Former Superintendent Registrar Mr. Reginald Leslie Gordon White, of 337, Tring Road, Aylesbury, died last week at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The was 80.
Born and educated in Wendover, Mr. White was decorated for his war service and was a well known member of Holy Trinity Parish Church, Walton, Aylesbury.
During the first world war he was an observer gunner in the Royal Flying Corps.
After being shot down three time over Europe he was awarded the Belgium Honours of the Medal Militaine Avec Palme, and the Croix de Guerre.
After the war he returned to Aylesbury and worked in a solicitor's office in Buckingham. He was also Clerk to the Board of Guardians.
When the Poor Law administration was transferred to the County Council in 1930, Mr. White entered the new Public Assistance Department and was later appointed Deputy Assistance Officer.
In 1954 he became Superintendent Registrar and retained this position until his retirement in 1968.
He was also secretary of the Old People's Welfare Committee and as a result took a keen interest in the old people's homes in the county.
Mr. White married local girl Miss Margaret Davey, a fellow worker in the Public Assistance Department, in October 1939 as St. Mary's Parish Church, Aylesbury.
In his younger days Mr. White was interested in the Scout Movement and was for many years Scoutmaster of the Steeple Claydon Troop.
In later years he was secretary of the Aylesbury Branch of the Royal British Legion and finally vice-president up to the time of his death.
He was a Freemason and past master of the Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge and Chapter, and more recently a founder member of the Probus Club of Aylesbury Vale.
Mr. White attended Holy Trinity Church, Walton where he was a Sidesman. He held various positions a the church such as secretary of the Sidesmen's Guild a member of the Parochial Church Council, and a Recorder of the Pledged Giving Scheme.
He was also very fond of gardening and a keen philatelist.
Mr. White leaves a widow, a daughter, and a son and three grandchildren.
The Rev. Peter Hancock conducted a funeral service at Holy Trinity Church on Friday, and this was followed by cremation at Amersham.
Funeral arrangements were by K. Y. Green, of Aylesbury.
Thursday, 29 July 2010
OBITUARY
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Lt. Herbert Thomas
Herbert Thomas served in the Royal Air Forces and was a pilot in 48 Squadron.
3rd October 1918 - Was on a bombing run on Izegham led by Capt. Cunninghame and Lt. Brunton 12 Fokkers approached them from the south. During the combat Herbet Thomas claimed to see the plane piloted by Lt J.B. Cowan go down in flames.
9th October 1918 - During a patrol with observer 2Lt F.H.G. Coomer sent a Fokker down out of control at 1650 hours over Coutrai.
26th October 1918 - Herbert Thomas and observer 2Lt F.H.G. Coomer failed to return from a patrol and were last seen over Renaix at about 1330 hours. The patrol was led by Capt Phillips when they encountered 12 Fokkers, camouflaged in a dark green and black checkerboard on the planes with brown and white tails, at 1330 hours. It was during this encounter when Thomas' plane went down. Capt Philips claim one Fokker in this encounter.
3rd October 1918 - Was on a bombing run on Izegham led by Capt. Cunninghame and Lt. Brunton 12 Fokkers approached them from the south. During the combat Herbet Thomas claimed to see the plane piloted by Lt J.B. Cowan go down in flames.
9th October 1918 - During a patrol with observer 2Lt F.H.G. Coomer sent a Fokker down out of control at 1650 hours over Coutrai.
26th October 1918 - Herbert Thomas and observer 2Lt F.H.G. Coomer failed to return from a patrol and were last seen over Renaix at about 1330 hours. The patrol was led by Capt Phillips when they encountered 12 Fokkers, camouflaged in a dark green and black checkerboard on the planes with brown and white tails, at 1330 hours. It was during this encounter when Thomas' plane went down. Capt Philips claim one Fokker in this encounter.
Lt. Ludlow Norman Jones
Son of Ludlow Mainwaring Jones and Georgina Jones, of Moyroe Nanagh, Co. Tipperary. Ludlow intially served as a Lieutenant in the 11th South Wales Borders Regiment before transferring to the Royal Air Forces in 48 Squadron as an observer.
3rd October 1918 - Missing in Action with pilot Lt. J.B.Cowan in F2b E2523. They where last seen near Ingelmunster at 1750 hours. Squadron member 2Lt Herbert Thomas said he saw their plane go 'Down in Flames'.
Lt. Ludlow Jones was 21 years old and was buried at Harlebeke New British Cemetery.
3rd October 1918 - Missing in Action with pilot Lt. J.B.Cowan in F2b E2523. They where last seen near Ingelmunster at 1750 hours. Squadron member 2Lt Herbert Thomas said he saw their plane go 'Down in Flames'.
Lt. Ludlow Jones was 21 years old and was buried at Harlebeke New British Cemetery.
2Lt. G Thorneton-Norris
George Thorneton-Norris was born in India where his Grandfather had moved to from Lanc. During the First World War he served in the Royal Flying Corps as pilot in 48 Squadron.
3rd October 1918 - While on a bombing run on Izegham led by Capt. Cunninghame and Lt. Brunton 12 Fokkers approached them from the south. Thorneton-Norris was flying with his observer Sgt R.L.G White in Bristol F2b serial E2534. The Enemy aircraft attacked them over Ingelmunster. Thorneton_Norris engaged a Fokker Biplane (white fuselage, black&white tail) and after White fired 50 rounds the Fokker burst into flames and went down. During this engagement Capt Cunninghame claimed 2 Fokkers but unfortunately the F2b piloted by 2Lt J.B.Cowan went down in flames and he and his observer Lt. L.N.Jones were reported Missing in Action.
Combat report #586 of 48 Squadron (PRO Air 1/1829/204/202/22)
25th October 1918 - Flying Bristol F2b serial E2534 with his observer Sgt R.L.G White they were forced to land at Deerlyck at 2.45pm due to anti-aircraft fire. Both OK.
George became a bit of an inventor, especially in the field of Aviation and many patents in his name can be found.
Electric medical appliance
Folding crib and the like
Instrument for indicating the operating time of vehicles and other devices
Electric foot massage appliance
George worked as an Aviation Salesman at Selfridges between the wars and also workd for Scholl in Clerkenwell inventing household items, such as the electric hot water bottle. George also built he own plane which he named Eileen after his wife.
He also had an article published in the magazine Popular Science Monthly just before the war.
An obituary for George was published in Flight and Aircraft Engineer Journal dated 29th February 1955
Thankyou you George's grandson Andrew Thorton-Norris for much of the information on this page.
3rd October 1918 - While on a bombing run on Izegham led by Capt. Cunninghame and Lt. Brunton 12 Fokkers approached them from the south. Thorneton-Norris was flying with his observer Sgt R.L.G White in Bristol F2b serial E2534. The Enemy aircraft attacked them over Ingelmunster. Thorneton_Norris engaged a Fokker Biplane (white fuselage, black&white tail) and after White fired 50 rounds the Fokker burst into flames and went down. During this engagement Capt Cunninghame claimed 2 Fokkers but unfortunately the F2b piloted by 2Lt J.B.Cowan went down in flames and he and his observer Lt. L.N.Jones were reported Missing in Action.
Combat report #586 of 48 Squadron (PRO Air 1/1829/204/202/22)
25th October 1918 - Flying Bristol F2b serial E2534 with his observer Sgt R.L.G White they were forced to land at Deerlyck at 2.45pm due to anti-aircraft fire. Both OK.
George became a bit of an inventor, especially in the field of Aviation and many patents in his name can be found.
Electric medical appliance
Folding crib and the like
Instrument for indicating the operating time of vehicles and other devices
Electric foot massage appliance
George worked as an Aviation Salesman at Selfridges between the wars and also workd for Scholl in Clerkenwell inventing household items, such as the electric hot water bottle. George also built he own plane which he named Eileen after his wife.
He also had an article published in the magazine Popular Science Monthly just before the war.
Detecting Leaks in Inner Tubes
by Means of Smoke
WHILE in India recently I entered a motorcycle contest, which was of the town-to-town type. It was from Calcutta to Gya, a distance of 300 miles, over roads which were covered with small, sharp-pointed stones, old shoes, nails and other things such as are to be found where there is bullock traffic of the eastern type, all of which are liable to make small punctures. Not being able to procure water to test my tubes and locate minute leaks, I took a pocketful of cigarettes along with me and found the following method a wonderful time and temper-saver as well as the only means of finding such punctures.
The defective tube is taken out and the valve removed. Then two or three mouthfuls of smoke are puffed into the tube, after which it is inflated as much as possible. The smoke will be seen to ooze out of any punctured place. The spot can then be sandpapered and dressed while the smoke is oozing out and locating the place for the repair patch. After the patch is applied the valve is again taken out to let the remainder of the smoke escape and the tube is ready for use again.
An obituary for George was published in Flight and Aircraft Engineer Journal dated 29th February 1955
Well known to many customers of the aircraft division of the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Co., where he was a sales engineer for ten years, Mr. George Thorton-Norris died suddenly on Thursday, February 14th., at the early age of 55. Mr. Thorton-Norris, who served as an R.F.C. pilot in the First World War, leaves a widow and an eight-year-old son.
Thankyou you George's grandson Andrew Thorton-Norris for much of the information on this page.
Third Anglo-Afghan War
After the war Reginald briefly returned to England but early in 1919 the Squadron left England to sail around the Cape of Good Hope and onto India. Their Bristol Fighters were dismantled and packed into creates for the journey. On arriving in Calcutta, India they boarded a train to take them across the country to the Afghanistan boarder, the crates containing the Fighters were loaded on as well. The train journey took a couple of weeks to complete. In June 1919 the squadron was based at Quetta, India (now Pakistan), for Army co-operation work on the North West Frontier with Afghanistan. While there the squadron was involved in the Third Anglo-Afghan War when King Amanullah of Afghanistan declared war on the British India and the Afghans seized a large tract of land near the historic Khyber Pass. 48 squadron was one of 5 RAF squadrons that were ordered into action against the Afghan hill-tribes in the mountainous region of the Khyber Pass. A make shift aerodrome was laid out near Dakka village as a base for the squadrons. The Bristol fighters were used in bombing missions on Jalalabad. The bombing campaign by the RAF was one of the main factors that drove King Amanullah to call for a truce with the British.
Make shift Aerodrome used by the Squadron in Dakka, 1919.
BE2E Biplanes at the Dakka Aerodrome, 1919.
Few Snapshots from our Aviation History
During tour in India Reginald contracted Malaria and also got frost bite on his cheeks flying over the Kyber Pass. After a few months in India the RAF was being reorganised and Reginald was offer the position of an Officer in the RAF but he and some friends decided to leaved the Air Force and return to England. For his tour in India Reginald was awarded the India General Service Medal with Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 Clasp
Few Snapshots from our Aviation History
During tour in India Reginald contracted Malaria and also got frost bite on his cheeks flying over the Kyber Pass. After a few months in India the RAF was being reorganised and Reginald was offer the position of an Officer in the RAF but he and some friends decided to leaved the Air Force and return to England. For his tour in India Reginald was awarded the India General Service Medal with Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 Clasp
Capt. Fredrick Joseph Cunninghame
Fredrick Cunninghame was born on the 23rd April 1894 in Northampton. In September 1914 he was a working as a journalist.
When the war started he enlisted in Edgar Mobbs' Battalion, "D" Company, 7th Northamptonshire Regiment.
He joined in the R.F.C. in September 1917. He was transferred to 48 Squadron on the 8th May 1917 where he served as a pilot. He gain the status of flying ace by claiming 5 victories.
2nd July 1918 - At 1950 hours with observer 2Lt Knowles engaged a Pfalz scout south-east of Foucaucourt and 50 rounds were fired from the front guns at a range of 100 yards. Shots could be seen entering the fuselage which began to emit smoke, and it fell over on it's side and went down alternatively diving and stalling, apparently out of control.
Some time during this period Cunninghame was promoted to Captain.
28th September 1918 - Led with his observer Lt Brunton an offensive patrol. South east of Roulers saw a formation of six Fokkers about 1,000 feet below them. At 1445 hours he dived on them and singled out the rearmost and when about 200 feet from the E.A. fired about 50 rounds at it. Something was seen to fall from the E.A. He continued to fire and the top right plane folded with the Fokker going down in a right hand spin. It's final fate could not be observed due to clouds below.
3rd October 1918 - Led a bombing run of F2bs on Izegham with his observer Lt.Brunton. They where approached from the south by 12 Fokkers and engaged them. These E.A. had white fuselages with black and white tails and they attached the Bristols over Ingelmunster. Brunton opened fire on the leader at long range and after a few rounds the plane burst into flames and went down East of Inglemunster. Immediately another E.A. was engaged and Brunton fired a full drum into this one which fell out of control and crashed north of Lendelede. During this combat Lt G. Thorneton-Norris and Sgt R.L.G. White engaged one of the Fokkers and after 50 rounds had been fired from the rear the E.A. burst into flames and went down north-west of Iseghem. Unfortunately one plane in the patrol piloted by 2Lt J.B.Cowan with Lt L.N. Jones went down in flames and both pilot and observer where reported 'Missing in Action'.
14th October 1918 - While leading an offensive patrol with observer Lt Jones they observed 10 Fokkers west of Thielt at 0855 hours. They dived and they overshot the first E.A. but he fired 100 rounds into another and shot away part of the elevator or tail plane. The Fokker, with a white tail, side-slipped and spun down out of control, disappearing into the mist below.
When the war started he enlisted in Edgar Mobbs' Battalion, "D" Company, 7th Northamptonshire Regiment.
He joined in the R.F.C. in September 1917. He was transferred to 48 Squadron on the 8th May 1917 where he served as a pilot. He gain the status of flying ace by claiming 5 victories.
2nd July 1918 - At 1950 hours with observer 2Lt Knowles engaged a Pfalz scout south-east of Foucaucourt and 50 rounds were fired from the front guns at a range of 100 yards. Shots could be seen entering the fuselage which began to emit smoke, and it fell over on it's side and went down alternatively diving and stalling, apparently out of control.
Some time during this period Cunninghame was promoted to Captain.
28th September 1918 - Led with his observer Lt Brunton an offensive patrol. South east of Roulers saw a formation of six Fokkers about 1,000 feet below them. At 1445 hours he dived on them and singled out the rearmost and when about 200 feet from the E.A. fired about 50 rounds at it. Something was seen to fall from the E.A. He continued to fire and the top right plane folded with the Fokker going down in a right hand spin. It's final fate could not be observed due to clouds below.
3rd October 1918 - Led a bombing run of F2bs on Izegham with his observer Lt.Brunton. They where approached from the south by 12 Fokkers and engaged them. These E.A. had white fuselages with black and white tails and they attached the Bristols over Ingelmunster. Brunton opened fire on the leader at long range and after a few rounds the plane burst into flames and went down East of Inglemunster. Immediately another E.A. was engaged and Brunton fired a full drum into this one which fell out of control and crashed north of Lendelede. During this combat Lt G. Thorneton-Norris and Sgt R.L.G. White engaged one of the Fokkers and after 50 rounds had been fired from the rear the E.A. burst into flames and went down north-west of Iseghem. Unfortunately one plane in the patrol piloted by 2Lt J.B.Cowan with Lt L.N. Jones went down in flames and both pilot and observer where reported 'Missing in Action'.
14th October 1918 - While leading an offensive patrol with observer Lt Jones they observed 10 Fokkers west of Thielt at 0855 hours. They dived and they overshot the first E.A. but he fired 100 rounds into another and shot away part of the elevator or tail plane. The Fokker, with a white tail, side-slipped and spun down out of control, disappearing into the mist below.
Family Photo
Back: Irene White, Arthur White, Reginald White
Front: Phyllis White, Henrietta White, William White, Mabel White
This photograph was taken during 1915 in Buckingham shortly before Arthur, the eldest son, left for France with his Territorial Regiment (Ox. & Bucks Light Infantry). The family who lived at the Police House in the village of Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire travelled the six miles to the photographers in a wagonette. This was hired from the proprietor of the "Phoenix" public house for two shillings and sixpence. The publican, Mr Billy Harris, supplemented his public house takings with the hire of this vehicle. The family was accompanied on their journey by a cousin Charles White (later Reverend). Whilst the photograph was being taken Charles tried (with an obvious lack of success) to make everyone laugh by pulling faces.
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