James Thomas Byford McCUDDEN VC,DSO and Bar, MC and Bar, MM, RAF

“The most highly decorated pilot of the Great War”

BORN: Brompton, Gillingham, Kent

BORN: 28 March 1895 (Gillingham) DIED: 9 July 1918 (France)

Biography

Major James Thomas Byford McCUDDEN (“Mac”). VC, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar, MM, CdeG (France). 60 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Formerly 56 Squadron. Former Bugler (Boy 20083) Royal Engineers. Died (Flying accident) 9th July 1918 aged 23 years. Born Brompton (R.E) Female Hospital, Gillingham, Kent, 28th March 1895. Enlisted in 1910. Son of Sergeant Major William Henry McCudden and Amelia E. McCudden (nee Byford) of “Pitlochry,” 37 Burton Road, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey. Formerly residing 22 Belmont Road, Gillingham, Kent. Formerly 18 Meyrick Road, Sheerness, Kent. Buried Wavans British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Grave B.10. Also commemorated on the private family memorial in the Maidstone Road, Cemetery, Chatham, Kent (his father lays here with his brother Sergeant William McCudden who was killed in a flying accident at Gosport, Hampshire). James name appears both on the Brompton War Memorial in Gillingham and on the Sheerness War Memorial, Isle of Sheppy, Kent. His name also appears on a civic tribute placed on (wait for it) - the wall of Gilingham’s public TOILET’s! It is not known which local Gillingham idiot chose to place a tribute here… In his early years James was known as “Jimmy” later on this changed to “Mac”. James father William was from Northern Ireland. His mother Amelia was a dark haired and very attractive Chatham girl (probably where Jimmy got his dashing “film star” looks from assisted by copious amounts of Brillcream)! On 26 April 1910 James aged 14 years enlisted in the Royal Engineers as a Boy Bugler. After basic training he was sent to Gibraltar. Upon returning to the UK James was drafted to No 6 Field Company at Weymouth in Dorset. In April 1913 James was transferred to the newly formed Royal Flying Corps as 892 Air Mechanic 2nd Class and was posted to Farnborough. Around this time James had an unfortunate accident which resulted in him being jailed by the military authorities for 7 days with 14 days loss of pay. By October 1913 James was serving in No 3 Squadron on the Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. On 1 April 1914 James was promoted Air

Mechanic 1st Class. At about this time James was taken up for discreet flights by some pilot friends of his. In June 1914 James was at Netheravon. Upon the outbreak of war James was immediately sent to France making is way there on the tramp steamer “Dee” from Dover. His squadron (No 3 squadron) withdrew from the Mons area and James was involved in it’s retreat back to Le Cateau. In the spring of 1915 James was promoted Flight Sergeant giving him responsibility for all the engines of No 3 Squadron. At this time James was still only 20 years of age. On 12 May 1915 James was notified of the death of his brother William in a flying accident at Gosport in Hampshire. William’s body was bought back for burial in Chatham in Kent. James brother William was serving as a pilot instructor with No 61 Squadron when killed. James was deeply affected by the death of his brother. About this time James started to fly as an air gunner. By the end of 1915 he was performing the duties of an air navigator. In December 1915 James was recommended for pilot training. His first flight as a pilot was on 22 February 1916 in an elderly Henry Farman F20 Pusher. On 7 May 1916 James was promoted Second Class Flyer and awarded Certificate 107 of 7 May 1916. By June 1916 James was appointed as a flying instructor pilot. His superiors obviously viewed James as an outstanding pilot. In June 1916 James was posted to No 20 Squadron in France as an operational fighter pilot (FE2b’s). Later in the year James was transferred to No 29 Squadron (DH2’s) commanded by an old mentor from No 3 Squadron – Major Conran. On 4 September 1916 James got his first enemy kill. In October 1916 James was awarded the Military Medal (MM). On 21 January 1917 James was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps as a Second Lieutenant still with No 29 Squadron. On 15 February 1917 James won the Military Cross (MC) after yet another enemy kill. On 11 March 1917 James was at home with his parents in Kingston Upon Thames. On 7 May 1917 James was sent to Hounslow to collect his own fighter a Sopwith Pup (A7311). James took this plane to Dover where a Lewis gun was fitted. At this time James was a flying instructor at Joyce Green in Dartford, Kent. In reality he spent most of his time flying to various airfields in Southern England searching out enemy Zepps and Gotha bombers. On 7 July 1917 James was at Dover and was notified of his transfer to No 66 Squadron in France. On 4 August 1917 James returned to the UK as a pilot instructor at Joyce Green. On 16 August 1917 James was posted to No 56 Squadron in Belgium. It was around this time that James accounted for many of his recorded kills. On 4 December 1917 James was given his own machine an SE5a (B4891). James achieved 9 kills between 23 and 29 December 1917 (only 6 days)! On 2 April 1918 Captain James McCudden was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC).

London Gazette VC Citation

“For most conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance, keenness, and very high devotion to duty”

In July 1918 James was in London where he delivered a manuscript of his memoirs (later to be published as “Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps” and “Flying Fury”). On 9 July 1918 James collected a SE5a (C1126) from Hounslow at 1300 hours for France. Somehow James became disorientated At 1800 hours James landed safely at a small airfield in France known as Auxi-le-Chateau which was at that time the home of No 8 Squadron. James asked a member of the ground crew directions to command. James took off again and at a height of about 70 feet his engine cut out. James crashed heavily into a wooded area at the side of the airfield. James sustained very serious injuries including a fractured skull. He was immediately taken to No 21 Casualty Clearing Station where he died three hours later! For James his war was finally over… His body was buried the next day with full military honours in the small Waverns Military Cemetery. He was only 23 years of age and had just been promoted Major…

Maidstone Road Cemetery, Chatham, Kent. (Section CC Grave 959)

“Fly on dear boy From this dark world of strife

On to the promised land Of eternal life”

(We couldn’t have put it better ourselves – Rest in Peace Jimmy…)

Brompton Civic War Memorial

All 3 McCudden brothers are there…

James Brother John (No 84 Squadron) killed in action 18 March 1918

Maidstone Road Cemetery, Chatham, Kent

(The Family Plot)

James T.B McCudden VC, DSO, MC

James father William McCudden

James Two Brothers both also killed in the war…

And his Brother-in-Law Arthur Scott Spears killed on HMS Princess Irene

Not many Medway residents appear to know of this graves existance!

Sheerness Civic War Memorial

Sheerness