A World War I Aviator

Peter writes to let me know that Morris RICHARDSON, my second cousin twice removed, bn 1892, was a flyer in 33 squadron during World War 1. Morris attained his Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Certificate in a Farman biplane at Farnborough in 1915 and survived the war as a pilot - quite an achievement from what I have heard of those times.

Farman III Biplane

His brother Basil Hutton RICHARDSON did not survive the war. He died in German hands in 1915 and is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel. Coincidentally, there is memorial to Basil on the North all of St Georges Church, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne - where I used to go when I was a youngster and my father was the vicar. I remember seeing it but had no idea that it was of a relative.

There are some interesting illustrations of the Maurice Farman biplane and the Military School, Farnborough here.