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Maurice Leblanc-Smith

January 16, 2023

Major Maurice Le Blanc-Smith DFC (23 February 1896 – 29 October 1986) was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.[1]

Maurice Le Blanc-Smith
Born(1896-02-23)23 February 1896
Leatherhead, Surrey, England
Died29 October 1986(1986-10-29) (aged 90)
England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service1915–1919
1921
RankMajor
UnitNo. 18 Squadron RFC
No. 73 Squadron RFC/RAF
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
RelationsStanley Le Blanc-Smith (father)

Biography

Background and education

Le Blanc-Smith's great-grandfather was Henry Le Blanc (1776–1855), born in Cavenham, Suffolk, one of 13 children of Thomas Le Blanc (1743–1801) and Felicia, née Pelham (1747–1840). The Le Blanc's trace their ancestry back to France. In 1792 Henry joined the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot and served in India, Scotland, Ireland and South Africa, before losing a leg to a Spanish cannonball while serving as a major in the Expedition to the Río de la Plata in 1806. He was invalided home to serve as lieutenant colonel of the 5th Royal Veteran Battalion in Guernsey, then as Captain of Invalids and Hospital Major at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. He somehow managed to see action during the battle of Waterloo in 1815, and was eventually promoted to colonel. He married Elizabeth McClintock of Drumcar, Ireland, in 1801 and they had four children. Their youngest child, Lucy Mary Le Blanc was born in Guernsey in 1813.[2]

Lucy Mary married a clergyman, the Reverend Thomas Tunstall Smith (1810–1893), rector of Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Together they had eight children; five boys and three girls. All the boys took the surname Le Blanc-Smith. Their fifth child, and third boy, Stanley Le Blanc-Smith (1849–1922) married Amy Harris in 1880 in Westmorland, and lived in Leatherhead, Surrey, while working as a stockbroker on the London Stock Exchange. They had three sons; Clive (1882–1907), Geoffrey (1884–1968) and Maurice.[2]

Like his father, Maurice was educated at Radley College, and rowed for the First VIII in 1914.[3]

Military service

Maurice Le Blanc-Smith entered the Royal Flying Corps as a Special Reserve officer, which meant he first had to learn to fly at his own expense before being commissioned (and then was refunded the costs).[4] He was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate No. 1440 after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military School, Brooklands Aerodrome, on 14 July 1915,[5] and was commissioned as a second lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Flying Corps the same day.[6] He completed his military flight training, and was appointed a flying officer[7] and confirmed in his rank on 12 October 1915.[8]

Le Blanc-Smith served in No. 18 Squadron RFC as a bomber and reconnaissance pilot, flying the Airco DH.2 and the Vickers Gunbus.[1] He was appointed a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain on 20 July 1916,[9] before being promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 1 September.[10]

In early 1918, he was reassigned to No. 73 Squadron RFC, flying the Sopwith Camel.[1] With him he brought "Adolphus", a toy dog presented to him by a French girl which was his mascot on his flying missions.[11]

Le Blanc-Smith's first aerial victory came on 10 March 1918 when he destroyed a Fokker Dr.I west of Bohain.[1] On 1 April the Army's Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) were merged to form the Royal Air Force, and his unit became No. 73 Squadron RAF. Le Blanc-Smith destroyed another enemy fighter on 16 May south of the Arras–Cambrai Road, and on 6 June destroyed a Fokker D.VII south of Roye. On the morning of 12 June he destroyed an Albatros D.V north of Courcelles, and in the evening drove down two aircraft, a Fokker D.VII and an Albatros D.V, west of Tricot about a half-hour apart. Both made forced landings and were captured. Finally on 21 July he shared in the destruction of another Fokker Dr.I north-east of Oulchy-le-Château with seven other members of his squadron: Major R. H. Freeman, Lieutenants J. Balfour, Gavin L. Graham, William Sidebottom and William Stephenson, and 2nd Lieutenants Robert Chandler and K. S. Laurie.[1]

Le Blanc-Smith was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, which was gazetted on 2 August 1918. His citation read:

Captain Maurice Le Blanc-Smith.
"A very efficient officer and successful patrol leader, who, during the late operations, has done great execution in attacking ground targets. On a recent occasion he attacked five enemy aeroplanes, destroying one and driving down another out of control."[12]

On 9 August 1918 he was promoted to the temporary rank of major,[13] which he held until 24 April 1919, and the reduction of the establishment following the end of hostilities.[14] He was still listed a member of 73 Squadron when his name was among those mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig in his despatch of 16 March 1919, which was gazetted on 11 July.[15]

He was transferred to the unemployed list on 20 August 1919.[16] Le Blanc-Smith briefly returned to RAF service, being recommissioned as a flight lieutenant on 9 April 1921,[17] but was re-transferred to the unemployed list on cessation of temporary duty on 5 June.[18]

Post-war life

Le Blanc-Smith became a director of Bewlay (Tobacconists) Ltd. until retiring in 1959. In 1926 he married Margaret Chance,[3] and they had three children. Le Blanc-Smith died in a nursing home in Lyme Regis[2] in 1986, aged 90.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Maurice Le Blanc-Smith". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Naylor, David (2011). "History and Interesting Facts – The Bell". Ministry Area of Bro Ardudwy in the Diocese of Bangor. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b "100 Radley Objects: No. 6. Pewter tankard, 1913". Radley College. 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Royal Flying Corps : People". airhistory.org.uk. 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Aviators' Certificates". Flight. VII (343): 532. 23 July 1915. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  6. ^ "No. 29249". The London Gazette. 3 August 1915. p. 7580.
  7. ^ "No. 29348". The London Gazette. 2 November 1915. p. 10765.
  8. ^ "No. 29348". The London Gazette. 2 November 1915. p. 10768.
  9. ^ "No. 29696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 August 1916. pp. 7745–7746.
  10. ^ "No. 29790". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1916. p. 10070.
  11. ^ "Liddle Collection: Legacies of War". University of Leeds. 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  12. ^ "No. 30827". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1918. p. 9201.
  13. ^ "No. 30868". The London Gazette. 27 August 1918. p. 10007.
  14. ^ "No. 31361". The London Gazette. 27 May 1919. p. 6513.
  15. ^ "No. 31448". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 July 1919. pp. 8839–8840.
  16. ^ "No. 31539". The London Gazette. 5 September 1919. p. 11247.
  17. ^ "No. 32311". The London Gazette. 3 May 1921. p. 3543.
  18. ^ "No. 32368". The London Gazette. 24 June 1921. p. 5016.

January 16, 2023
maurice, leblanc, smith, major, maurice, blanc, smith, february, 1896, october, 1986, british, world, flying, credited, with, seven, aerial, victories, maurice, blanc, smithborn, 1896, february, 1896leatherhead, surrey, englanddied29, october, 1986, 1986, aged. Major Maurice Le Blanc Smith DFC 23 February 1896 29 October 1986 was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories 1 Maurice Le Blanc SmithBorn 1896 02 23 23 February 1896Leatherhead Surrey EnglandDied29 October 1986 1986 10 29 aged 90 EnglandAllegianceUnited KingdomService wbr branchBritish ArmyRoyal Air ForceYears of service1915 19191921RankMajorUnitNo 18 Squadron RFCNo 73 Squadron RFC RAFBattles warsWorld War I Western FrontAwardsDistinguished Flying CrossRelationsStanley Le Blanc Smith father Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Background and education 1 2 Military service 1 3 Post war life 2 ReferencesBiography EditBackground and education Edit Le Blanc Smith s great grandfather was Henry Le Blanc 1776 1855 born in Cavenham Suffolk one of 13 children of Thomas Le Blanc 1743 1801 and Felicia nee Pelham 1747 1840 The Le Blanc s trace their ancestry back to France In 1792 Henry joined the 71st Highland Regiment of Foot and served in India Scotland Ireland and South Africa before losing a leg to a Spanish cannonball while serving as a major in the Expedition to the Rio de la Plata in 1806 He was invalided home to serve as lieutenant colonel of the 5th Royal Veteran Battalion in Guernsey then as Captain of Invalids and Hospital Major at the Royal Hospital Chelsea He somehow managed to see action during the battle of Waterloo in 1815 and was eventually promoted to colonel He married Elizabeth McClintock of Drumcar Ireland in 1801 and they had four children Their youngest child Lucy Mary Le Blanc was born in Guernsey in 1813 2 Lucy Mary married a clergyman the Reverend Thomas Tunstall Smith 1810 1893 rector of Wirksworth Derbyshire Together they had eight children five boys and three girls All the boys took the surname Le Blanc Smith Their fifth child and third boy Stanley Le Blanc Smith 1849 1922 married Amy Harris in 1880 in Westmorland and lived in Leatherhead Surrey while working as a stockbroker on the London Stock Exchange They had three sons Clive 1882 1907 Geoffrey 1884 1968 and Maurice 2 Like his father Maurice was educated at Radley College and rowed for the First VIII in 1914 3 Military service Edit Maurice Le Blanc Smith entered the Royal Flying Corps as a Special Reserve officer which meant he first had to learn to fly at his own expense before being commissioned and then was refunded the costs 4 He was granted Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate No 1440 after flying a Maurice Farman biplane at the Military School Brooklands Aerodrome on 14 July 1915 5 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on probation in the Royal Flying Corps the same day 6 He completed his military flight training and was appointed a flying officer 7 and confirmed in his rank on 12 October 1915 8 Le Blanc Smith served in No 18 Squadron RFC as a bomber and reconnaissance pilot flying the Airco DH 2 and the Vickers Gunbus 1 He was appointed a flight commander with the rank of temporary captain on 20 July 1916 9 before being promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 1 September 10 In early 1918 he was reassigned to No 73 Squadron RFC flying the Sopwith Camel 1 With him he brought Adolphus a toy dog presented to him by a French girl which was his mascot on his flying missions 11 Le Blanc Smith s first aerial victory came on 10 March 1918 when he destroyed a Fokker Dr I west of Bohain 1 On 1 April the Army s Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service RNAS were merged to form the Royal Air Force and his unit became No 73 Squadron RAF Le Blanc Smith destroyed another enemy fighter on 16 May south of the Arras Cambrai Road and on 6 June destroyed a Fokker D VII south of Roye On the morning of 12 June he destroyed an Albatros D V north of Courcelles and in the evening drove down two aircraft a Fokker D VII and an Albatros D V west of Tricot about a half hour apart Both made forced landings and were captured Finally on 21 July he shared in the destruction of another Fokker Dr I north east of Oulchy le Chateau with seven other members of his squadron Major R H Freeman Lieutenants J Balfour Gavin L Graham William Sidebottom and William Stephenson and 2nd Lieutenants Robert Chandler and K S Laurie 1 Le Blanc Smith was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross which was gazetted on 2 August 1918 His citation read Captain Maurice Le Blanc Smith A very efficient officer and successful patrol leader who during the late operations has done great execution in attacking ground targets On a recent occasion he attacked five enemy aeroplanes destroying one and driving down another out of control 12 dd On 9 August 1918 he was promoted to the temporary rank of major 13 which he held until 24 April 1919 and the reduction of the establishment following the end of hostilities 14 He was still listed a member of 73 Squadron when his name was among those mentioned in despatches by Sir Douglas Haig in his despatch of 16 March 1919 which was gazetted on 11 July 15 He was transferred to the unemployed list on 20 August 1919 16 Le Blanc Smith briefly returned to RAF service being recommissioned as a flight lieutenant on 9 April 1921 17 but was re transferred to the unemployed list on cessation of temporary duty on 5 June 18 Post war life Edit Le Blanc Smith became a director of Bewlay Tobacconists Ltd until retiring in 1959 In 1926 he married Margaret Chance 3 and they had three children Le Blanc Smith died in a nursing home in Lyme Regis 2 in 1986 aged 90 References Edit a b c d e Maurice Le Blanc Smith The Aerodrome 2015 Retrieved 2 May 2015 a b c Naylor David 2011 History and Interesting Facts The Bell Ministry Area of Bro Ardudwy in the Diocese of Bangor Retrieved 2 May 2015 a b 100 Radley Objects No 6 Pewter tankard 1913 Radley College 2013 Retrieved 2 May 2015 Royal Flying Corps People airhistory org uk 2014 Retrieved 2 May 2015 Aviators Certificates Flight VII 343 532 23 July 1915 Retrieved 2 May 2015 No 29249 The London Gazette 3 August 1915 p 7580 No 29348 The London Gazette 2 November 1915 p 10765 No 29348 The London Gazette 2 November 1915 p 10768 No 29696 The London Gazette Supplement 4 August 1916 pp 7745 7746 No 29790 The London Gazette Supplement 17 October 1916 p 10070 Liddle Collection Legacies of War University of Leeds 2015 Retrieved 2 May 2015 No 30827 The London Gazette Supplement 2 August 1918 p 9201 No 30868 The London Gazette 27 August 1918 p 10007 No 31361 The London Gazette 27 May 1919 p 6513 No 31448 The London Gazette Supplement 8 July 1919 pp 8839 8840 No 31539 The London Gazette 5 September 1919 p 11247 No 32311 The London Gazette 3 May 1921 p 3543 No 32368 The London Gazette 24 June 1921 p 5016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maurice Leblanc Smith amp oldid 1128642248, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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