B.E.2e A1330 probably on the Yorkshire Wolds.
On 31st January 1918 this aeroplane was being flown from Copmanthorpe aerodrome to Beverley aerodrome when it was flown into thick mist. The pilot attempted to climb above it but the aeroplane stalled and it crashed into a ploughed field. Both men flying in the aeroplane sustained injuries. Where the crash occurred is unknown, purely taking a line between the two aerodromes it was probably mist over the Yorkshire Wolds that caused the problem. The pilot was with 8th Wing at the time but the passenger was with No.68 Training Squadron who were based at Bramham Moor.
Pilot - LtCol Stuart Grant-Dalton DSC and Bar, MiD RFC. Injured.
Passenger (Fitter) - 1AM W H Marshall RFC (47401). Injured.
He was awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross, Gazetted on 25th November 1916, which was presumably for his actions prior to loosing his foot. The citation stated "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He attacked two hostile aeroplanes, although quite unsupported. Later, after being attacked by another enemy machine and wounded in three places, he brought his machine back and landed safely." He then received another Mention in Despatches on 1st December 1916 Mention in Despatches, on 9th March 1917 he was awarded The Order of the Nile. His service file appears missing from the National Archives "AIR76" series so I have been unable to obtain the dates he was posted to various units. What is clear is that by January 1918 he was back in the UK. On 31st January 1918 he was injured when B.E.2e A1330 crashed in East Yorkshire and was possibly a member of HQ 8th Wing staff at the time. On 12th May 1918 he was on board the SS Omrah and sailing in the Mediterranean Sea when the ship was struck by a torpedo, whether he was injured in this action is not known. An Air Force Cross was awarded to him on 3rd June 1919. He left the RAF in May 1928 and appears to have had some involvement with aviation in New Zealand at some stage in his life. He died in Devon in January 1971 and there are far better accounts of his service and life than mine.
Stuart Grant-Dalton was born on 5th April 1886 in Hampshire and was educated at Uppingham School. He then went to Sandhurst and received a commission in the Green Howards Regiment way back in 1906. He later transferred to the Yorkshire Regiment and entered France on 21st April 1915, served at Ypres and he received a Mention in Despatches. He later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was awarded a Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.2053) following training at the Military School, Shoreham on 29th October 1915. He then received a commission in the Royal Flying Corps on 6th January 1916 and rose to be Fight Commander six months later. He was wounded by fire from an enemy aeroplane on 21st July 1916 flying with No.14 Squadron in Eygpt. Six days later was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Gazetted on 27th July 1916, "for conspicuous gallantry and resource. When on return from escort duty his observer, 2nd Lt. Paris, discovered one of our machines which had been forced to land in enemy country owing to damage by hostile fire. Capt. Grant-Dalton with great gallantry landed, destroyed the machine, which was past repair, and returned ninety miles to his aerodrome with his observer and the pilot of the other machine." A short time later he was seriously injured that resulted in the amputation of one foot.