Ah yes, apologies
I’ll post the write up if of interest and add a couple of the pictures which would have been embedded in the article...
Air Force Cross - Lieutenant Colonel W.R. Oulton, The Cheshire Regiment
Awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions against the Zeppelin and Gotha raids against Great Britain during 1917 & 1918. A unique group to the Cheshire Regiment.
Born on 25th August 1898 in Liverpool, William Ronald Oulton attended Charterhouse School before being commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment on 27th October 1916.
Seconded to the Royal Flying Corps on 18th March 1917, initially with 50 Squadron then 143 (Home Defence) Squadron (flying BE12, BE2c, Armstrong Whitworth FK8 & SE5a’s) and later 152 (Night Fighter) Squadron in France on the Sopwith Camel.
I’ve managed to track down a copy of his citation for the A.F.C. (a large slice of luck, as there are very few citations surviving). It was awarded for his Home Defence patrols against Zeppelins, Gothas & Giant Staakens. This was unusual as it should have been an award of an M.C. as it was for action in the face of the enemy. In this case, the aim of the A.F.C. award was misunderstood, presumably as it was for Home Defence. This wasn’t unheard of in the early days of the award (instigated in 1918). The award was officially for ‘an act of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy’
Of the 680 awarded during WW1 the majority were ’won’ for Instructional or Test Pilot duties.
From the ‘History of the Cheshire Regiment of the Great War’ (A. Crookenden):
Lt. W.R. Oulton - Awarded the AFC:
‘He had been employed in a Squadron on Home Defence, and has taken part in defence against every hostile raid there has been since March 1917. Lieut. Oulton has shown great keenness and enthusiasm, has carried out his duties in an exemplary manner, and has given an excellent example to all others’
The First Battle of Britain
Germany’s aerial bombing campaign against Great Britain in the First World War, with London as its primary target, was the first sustained strategic bombing campaign in history. These raids, using airships, bomber aircraft, and seaplanes, ran from December 1914 to August 1918 and resulted in almost 5,000 casualties
These early Raids were, in effect, the first Blitz and subsequent Battle of Britain. Germany’s aerial campaign caused 4,743 casualties (1,394 killed and 3,349 injured) of which 2,603 occurred in London (667 killed and 1,936 injured) by the bombing. The first raid on London made by the LZ-38 took place on 31 May 1915, killing seven and injuring thirty five. Nine British fighters attempted to attack the Zeppelin but it was too high. Great damage was caused by a Zeppelin raid on London on the 8th of September 1915, almost all of it from the one Zeppelin, the L13, which managed to bomb central London.
On 13 June 1917 fourteen Gotha aircraft carried out the first daylight raid on London killing 162 people, including 16 children in their classroom, and injuring over 400, the most by any single air raid on Britain to date. Gotha losses through the summer, however, forced a switch to night bombing in order to stem the losses. The Gotha was powered by two Mercedes Benz engines of 160hp, had a top speed of 90 mph and could fly at 16,000ft. It carried a crew of three; a pilot, a rear gunner and a forward gunner. It also could carry 20 bombs of 50lbs each. By the end of the war it had undertaken 63 raids resulting in 850 deaths and approximately 2,000 injuries. Sixty two had been shot down, lost in crashes or had gone missing. Between June 1917 and May 1918 Gotha bombers – joined by the massive R-type Staaken ‘Giants’ attacked London on seventeen occasions and also bombed many south-eastern coastal towns. The Giant was a much larger aircraft than the Gotha. It was a huge aircraft for the time with four 260 hp Mercedes engines, a wingspan of 138ft, a cruising speed of 80mph and a range of 500 miles. It could carry 4,400 lbs of bombs and defended itself with seven machine guns. None were shot down during their attacks on London.
By 1918 sixteen squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps were on Home Defence duties. Britain, however, eventually gained from the experience. The integrated defence system in place by 1918 formed the basis for that employed successfully when German aircraft returned to British skies in 1940.
Home Defence squadrons were the very first pioneers of Night Fighting, taking great risks in extremely basic aircraft at night. The most famous action being Lt. W. Leefe Robinson’s (39 Squadron) downing of the first Zeppelin in flames, on 2nd September 1916, using incendiary ammunition in a B.E.2c. He saw the aircraft lit up by searchlights and attacked by firing his machine gun into the underside of the airship until it caught fire. The sight of this airship falling to the ground in flames proved a great morale booster for Londoners and a great morale depressant for Airship crews. The Action earned him a V.C. - the first V.C. action in the U.K.
Lt. Oulton’s 143 Squadron’s commanding officer, Maj. F. Sowrey, (the famous ‘Zepp Killer’ - he shot the second Zeppelin down later in September) had the following encounter with a Gotha:
At 11.30pm Sowrey saw a Gotha north-east of Maidstone at l1.45pm and closed in on it. Positioning himself underneath the Gotha, Sowrey emptied an entire drum of ammunition from his top wing-mounted Lewis gun. Seemingly, this had no effect on the Gotha, which failed to retaliate. Unfortunately, as Sowrey attempted to change the drum he dropped the empty drum into the cockpit. Fearing that the drum might foul the controls, Sowrey broke off the action as he sought to retrieve it. Sowrey encountered another Gotha in approximately the same place, but this time as he was heading home after bombing. Again he chose to attack from underneath, and this time he got off two drums from his Lewis
gun. The Gotha fired back this time, with the rear gunner making full use of the 'tunnel' cutaway in the lower fuselage of the German bomber. The bullets passed over the fin of the SE5, but, as Sowrey tried to fire again, possibly with the fuselage-mounted Vickers gun, he stalled his aircraft, which fell away in a spin. He recovered from this, but he failed to relocate the target.
Over South Ash the same Gotha was picked up by Lieut E.E. Turner and Lieut H.B. Barwise of 141 squadron flying a Bristol Fighter. Barwise, the observer, hit the port engine of the Gotha, which went into a flat turn and then put 2 more bursts into the fuselage and starboard wings. The Gotha crashed between Frinsted and Harrietsham at 00.45 hrs. The victory was awarded to Turner and Barwise.
After a further spell of service with the Royal Air Force, Lt. Oulton rejoined the Cheshire Regiment on 14th June 1922. After an initial tour of duty in Ireland and subsequently the U.K. he was posted to the India Auxiliary Force 1926-1932, then Malta in 1933 before a posting to West Africa with the R.W.A.F.F. as a local Major (Company Commander) from 1935-1938. Employed as a staff Captain on his return 1938-1939. During the Second World War he was seconded to Command a Battalion of the K.O.Y.L.I. (temporary Lt. Col.) and various Staff duties, none of which entitled him to any award of medals, he did however receive the Coronation Medal. He eventually retired as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in 1946.
Extracts from the Archives:
SE5a C1805 '2' of 143 Sqn
According to ‘The Air Defence of Britain 1914-1918’ (Christopher Cole and E.F. Cheesman) this aircraft was flown on a home defence sortie by Lt W.R. Oulton on the night of 19/20th May, 1918. Cole & Cheesman list a total of 15 home defence sorties flown by Oulton on BE12, BE2c, AWFK8, and SE5a aircraft while serving with 50 and 143 Sqns. Oulton later went to France with 152 Sqn flying night fighter sorties on Camels. He flew four such patrols in early November 1918, before having a mishap with his regular Camel F2152, on the 11th.
Sopwith Camel F2152
Presentation aircraft 'Presented by His Highness the Maharajah of Nabha No.2'. Fitted for night flying, 152 Sqdn by 3.10.18, Engine Failure, Forced Landed in dark, crashed Astricourt 9.11.18 (Lt W.R. Oulton, unhurt); Repair Park 1 ASD 21.11.18 (wrecked); SEC by 18.1.19.
Detailed account of Lt. Oulton’s Defense Patrols and Squadrons:
50 Squadron 1916-1919
Formed at Dover on the 15th May 1916 as a home defence unit
C.O. Major M. G. Christie
Disbanded 13th June 1919
Locations
Dover: HQ Flight, from 5th May 1916
Bekesbourne: ‘A’ Flight, from Sep 1916. The rest of the Squadron moved to Bekesbourne on 18th February 1918
Throwley: ‘B’ Flight, from Feb 1917. Expanded 30th July 1917 to form 112 Sqn
Detling: ‘C’ Flight, from May 1917
Harrietsham: From Oct 1916
Aircraft
Royal Aircraft Factory, BE2A, BE2C, BE2E, BE12, BE12A, BE12B, RE8, SE5A
Sopwith Pup/ Sopwith Camel F.1 from late 1918
Vickers FB19/ Vickers ES1
Armstrong Whitworth FK8
50 Squadron strength as of 7th March 1917:
Aircraft
Establishment 24
Actual strength 16
Available 13
Pilots
Establishment 18
Actual strength 16
Available 10
Operations 1917
25th May (day) 21 Gotha raid, Folkestone. 12 sorties out of a total of 77 by all squadrons (12/77)
‘A’ Flight, Detling:
BE2C (no.) 2711 2nd Lieut C.C. White
BE12 6183 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton
BE12A A577 2nd Lieut A.J. Arkell
A6308 Lieut Carmichael
A6305 Lieut R.W. le Gallais
A582 2nd Lieut L. Lucas
A6313 2nd Lieut N.E. Chandler
‘B’ Flight, Throwley:
BE12 6493 Lieut H.T.O. Winsor
6185 Lieut Winsor (later flight)
RE8 A3836 Capt T.R. Irons
‘C’ Flight, Bekesbourne:
BE2E 6187 2nd Lieut F.A.D. Grace
Vickers ES1 7759 Capt A.J. Capel
No contact
5th June (day) 22 Gotha raid Sheerness (8/62)
‘A’ Flight, Detling:
BE12 6183 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton
BE12A A6313 2nd Lieut C.C. White
‘B’ Flight, Throwley:
AW FK8 B229 Capt C.R. Rowden
RE8 A3840 2nd Lieut A.J. Arkell
‘C’ Flight, Bekesbourne:
AW FK8 B225 Lieut R.W. le Gallais
B224 2nd Lieut J.G. Goodyear
B238 2nd Lieut N.E. Chandler
Vickers ES1 7759 Capt A.J. Capel
Arkell, Capel and Goodyear sighted enemy but unable to close the gap
13th June (day) 18 Gothas attack London (12/94)
‘A’ Flight, Detling:
BE2C 2711 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton
BE12 A6313 2nd Lieut C.C. White
A6309 2nd Lieut L. Lucas
‘B’ Flight, Throwley:
BE12 6185 2nd Lieut F.V. Bryant
RE8 A3836 2nd Lieut A.J. Arkell
A3840 2nd Lieut N.F. Perris
AW FK8 B229 Capt C.R. Rowden
‘C’ Flight, Bekesbourne:
Vickers ES1 7759 Capt A.J. Capel
AW FK8 B225 Lieut R.W. le Gallais
B224 2nd Lieut J.G. Goodyear
B247 2nd Lieut F.A.D. Grace
B238 2nd Lieut N.E. Chandler
No contact
16-17th June (night) 2 Zeppelins raid London (?/32+)
50 Squadron details not recorded, aerodromes affected by fog, two aircraft force landed
4th July (day) 18 Gotha raid Harwick and Felixstowe (8/103)
22nd July (day) 21 Gotha raid Harwick and Felixstowe (15/121)
‘A’ Flight, Detling: Sopwith Pups, 9 sorties, no details
‘B’ Flight, Throwley:
BE12/12A, 5 sorties, no details
‘C’ Flight, Bekesbourne:
BE12/12A, 5 sorties, no details
24-25th September (night) 13 Gotha raid London (8/30)
Detling:
BE2E B4507 2nd Lieut C.C. White
AW FK8 B224 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton, Capt Kirby
B223 2nd Lieut F.V. Bryant, Lieut R. Roberson, crashed on landing, crew uninjured
No contact
31st October - 1st November (night) 22 Gotha raid London (9/50)
Detling:
AW FK8
B229 Capt C. J. Truran, Lieut R. Robertson
B247 2nd Lieut F.A.D. Grace, 2nd Lieut G. Murray
B224 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton
B226 2nd Lieut F.U. Bryant
BE2E
A3134 2nd Lieut C.C. White
Oswell reported a Gotha seen briefly NW of Dover
Lucas reported 2 Gothas over the Thames estuary
18-19th December (night) 13 Gothas, 1 Giant raid on London (9/47)
Detling:
AW FK8
B3316 Capt C.J. Turan
B225 2nd Lieut F.V. Bryant
B247 2nd Lieut Grace, 2nd Lieut Murray
B229 2nd Lieut N.F. Perris
B4017 2nd Lieut C.C. White
B3316 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton, Lieut H. Harris
2nd Lieut Oulton/ Lieut Harris followed a bomber, chase abandoned over Dover
29/30th January 1918
Only sighting was by 2nd Lieut Oulton/ Lieut Harris (R25 Gotha Giant)
2nd Lieut Oulton also flew defensive patrols on the 17/18th February, 7/8th March and 19/20th May 1918.
One of the aeroplanes used by No. 50 Squadron in 1916-17 still survives. Royal Aircraft Factory BE2C 2699, is now on display at the Imperial War Museum, London. Built by Ruston, Proctor and Co of Lincoln, it served with No. 50 Squadron c.May 1916 - May 1917. It flew at least 5 anti Zeppelin sorties as listed above.
Later it served with 190 and 192 Night Training Squadrons and No. 51 Home Defence Squadron. After a forced landing it was withdrawn from service and passed to the IWM.
As restored the aircraft is in clear doped linen. With No. 50 Squadron service it would have been painted lampblack overall.
No. 143 Squadron (Home Defence)
Formed at Throwley 1st February 1918, moving to Detling in March 1918
C.O. Major F. Sowrey
Disbanded 31st October 1919 (reformed at Aldergrove, June 1941)
Initial equipment was the Armstrong Whitworth FK8, which may have seemed
an unlikely choice as an air-defence fighter, although the type had been used in this
role in small numbers since 1916, albeit against Zeppelins. It seems that the FK8
was a stopgap measure, as the original intention had been to equip 143 Squadron
with Sopwith Dolphins.
Aircraft
Armstrong Whitworth FK8
SE5a (Viper engine)
Sopwith Camel
Sopwith Snipe
Operations 1918
16/17th February (night) Raid on London by 4 Stakken Giants
143 Squadron flew 2 sorties out of a total of 60 RNAS/RFC sorties (2/60)
AW FK8
B3316 Capt C.J. Truran, Lieut T.E. Garside
B223 Lieut F.V. Bryant, 2nd Lieut V.H. Newton
No contact
17/18th February (night) London raid by a single Stakken Giant (4/69)
AW FK8
B223 Lieut F.V. Bryant, 2nd Lieut V.H. Newton
B3316 Capt C.J. Truran, Lieut T.E. Garside
B224 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton, Lieut J. Tennant
B220 2nd Lieut N.F. Perris, 2nd Lieut R.C. Cowl
No contact
7/8th March (night) London raid by 5 Stakken Giants (3/42)
AW FK8
B4017 Lieut C. Ossenton
B224 2nd Lieut W.R. Oulton
B3316 2nd Lieut F.V. Bryant
No contact
19/20th May (night) London raid by 20 Gothas (10/88)
RAF. SE5a
C1879 Capt J. Potter
C1803 Capt C.J. Truran
C1809 Lieut N.F. Perris
C1805 Lieut W.R. Oulton
C1804 Maj F. Sowrey
C1118 Lieut Northwood
C1802 Lieut Jones
C1873 Lieut C. Ossenton
C1808 Lieut W.C.M. Harbottle
C1810 Lieut F.V. Bryant
No 152 (Night Fighter) Squadron
The squadron was formed on 1st October 1918 at Rochford as a Camel night fighter unit and in mid-October moved to France to defend Allied Bases against enemy night bombers. The war ended three weeks later and by 30th June 1919, the squadron disbanded.
