Bikers

Thanks to Freddie Cunninghasm's nephew Richard for sending me this great photo. Capt Freddie Cunningham is riding the bike and 2/Lt George Thornton-Norris is standing behind him on the left.

Reminds me of my favorite photo of my Grandfather and his friend Sgt Francis Irvine

Cunningham, Brunton and Who else

Group photo showing Capt Cunningham in the centre and Lt. Raymond Brunton on the right. The airman on the left is unknown but might be able to be identified by his cap badge.

Christmas Card from the Front

This Christmas card was forwarded to me by Freddie Cunningham's nephew. It's a very interesting card especially since it lists all the officers in the Squadron at the time I am interested in. I guess the card must have been commissioned at the beginning of October so it was ready in time for posting for Christmas. It's strange that 2/Lt. James Cowan isn't listed on the card, I thought at first he might not be on it as he died just two days later but his observer Lt. Ludlow Jones is on the list.

Combat Report

Combat Report
Date: October 9th 1918
Time: 16-50 pm
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2510
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: Lt, H.Thomas
Observer: 2/Lt. F.H.V.Coomer
Locality: COURTRAI
Duty: Bombing & Offensive Patrol
Height: 11,000 ft
Result: Driven down out of control: One (Partly destroyed in the air)
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplane – Yellow Camouflage

Whilst on Offensive Patrol, our machine was separated from the formation as I had left it for a short time in order to drop my bomb on COURTRAI. After dropping the bomb we were attacked by four Fokker Biplanes. My Observer engaged these with the rear gun and fired one complete drum into one at a range of about 100 yards. The E.A. was diving as us and the observer continued to fire as it drew nearer. The E.A. then partially broke up, first the right wheel and then the left wheel and un-dercarriage dropped off. The E.A. then went down completely out of control.

(Signed) H.THOMAS 2/Lt. Pilot. F..H.V.COOMER 2/Lt. Observer

1 Decisive

Combat Report 588

Date: October 9^th 1918
Time: 10-55 pm
Type and No. of Aeroplane: Bristol Fighter E.2608
Armament: 1 Vickers, 1 Lewis
Pilot: Capt. F.J.Phillips
Observer: 2/Lieut. J.W.London
Locality: N.W. COURTRAI

Duty: Offensive Patrol and Bombs
Height: 13,000 ft
Result: Destroyed One
Remarks on Hostile Aircraft: Fokker Biplanes.

I was leading a formation of 12 Bristol Fighters on an Offensive Patrol. Having dropped our bombs at COURTRAI we turned W. towards the lines. Shortly after turning West we met seven Fokker Biplanes which we engaged. The E.A. formation was very soon joined by another formation of five Fokker Biplanes. Having gathered our formation together after the first engagement I led them at hte E.A. formation. During the fight which ensued I saw one of our formation being attacked from the rear, I immediately sat on the tail of the E.A. and fired a short burst of 30 rounds into it. The E.A. turned over on its back and went down completely out of control finally crashing between HEULE and COURTRAI. After it crashed a large cloud of smoke came from the machine, I then turned to attack another E.A.

(Signed) E.J.PHILLIPS Captain Pilot. J.W.LONDON 2/Lieut. Observer

1 Decisive

Confirmed by:-

Lieut Rae and Sergt. Perkin, pilot and observer in another machine of the formation.

Eye Witness account of Cowan's Crash

Translation of letter written in Flemish by Alfons Boddin, to Ethel Gutman.

Gits,

22nd January, 1919

My Dear Miss,

In good health I have received your letter and note that you have received the various pieces which I handed to Captain Telford and I have at your request immediately taken a photo of the grave and as soon as possible sent it to you. I now also at your request reply to your questions:

1. Lieut. J.Cowan was shot down in flames in an air fight. The machine was on fire and he himself jumped out of the machine at a height of about 2000 metres and he was embedded in the ground some 50 centimetres. He came down on the territory of Lichtervelde.
2. He was killed instantly on crashing.
3. I myself was the first on the spot and immediately after I had lifted him the German soldiers came and took possession of the body.
4. He has been buried in the meadow and lies at Lichtervelde-Beverenstraat, near GITS.
5. I received he photo and newspaper cutting from the German soldiers who carried the body away.
6. There was also a German Lieut. who was in command of the men and he himself took possession of all that was found on Lieut. Cowan.

I now send you 4 photos of the grave and I hope that you will be pleased with same. Have still in my possession other photos of the grave and if you want some more you must let me know and I shall send you some. If you wish to pay a visit to the grave then you must come to my house and I will accompany you to the grave. When you come it is all the same who will be here, meals, drinks and sleeping accommodation are at your disposal. Since you ask me what I paid for the costs of the photos, it was Frcs. 20.

with kind regards,

Note. My address is

Desire Boddin,

Gits lez Roulers,

P. West Vlaanderen,

Belgieqeu.

Pourremettre a

Alfons Boddin

Letter from Edwin Telford to Cowan's Family

Somewhere in France.

3rd December, 1918.

My Dear.......

I don’t know who I have the honour of addressing this letter to, but I am writing in the hopes that the owner of the enclosed photo will receive it and also I hope that my letter will give some information that may be useful to some dear friend or relation of Lt.J.Cowan. I will tell you how I got in my possession of this photo and paper cuttings. Last Saturday I got two days’ leave to visit my cousin’s grave. His name is Capt. Maurice L. Cooper and he was also in the Royal Air Force. He was bombing a train on the Pitthem Thourout Railway and he was shot down and killed. I succeeded in finding his grave and I will tell you exactly as near as I can, the position of his grave and why I tell you is because I understand Lt.Cowan is buried quite near the same place.

Before I go any further I would like to say that I did not actually see the grave and what I am telling you is what I was told by a French or Belgian civilian – Well there is a railway running from a town called Pittem to a town called Thourout; in this railway there us a very large bending or curve, my cousin is buried just beside the Railway at this curve. I found the grave and had just finished taking some photos of the place when a Belgian civilian came up to me and produced the enclosed photo and paper cutting and he said the owner of them had fallen and was buried about half a mile from the place I have described to you. I asked him for the photo, which he refused to give me as he said that Mademoiselle (that is the lady in the photograph) was the only person that he would give it to. I think the mean rascal wanted paid for it but as he spoke Flemish and knew very little French I found it very hard to understand what he said so I may be doing him an injustice. However, I succeeded in getting it from him on conditions that I got Mademoiselle to write to him. His address is:-

Monsieur Disere Boddin,

Gits les Roulers,

Flandre Ocidentale, Belgium

If you do write to him and if you wish to get any further details from him, I’m afraid it will be necessary for you to get the letter written in Flemish to get any satisfaction. I certainly advise you not to send him any money.

The nearest town of any size to the place is Roulers and the nearest railway station is Gits station, which is in the North of Belgium. I wish I was in a position to give you more information but I am very glad to be able to send you the enclosed photo.

Whoever you may be, I offer you my heartfelt sympathy for your great loss. And may I conclude by saying, that if you think that I can, in any way, assist you, I will be only too pleased to do all I can for you if you will write to

Yours sincerely,
Edwin A.Telford, Capt. M.C.
Connaught Rangers,
Attahced 15th Royal Irish Rifles BEF,
France.