John Edwin Ransome

John Edwin Ransome
Lieut J E Ransome
Born	1893 (1893)
Died	12 December 1917 (aged 23–24) Appleshaw while flying out of Weyhill Aerodrome, Hampshire
Cause of death	Aeroplane crash (pilot)
Resting place	St Thomas' Church, Boston
Education	Boston Grammar School (1907-1909)
Occupation	Pilot
Employer	Royal Flying Corps
Partner	Amy Featherstone
Relatives	Mrs J S Barnes (sister), Mrs J W Collins (sister), Mrs Wakefield (sister), Mr and Mrs Haynes (uncle and Aunt)

John Edwin "Jack" Ransome was educated at Boston Grammar School (1907-1909).

Obituary

From the February 2001 issue of The Old Bostonian

John Edwin Ransome was born in 1893 and attended BGS from 1907 to 1909, He joined the forces soon after the outbreak of the 1914/18 war. In 1915 he was posted to France and returned to the UK in 1917 for training as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps.

On 12th December 1917 he took off with his squadron on a training flight from Weyhill Aerodrome in Hampshire. John's plane was a BE 2e no A1360.

Flying in formation in line abreast at 1,000 feet, John's plane was hit in the tail by one of the other planes, piloted by Lieutenant Edwards. John's plane was so badly damaged it was not controllable and it plunged to earth. John was killed instantly. Lt Edwards managed to regain control and brought his plane to land safely without injuries to himself.

Following the accident an inquest was held and recorded the verdict that John was 'accidentally killed while flying'.

John's body was brought back to Boston and he was buried in St Thomas' Churchyard, London Road.

Contemporary account from The Boston Guardian, Saturday, December 22, 1917

Lieut. John Edwin Ransome, of the RFC (24) of Boston, while flying with a squadron near Appleshaw on Wednesday week, had the misfortune to be hit by another plane, with the result that his machine was dashed to the earth from a height of 1,000 feet, and he was killed instantaneously.

The inquest was held by Mr Coroner Talbot at the Town Hall, Andover, on Thursday night week.

A carter living at Appleshaw named Eustace Frank Herbert Adlam deposed that at 9.20 on Wednesday morning he watched four aeroplanes flying abreast. Suddenly it appeared as if one pilot tried to turn to his left, and, in doing so, touched the tail of the other machine. The one that was hit came down on the edge of a wood about 600 yards distant. Running to the spot, witness found the machine a total wreck, and the pilot was lying on his right side dead. Another pilot who came up a minute later, estimated the height at which they were flying as 1,000 feet.

Second-Lieut Harrison, of the Weyhill Aerodrome, said he saw the four machines leave at 9 o'clock. They were doing formation flying in line abreast. Deceased was quite experienced, and was just about to graduate as a pilot; he had done everything necessary before going to France. All four pilots had about the same experience. It was only opinion on his part, but he believed the airmen were too close together. The leader was signalling to the rest, and no doubt Lieut Edwards was so keen on watching the leader that suddenly looking to his machine he found his nose had swung wight round on to the tail of the other machine and struck it before he was able to alter his course. Lieut Edwards lost the propeller of his machine, but was able to descend unharmed.

Capt Bannerman, RAMC, Andover, said that when he arrived near Redenham House at 10 o'clock he found the body of deceased on a stretcher. There were severe injuries to the head and thorax, while the lower jaw and left leg were broken sufficiently to cause death.

The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased was accidentally killed while flying on duty with his squadron.

Mrs Ransome, who lives at Oxford House, High-street, has received the following letters from fellow-officers:

Letters from brother officers

Andover, Hants, 12th Dec, 1917 Dear Mrs Ransome,- As the Flight Commander of the flight, to which your son belonged, I am writing to express my very sincere and deep sympathy with you in your loss. It is our loss, too, as he was a friend of all of us.

I am afraid it was one of those accidents, which it was quite impossible for us to foresee or prevent. Everyone of us will miss him, and particularly myself , as he was making a fine airman, and was always ready and willing to do his work. Please, once more accept my very deep sympathy.- Yours sincerely, N B Loremore

Dear Mrs Ransome,- It is with the deepest sympathy for you that I follow up my wire of this morning, telling of your son's death with the facts that surround it.

This morning he, in company with several other machines, started out on a formation flight. After they had been flying for about twenty minutes his and another machine collided, with the result that your son's machine became out of control and crashed to the earth, killing him instantly. The pilot of the other machine managed to regain control and landed without injuring himself.

He was one of the best pupils I had in the squadron, and very shortly would have graduated as a service pilot.

Everybody in the squadron will feel his loss keenly, and all sympathise with you in your bereavement.

Any assistance that I can give you in any arrangements you may wish to make will be given freely.- Very sincerely yours, Evans A McKay, Capt Andover, 12th December, 1917

The funeral

The funeral took place with full military honours at St Thomas' Church, Skirbeck Quarter, on Saturday afternoon last, when the Rev W E Thomas was the officiating clergyman. The service was fully choral. Miss Staffurth, the organist, playing the Dead March in "Saul." The mourners were as follows:-

1st Carriage: Mrs Ransome (mother), Mrs J S Barnes (sister), Mr J S Barnes (brother-in-law), and Mr J W Collins (brother-in-law).

2nd Carriage: Mrs J W Collins (sister), Mrs Wakefield (sister), Long Eaton; Mr Wakefield (brother-in-law), Miss Amy Featherstone (fiancée), and Mrs Florrie Featherstone.

3rd Carriage: Mr Farrow and Mr Arthur Farrow, Stamford; and Mr and Mrs Haynes (uncle and Aunt)

The service was of a most impressive character, the coffin being borne by Lieut Nelson, RFC, Lieut Jeffries, RFC, Second-Lieut Dalpaws, Northern Cyclists' Brigade, Second-Lieut Pearson, Lieut Wright, Embarkation Staff, and Second-Lieut Waldre, Royal Scots. There were also present Capt Rumbould, in command of the firing party of the Northern Cyclists, Lieut Wright, etc.

There were many floral tributes, including:-

"From the Officers of 104 Squadron, RFC."

"From the Warrant Officers, NCOs and men, 104 Squadron, RFC."

"In loving memory," from mother.

"In loving memory," from Joe and Lu, Six Hundreds.

"In loving memory of our dear Jack," from Will, Millie and children.

"In loving memory," from Auntie Louie and Uncle Edwin.

"In loving memory," from Mr and Mrs W Casswell, Grace, Nell and Bill.

"With deepest sympathy and in affectionate remembrance," from Louie and Wilfred.

"With deepest sympathy," from Mr and Mrs Matson.

"With deepest sympathy," from Mrs Dolby and daughters.

"With deepest sympathy," from Arthur and Nell, 17, Bridge-street.

"Sincere Sympathy," from Auntie Harriet and Uncle Alf, Chelsea.

"Sincere sympathy," from Mr and Mrs F V Walker.

"Sincere sympathy," from Mr and Mrs J S Collins, Black Sluice.

"In loving memory," from Mr and Mrs Farrow and his chum Arthur, Stamford.

"A tribute of sincere sympathy," from Mr and Mrs A Dyson.

"In loving memory," from Amy

"In loving memory," from Minnie and Jack.

Prior to the body being removed from Andover, a military service was held there, at which all the Officers, NCOs and men attended.

See Also

• War Memorials