1193358669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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