James Martin Child

James Martin Child
Born (1893-10-20)20 October 1893
Leytonstone, North London, England
Died 23 August 1918(1918-08-23) (aged 24)
Turnberry, Scotland
Buried at Chingford Mount Cemetery, London, England
Allegiance British Empire
Service/branch Aviation
Rank Captain
Unit No. 4 Squadron RFC, No. 19 Squadron RFC, No. 84 Squadron RFC
Awards Military Cross with Bar, Belgian Order of Leopold and Croix de guerre

James Martin Child MC* (October 20, 1893 – August 23, 1918) was a British pilot.

Early life

James Martin Child, son of Constance Octavio and Tylney Harris Child of Leytonstone, England,[1] was born on 20 October 1893. The youthful Child moved to Canada, worked in a bank, and was a prospector for minerals. He was still in Canada when the First World War started.[2]

World War I

Child was a Canadian militia member; however, somehow he couldn't return to England with the Canadian Expeditionary Force, so he paid his own passage home to England. Once there, he was commissioned into the Durham Light Infantry.[3] He then transferred to the Manchester Regiment. He was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in the first half of 1916. He first served in No. 4 Squadron, but was posted to No. 19 Squadron in July 1916.[4]

He scored his first victory on 23 April 1917. On 12 May 1917, Second Lieutenant Child, who was already serving as a temporary lieutenant, was appointed a temporary captain for service as a Flight Commander.[5] He scored three victories in all while flying Spad VIIs during April, May and June 1917 before he was removed from combat.[6] Subsequently, on 28 September 1917, the King of Belgium invested him as a Chevalier in the Order of Leopold II.[7]

He returned to combat as a flight commander in No. 84 Squadron and tallied five more victories during October and November 1917 while piloting Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a serial number B562. Once again relieved from combat duty, he returned to England in February 1918, detailed as an instructor.[8]

On 15 March 1918, he was awarded the Belgian War Cross.[9] It was followed by the Military Cross, gazetted on 5 July 1918:

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) James Martin Child, Manchester Regiment and Royal Flying Corps
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While leading a patrol he encountered four enemy scouts, one of which he destroyed. On another occasion he attacked one of two enemy two-seater machines which he encountered over the enemy's lines. He disabled the machine, and skilfully turned it towards our lines, where the enemy pilot was forced to land and he and his observer were taken prisoner. On another occasion he attacked five enemy scouts, one of which he destroyed. He showed the greatest judgment and determination."[10]

Child died rescuing fellow officers from the wreckage of a plane crash at Drakemyre, Scotland.[11] His remains were repatriated and buried in Plot C.R. 7284[12] of Chingford Mount Cemetery in his native London.[13][14] His brother, Jack Escott Child, as well as his sister, were subsequently interred in that same grave.[15] [16]

See also

References

Endnotes

  1. ↑ http://canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=18157 Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  2. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=child&GSfn=james+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=42031312&df=all& Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=child&GSfn=james+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=42031312&df=all& Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  4. ↑ Spad VII Aces, p. 42.
  5. ↑ Supplement to the London Gazette, 2 June 1917, p. 5437. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30109/supplements/5437 Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  6. ↑ Spad VII Aces, p. 42.
  7. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, 28 September 1917, p. 2070. http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13147/pages/2070 Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  8. ↑ Spad VII Aces, p. 42.
  9. ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, 15 March 1918, pp. 1021, 1023. http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13223/pages/1021; http://www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13223/pages/1023 Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Supplement to the London Gazette, 5 July 1918, pp. 7895, 7900. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30780/supplements/7895; http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30780/supplements/7900 Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  11. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=child&GSfn=james+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=42031312&df=all& Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  12. ↑ http://canadiangreatwarproject.com/searches/soldierDetail.asp?ID=18157 Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  13. ↑ http://www.cwgc.org/search/SearchResults.aspx?surname=child&initials=j+m&war=0&yearfrom=1900&yearto=2000&force=&nationality=&send.x=0&send.y=0 Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  14. ↑ Spad VII Aces, p. 42.
  15. ↑ http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,137626.msg619223.html Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  16. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=child&GSfn=james+&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=42031312&df=all& Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  17. ↑ http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,137626.msg619223.html Retrieved 30November 2011.
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