8 replies to this topic

[Robnwales]

I have been researching the career and, subsequent fate of, Lt Henry Collister Mulock RFC, follwing the discovery of two letters to his aunt who made enquiries with his formr commanding officer at 52nd Squadron concerning the circumstances around his death. This is the information extracted from the letter:

Lieutenant Henry Collister Mulock, R.F.C. (1891-1917). Only child of George Phillips Mulock by his second marriage to Jane Elizabeth Collister. Born on 9^th October 1891. Joined the South Staffordshire Regiment as 2^nd Lieutenant in 1914, transferred to Royal Flying Corps, 52^nd Squadron. Engaged in photographic reconnaissance of enemy lines at the Battle of the Somme. While photographing large forest several miles behind enemy lines on 15^th February 1917, aeroplane came under attack from three German aircraft. At 6,000 feet Flight Lieutenant ‘Bunny’ Mulock battled in vain, his observer shot ten times and killed outright by a shot through the heart, he himself shot through the spine, paralysing him instantly. The aircraft fell just west of the ruins at Bouchavesness, the wreckage discovered by Officers from the 52^nd Squadron. He was buried with full military honours. His body was later moved to Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, near Albert in France.

I would like to know the identity of the observer, if possible, and anything reating to 52nd Squadron during this period. Lt Mulock was a cousin to the Canadian air ace R.H. "Red" Mulock and brother to Commander George Mulock DSO, RN commander of the gunboat HMS Bee.

[Ken MacLean]

Mulock's death is reported in the 1 March 1917 issue of Flight magazine. Possibly the observer's name appears in this list also.

[Norwood]

Hi, CWGC site states that 2nd Lieut A E Townsend died on the same date .

Maybe a start for you

Norwood

[Trevor Henshaw]

The details I have about this man and his observer come from the RFC Casualty Report, namely that his observer/gunner that day was Pte TA Booth, and that they had set off at 11-50am that morning in RE8 A87.  They had their combat - your details provide much more detail about this, so thanks for these - and were shot down at a Map Ref C.7.c.3.9., which ties in well with Bouchavesnes.  There was a Jasta 3 claim that day for a "BE" over Rancourt and Combles, by Ltn G Schlenker, which may possibly be linked.

At the time, 52 Sqn were struggling with the new RE8 and went through the unique situation of retro-equipping back onto BE2es for a while, around this time, as morale had dropped noticibly.

All the above comes from my book The Sky Their Battlefield, and he appears once before this on 29th January 1917, when he and Cpl Boult shot down an enemy aircraft, in the same RE8.  I still don't know Cpl Boult's initials.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Trevor

[Robnwales]

Evening All,
Many thanks for the areas in which to carry out further research - if anyone would like to see the original letters from the CO of 52nd Sq, do get in touch, will be happy to forward. I think that the detailed letters were a result of his connection to Red Mulock - it had been thought that the Germans had first shot down Red Mulock rather than his (distant) cousin and German celebrations short lived. HC "Bunny" Mulock was recommended for the DSO, but this was never awarded. Much efforts were made on his aunt's behalf - probably as she was the widow of the late Poet Laureate Alfred Austin,w ith connections to the Conservative Party.

[Robnwales]

Update - no metnion of Private TA Booth on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database and no corresponding death in the same squadron - any thoughts/

[Dolphin]

Airmen Died has the entry:

BOOTH, Pte T (M2/079543), 52 Sqn, observer, (formerly Army Service Corps).  KiA 15.2.17.  Buried at Grove Town, Meaulte, France.

CWGC indicates that his grave is IV.B.9.

I hope this is useful.

Gareth

[Robnwales]

Many thanks for the update - I had entered TA Booth on the CWGC Website with no success and glad to see that in death Mulock and Booth are buried in the same cemetery

[seaJane]

Just a passing query, but any relation to Dinah Mary Mulock (Mrs Craik), author of "John Halifax, Gentleman"?