HULL
CEMETERY R38 DISASTER MEMORIAL
Compiled and
Copyright © Julie C Walton 2003
additional information Stephen Mather
The
American Navy were so impressed by the R34 that they ordered a rigid airship
from Britain. The R38 was the biggest one built with 14 gas cells and
six Sunbeam engines each of 350 HP. It was 700ft long and had a speed
of 71mph. The airship was built at Cardington and was completed on 7th
June 1921. On 23rd June she left Cardington and was delivered to Howden,
Yorkshire. Minor girder damage had occurred during the flight and suggestions
were made that strength had been sacrificed in order to achieve lightness.
The first speed trial was carried out on July 17th at Howden. On August
23rd, she was on her final test flight and, cruising over Hull at an altitude
of 2,500ft, flying at 60 MPH, she suddenly broke her back, exploded in
mid air and both parts fell burning into the Humber killing 44 out of
the 49 on board. There were a number of both British and American airmen
on board at the time. A disaster memorial in Hull cemetery contains two
plaques, one for the British and one for the American airmen who lost
their lives. Those on the plaque marked
are buried underneath the memorial.
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Photographs
Copyright © Julie C Walton 2003
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BRITISH
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MAITLAND,
C.M.C., D.S.O., A.F.C. |
Edward
Maitland |
Air
Commodore, Airship Base (Howden), Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. Age 41. Son of Arthur and Margaretta Maitland. C.M.C.,
D.S.O., A.F.C. Buried in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. |
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PANNELL |
J
R |
National
Physics Laboratory |
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THOMAS,
D.F.C. |
Godfrey
Main |
Flight
Lieutenant, H.M. Airship R 38, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. Youngest of his 4 Jamaican brothers, born on the
10th September 1895 in Jamaica, the son of Jamaican Police Inspector
Herbert Theodore Thomas of Savannalamar, Jamaica. All of Godfrey’s
brothers served in the British Army during World War 1 as Officers.
Godfrey started his military service at the end of World War 1 as
a Midshipman on the H.M.S. Colossus, in the first Battle Squadron.
He was also awarded the King’s Medal & Dirk. His Squadron
was transferred to the Royal Navy’s Air Service; until the
formation of the R.A.F. in 1918; he went on to become a Flight Lieutenant
aboard the R-38. D.F.C. Commemoarted in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire.
"R 38" Memorial. |
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MONTAGU,
D.F.C. |
Rupert
Samuel |
Flight
Lieutenant, Airship Base (Howden), Royal Air Force (Navigating Officer,
Lieut.)., Royal Navy. Died on Wednesday 24th August 1921. Age 26.
Son of Alfred John and Hester Vaudrey Montagu, of "Braeside",
Cleveland Rd., Hillingdon West, Middx. Native of Essex. His brother,
Herbert Gerald Montagu, was killed in action on the Somme in 1916.
D.F.C. Buried in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. Grave 305. 29524. |
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DUFFIELD |
C
W |
National
Physics Laboratory |
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MATTHEWSON,
A.F.C. |
Thomas
Frederick |
[Listed
as MATHEWSON on CWGC] Flying Officer 270912, Airship Base (Howden),
Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August 1921. Age 34. Son of
Harriet Mathewson and the late Thomas Mathewson; husband of Violet
Theresa Mathewson, of "Melrose," Alexandra Rd., South Farnborough,
Hants. Born at Seaford, Sussex. A.F.C. Buried in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY,
Yorkshire. Grave 305. 29524. |
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GREENER |
William
Hunter |
Flight
Sergeant 200501, Airship "R.38", Royal Air Force. Died on
Wednesday 24th August 1921. Age 29. Born at Dunston-on-Tyne. Son of
William and Margaret Ann Greener, of J, Newsham Rd., Blyth, Northumberland.
Buried in NORTH SUNDERLAND CEMETERY, Northumberland. Grave N. 18. |
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SMITH |
Frank |
Flight
Sergeant 314374, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August 1921.
Age 28. Husband of Edith Ellen Smith, of 8, Lock St., Caddy Field,
Halifax. Buried in STONEY ROYD CEMETERY, HALIFAX, Yorkshire. Grave
F. B. 13. |
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MARTIN |
Alfred
Thomas |
Flight
Sergeant 200658, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August
1921. Age 39. Husband of Winifred Mary Martin and father of
five from Dickleborough Scole, Norfolk. Alfred Martin had seen
nearly 22 years service in the Army and the R.A.F. Buried
in south-east part of PULHAM MARKET CEMETERY, Norfolk. Moved
from the Army (which he joined in 1899) to the Navy to the Naval
Air Service to the RFC to RAF. When his grave was first marked,
it contained a stone with a carved airship relief, which subsequently
got broken and was replaced by a War Commission gravestone.
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Photographs
Copyright © Julie C Walton 2003
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BURTON |
Frederick
Ernest |
Sergeant
314136, H.M. Airship R 38, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th
August 1921. Husband of Mrs. E. Burton, of 87, Guildford St., Poplar,
London. Commemorated in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. "R
38" Memorial. |
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OLIVER |
William |
Leading
Aircraftman 92523, Airship Base (Howden), Royal Air Force. Died on
Wednesday 24th August 1921. Age 29. Son of Frederick Eaton Oliver
and Alice Rachael Oliver, of Sheffield; husband of Annie Louisa Oliver,
of 169, Shirebrook Rd., Heeley, Sheffield. Buried in HULL WESTERN
CEMETERY, Yorkshire. Grave 305. 29517. |
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PENSON |
Charles
William |
Aircraftman
1st Class 301407, Airship Station (Howden), Royal Air Force. Died
on Wednesday 24th August 1921. Age 21. Son of James Ambrose Penson
and Eliza Ellen Penson, of 111, Westgate, Sleaford. Buried in SLEAFORD
CEMETERY, Lincolnshire. Grave S. 345. |
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DONALD |
C
W |
Air
Mechanic 1st Class 246147, Airship "R.38,", Royal Air Force.
Died on Wednesday 24th August 1921. Age 20. Son of Margaret Donald,
of 13, Rosebank Terrace, Aberdeen, and the late William Donald. Buried
in NELLFIELD CEMETERY, ABERDEEN, Aberdeenshire. Grave 2. 493. |
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PARKER |
Roy |
Aircraftman
2nd Class 251086, H.M. Airship R 38, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. Son of Mr H Parker of 3 Denton Terrace , Bexley
, Kent. Commemorated in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. "R
38" Memorial. |
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CAMPBELL,
O.B.E. |
C
I R |
Superintendent
Royal Airship Works, O.B.E. |
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WARREN |
F |
Assistant
Constructor, Designer, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August
1921. Age 44. Buried in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. Grave 305.
29524. |
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LITTLE,
A.F.C. |
I
C |
Flight
Lieutenant, Airship Base (Howden), Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. A.F.C. Buried in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire.
Grave 305. 29518. |
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PRITCHARD,
O.B.E., A.F.C. |
J
E M |
Flight
Lieutenant, H.M. Airship R 38, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. O.B.E., A.F.C. Commemorated in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY,
Yorkshire. "R 38" Memorial. |
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WICKS |
Victor
Houghton |
Flying
Officer, Airship Base (Howden), Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. Age 29. Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Pettiford (formerly
Wicks), and the. late John Wicks; husband of Beatrice Ellen Wicks,
of 92, Brighton Rd., Reading. Born at Tilehurst, Berks. Buried in
READING CEMETERY, Berkshire. Grave 76. 16342. |
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HEATH,
A.F.M. |
S
J |
Flight
Sergeant 314892, Airship Base, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. A.F.M. Buried in KINGSTON CEMETERY, PORTSMOUTH,
Hampshire. Sailor's Graves 5. 12. |
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THOMPSON |
Harold |
Flight
Sergeant 11507, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August 1921.
Age 25. Son of Joshua and Emily Thompson, of 70, Astbury St., Congleton,
Cheshire. Buried in ST. MARY CHURCHYARD, ASTBURY, Cheshire. New section,
grave B.11. |
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RYE |
John |
Flight
Sergeant 314361, Airship Base (Howden), Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. Age 34. Son of the late William and Ada Rye, of
Liverpool. Buried in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. Grave 305.
29518. |
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MASON |
J
W A |
Sergeant
313827, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August 1921. Buried
in ST. MARY CHURCH CEMETERY, TENBY, Pembrokeshire. Grave D. 12. |
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ANGER |
G
S |
Leading
Air Mechanic 243858, Airship Base (Howden), Royal Air Force. Died
on Wednesday 24th August 1921. Age 31. Son of John and Jessie Anger;
husband of Christiana Anger, of 105, King's Rd., Caversham. Buried
in CAVERSHAM CEMETERY, READING, Berkshire. Grave 2. C. of E. 2862. |
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WILSON |
John
William |
Leading
Aricraftman 314914, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August
1921. Age 27. Son of Fanny Wilson, of 13, Trafalgar Terrace, Brinkburn
Rd., Darlington, and the late William Wilson. Buried in HULL WESTERN
CEMETERY, Yorkshire. Grave 305. 29517. |
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DREW |
John
Cecil |
Aircraftman
1st Class 239474, H.M. Airship R 38, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. Son of Mr T Drew of 22 Archibald Rd , Tufnell Park,
London. Commemorated in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. "R
38" Memorial. |
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STEERE |
Eric
Edward |
Aircraftman
1st Class 231041, H.M. Airship R 38, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday
24th August 1921. Son of Mr. J. Steere, of 37, Gloucester Place, Worthing,
Sussex. Commemorated in HULL WESTERN CEMETERY, Yorkshire. "R
38" Memorial. |
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WITHINGTON |
R |
Aircraftman
2nd Class 313300, Royal Air Force. Died on Wednesday 24th August 1921.
Son of George Withington, of 2, New Street, Wolstanton. Buried in
ST. MARGARET CHURCHYARD, WOLSTANTON, Staffordshire. Grave RH. 17.
24. |
THOSE
MARKED ARE BURIED UNDER THIS MEMORIAL
Photograph
Courtesy of Brian Gouldesbrough
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The
front cover of the service book from the memorial service at Westminster
Abbey 7th September 1921 contains the following inscription:
In
memory of Sir Edward Maitland C.M.G. D.S.O. Air Commodore, Royal
Air Force
Louis
Henry Maxfield, Commander United States Navy
Officers
and Men of the Rigid Air Detachment United States Navy: Members
of the Staffs of the National Physical Laboratory, and of the Royal
Airship Works.
Lost
in Airship R.38 (Z.R.2)
August
24th,1921.
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Express
Sept 10th. 1921
R38
Victim’s Funeral
A Native of Forest Gate (A district in N.E. London) |
The
funeral of one of the victims of the disaster to the airship R38
took place quietly but impressively at the City of London Cemetery,
llford,on Wednesday afternoon The deceased was John Truscott Hancock
aged 31, aircraft chief mechanic’s mate of the United States’
Navy and he was a native of Forest Gate, born at 13, Godwin Road,
His body was recovered from the Humber a week after the disaster
and was conveyed to the residence of his father 17, Godwin Road
on Tuesday under the escort of one of his comrades of the American
Air Force Detachment.
Mr. Hancock, who received his education at Godwin Road School and
the Technical Institute, had a varied experience of engineering
serving his time at the Thames Ironworks, and later working as a
tester with the London General Omnibus Co. Prior to the outbreak
of the war he emigrated to the United States of America, and white
there saw service as a volunteer in the Mexican Border fighting.
In 1916 he enlisted in the American Navy, and because of his mechanical
knowledge chose the aircraft section. He served with the Americans
in France in this section, and saw a great deal of service in “spotting”
submarines from the air. He was the recipient of a letter of commendation
from the American naval authorities. After the war he returned to
America, and because of his keenness and fine engineering knowledge
was one of twelve men chosen with nine officers to come to England
and receive an instruction course on Britain’s rigid airships.
Subsequently this detachment was made up to 50 and deceased was
to have been one of the crew to take the R38 to America.
The was no public ceremonial to mark the occasion of interment,
and except for the fact that the solid oak casket bearing the remains
in an open hearse was covered with the Stars and Stripes there was
nothing to indicate that it was anything other than a private funeral.
As the hearse and two coaches drew quietly away from the residence
of the deceased’s family at 17, Godwin Road and proceeded
to St. Mark’s Church close by there were only a few small
groups of friends and neighbours to witness the passing of the cortege.
These joined a number of others waiting in the church and took part
in the service, which was conducted by the curate (the Rev. W. J.
Martyn). The service was simple in character, as was the ceremony
at the graveside. where there was also a small gathering of friends
and neighbours of the family, Sir Hugh Trenchard. Chief of the Air
Staff and the Air Council were represented by Major Shaw.
The family mourners were Mr F. Hancock (brother) Misses K.and C.
Hancock (sisters) Mrs. Fundell (aunt) Mr .J. W. Daniel (uncle) together
with Mr. Hy. Herbert, representing Godwin Road School.
In addition to wreaths sent by the family and relatives there were
those from his shipmates, officers, non commissioned officers and
flying men of the RAF Base at Howden. Mrs H. L. Maxfield widow of
commander Maxfield, the American airman who was to have taken charge
of the R38 on her journey to America, Sir Hugh Trenehard, the British
Air Council, Air Vice Marshall Vyvyan, the members of the Forest
Gate Model Yacht Club, Manor road (West Ham) lnfants School, clergy,
wardens and congregation of St. Marks Church Forest Gate, 5th Forest
Gate Co. Girl Guides, Mrs McCarthy and Son, Mr. and Mrs. Julyan
and family, Mr.and Mrs. Biackmore and family, Mr. and Mrs. Rowe,
Mr Lewis and family, Mrs. Bowles and daughter, the Misses Hammond,
and Mr. and Mrs. G. Leigh.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by H. Dyer and Sons, Forest
Gate.
COURT
OF INQUIRY’S FINDINGS.
System
Criticised
The
report of the Air Ministry court of inquiry into the disaster to
the airship R38 which broke in two and caught fire off Hull, on
August 24th with the loss of 44 British and American lives, was
issued on Friday night. It states LACK OF VITAL INFORMATION
Many
new features were introduced in the design. and it appears evident
that in some cases there was a lack of vital aero-dynamical information
as to the effect of these modifications on the strength of the structure.
Having
regard to the great differences in the requirements between the
R38 and previous British airships, the design should have been examined
and discussed by an official and competent committee before actual
construction was begun. There is no evidence to show that this was
done.
The
system by which the construction of the ship and the inspection
of the work are centred in one head, as was the case at the Royal
Airship Works, Cardington, Beds. where the R38 was built, is unsound.
ADMIRALTY
STATEMENT
The
Secretary of the Admiralty, in a statement issued simultaneously
says:- With reference to the report of the court of inquiry into
the circumstances concerning the loss of H.M. Airship R 38 and the
Air Council’s statement thereon, the Admiralty are conducting
a full investigation into the history of the design of the airship
and of the initial stages of it's construction up to October 1919,
when responsibility for the design and construction of airships
was transferred to the Air Ministry, and the result of this investigation
will be published in due course.
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Last uodated
9 September, 2015
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