The Brothers Blyth RFC - a photo on Flickriver

In loving M(emory?)
??? d(ar?)lings
Li(eut) (E.J.?) BLYTH R.F.C.
Mi(s?)sing in France 26-3-??
Aged 22 years
(al?)so
LIEUT. W.E.H. BLYTH R.F.C.
Killed 22-4-1?
Aged 19 year(s)

Born ?? B(ar?)k(l?)e (y?) West. Sth Africa.

Gone home

(The letters in brackets are my best guess).

Probably
Second Lieutenant Edward John Blyth, 19th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Died 26/03/1918. Remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/741362/blyth,-edward-...

BLYTH, WILFRED ERNEST HILL
Rank:……………………........Second Lieutenant
Date of Death:……………22/04/1918
Age:……………………….......19
Service:……………………....Royal Air Force, 88th Sqdn.
Grave Reference:……….24 138.
Cemetery:…………………..NORWICH CEMETERY, NORFOLK
Additional Information:
Son of Edward and Mary Blyth, of 16, Barnato St., Berea, Johannesburg, South Africa. Born at Barkley West, Kimberley.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2803057/BLYTH,%20WILF...

A record of RFC officers who served in Warwickshire probably mentions them both. A 2nd Lt. Edward John Blyth from South Africa served with 5 Reserve Squadron and 71 Squadron, (25/05/1917 to 07/09/1917). A 2nd Lt. Wilfred Ernest Hill Blyth served with 5 Reserve Squadron and 5 Training Squadron, (05/05/1917 to 12/12/1917).
www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/marg/officersa-e.htm

Edward Blyth

Service Record…………….

From his RAF Officers Service Records.

Edward John Blyth was boarded for acceptance by the Royal Flying Corps on the 26th March 1917, initially going to an Officers Course at Oxford before starting his aviation training on the 13th April 1917 moving through 5 Reserve Squadron then 71 Squadron. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant effective 24th May 1917, and Flying Officer from 31st July 1917. He went to 79 Squadron on the 7th September 1917 and then 19 Squadron on the “13-2-1917”, (should that be 1918 or December – see below).

Initially reported as Missing, he was subsequently reported as Presumed Died on the 26th March 1918.

No.19 Squadron…………..

No. 19 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was founded on 1 September 1915 training on a variety of aircraft before being deployed to France in July 1916 flying B.E.12s and re-equipping with the more suitable French-built Spads.

From November 1917, the squadron started to receive Sopwith Dolphins to replace its Spads, it being fully equipped with the Dolphin during January 1918, flying its first operational patrol with the new fighter on 3 February. In 1918, the squadron was re-equipped with Sopwith Dolphins, flying escort duties.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._19_Squadron_RAF

I came across Edwards’ name in connection with other members of 19 Squadron.

Captain Eric Oliver claimed a victory over an Albatross DV South of Quesnoy on the 22nd December 1917 while flying SPAD A6714. He shared the victory with 7 others, including a 2Lt E J Blyth who was in B3563.
www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/olivier.php
The others were Lt Eric Oliver (A6714), Lt. Arthur Fairclough (B6802), Capt. G W Taylor, (B6805), Maj. Albert Carter, (A8836), Lt H.E. Galer (A8834) and Captain Oliver Campbell Bryson (A6780).
www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/bryson.php
www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/fairclough.php
www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/carter1.php

If he joined the Squadron on the 13th December 1917 then they were stationed at Bailleul (Asylum Ground). They moved to Ste. Marie-Cappel on the 25th December, back to Bailleul on the 13th February 1918 and then St.Marie Cappel on the 23rd March 1918.
www.theaerodrome.com/services/gbritain/rfc/19.php

E J Blyth ended up credited with 2 Enemy Aircraft destroyed.
www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10316&page=6

On the day –

One source has “Killed in action on the 26th March 1918 during a low patrol on Sopwith Dolphin.”
www.delvillewood.com/cemeteries/arras%20flying%20services...
(Includes picture of his name on the memorial)

The Casualty List in the issue of Flight International dated April 18, 1918 records 2nd Lieut. E.J. Blyth R.F.C. as “Missing”
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200425...

The International Red Cross received two enquiries as to his fate – from his mother, living at 28 High Road, Fordsburg, S. Africa and from a Mrs L. Kirkwood, of 16, Portree Place, London, W2. The response to both was that nothing had been heard from the German authorities.
grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/144335/3/2/

The Internet seems to be quiet on the fate of Edward. As the British Army was still falling back before the German Spring Offensive on this day, the RAF continued to do everything it could to staunch the enemy advance. Ground-strafing and low level bombing of targets of opportunity were the order of the day. Given that he was reported missing it seems likely that no one else from his Squadron saw him go down.

19 Squadron had another loss on this day – Second Lieutenant Fernley Winter Hainsby, who is also remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/search-for-war-dead/casualty/637589/
The IRC reports an enquiry made that he went missing at Bapaume in Machine No. C.3790, Engine No.115480.
grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/File/Details/327863/3/2/

The German authorities issued a report for British Machines which fell into German hands during the month of March 1918. Only 1 Sopwith Dolphin was positively identified, C3905, but this was claimed by Fritz Rumey on the 23rd.
www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/rumey.php
There were however 21 Sopwith single-seaters, of which for 10 no further details of numbers or occupants could be ascertained.
www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%200590...

The 1919 Probate Calendar records that Edward John Blyth of 28 High-road Fordsburg Johannesburg and of Kimberley Waterworks Riverton Cape Province, both in South Africa, died on or since March 26th in France on active service. Administration (with Will limited) was granted at the London court on the 19th August 1919 to Frederick William Archdeacon, secretary attorney of Mary Elizabeth Blyth. His estate was valued at £561 5s 6d.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Blyth&y...

Wilfred Blyth

Service Record

He initially enlisted on the 14th March 1917. He was a 3rd Class Airman at the Recruits Dept at Farnborough when he was “discharged from the service” on the grounds that he had been offered a commission, on probation, with the Royal Flying Corps. The note is dated 23rd May 1917 but may well have been effective earlier. (It is stated he spent 71 days in the ranks which would make the 23rd May the correct date). His next of kin is given as his mother, Mrs Mary Elizabeth Blyth, c\o Dr. Cogham, 28 High Road, Fordsbury, Johannesburg.

He was born 14th July 1898 and his home address was shown as 28 High Road, Padsbang, Johannesburg – possibly this was effectively the same address given for his mother. He was a student at King Edward VII school, Johannesburg from September 1912 to December 1916. His special qualifications included speaking German. His legal executor was an F.W. Archdeacon of Kimberley Waterworks Coy. Ltd. He was appointed Second Lieutenant on the 24th May 1917 and posted to 5 T.S. He was injured in a Flying Accident on the 4th June 1917. On recovery, (he was found fit for service on the 13th November 1917), he went back to 5TS, before being posted to 89 Squadron on the 7th January 1918 and then 88 Squadron on the 2nd February.

He was promoted Flying Officer on the 22nd March 1918 and completed his probationary period on the 1st April. He was seriously injured in a “aero accident” in the Thetford area on the 21st April 1918 and died later the same day, (not the 22nd as shown on his CWGC record). His mother, Mrs. M.E. Blyth, of 16, Barnato Street, Berea, Johannesburg, was informed of his death.

No.88 Squadron…………..

After forming at Gosport in July 1917, the squadron was moved to France in April 1918 where it undertook fighter-reconnaissance duties. It was also involved in the development of air-to-air wireless telegraphy. After the foundation of the Royal Air Force in June 1918, the squadron became part of No. 80 Wing RAF, which specialised in attacks on German airfields.
Despite its short service at the front, the squadron claimed 147 victories for casualties of two killed in action, five wounded in action, and ten missing.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._88_Squadron_RAF

No. 88 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Gosport, Hampshire, on 24th July 1917, and the following April went to France as a fighter-reconnaissance squadron equipped with Bristol Fighters.
www.raf.mod.uk/history/88squadron.cfm

On the day

The following report appeared in the edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Wednesday April 24, 1918.

FLYING OFFICER KILLED.

An inquest was held by a Norfolk Coroner yesterday touching the death of Sec.-Lieut. Wilfred Ernest Jill Blyth, R.A.F., aged 20, of Johannesburg, South Africa, who died in hospital on Monday, from the effects of a flying accident on the previous day. The evidence was to the effect that deceased was a fully qualified and skilled pilot, and familiar with the machine he was using, the latter being in perfect working order when he entered the air with it. Later the machine was observed in a wrecked condition on the ground by another airman, and when assistance was obtained the deceased was found badly injured and in an unconscious condition among the wreckage. He was taken to hospital but never rallied, and died early the next morning. There was no evidence to show how or why the machine crashed to earth. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

The 1918 Probate Calendar records that Wilfred Ernest Hill Blyth, of 63 Rowfant-road, Upper Tooting, Surrey, lieutenant R.G.A., died 22 April 1918 at Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk. Probate was granted at the London Court on the 12 July 1918 to Frederick William Archdeacon, company secretary. His estate was valued at £493 7s 2d.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Blyth&y...

Taken in: UK / England / Norwich District (show map)

Taken on: February 11, 2016

Tags:

Norwich

Norwich Cemetery

Norfolk

England

In memoria

Home fallen of the Great War

Norfolk Air Crashes

Dulce et decorum est

Edward Blyth

Edward John Blyth

19th Squadron

19Sqn

26/03/1918

26th March 1918

Wilfred Blyth

Wilfred Ernest Hill Blyth

88th Squadron

88 Sqn

22/04/1918

22nd April 1918

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Sets appears in: • In memoria • Dulce et Decorum Est..Pro Patria Mori more » • Earlham Cemetery • Norfolk Air Crashes « less

Groups appears in: • Cemetery UK (not churchyards) • The Great War 1914 - 1918 more » • Old Soldiers (rest in peace) • The Home Fallen of the Great War 1914 - 1930 (UK CWGC Headstones • REMEMBER THEM « less

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