Hi - Apologies if this is in the wrong section. I am trying to do some research on a RFC man who I think was a Pilot his name is Quested (quite unusual). I have his medals and was wondering if anyone could help me with any information on him.

Any help appreciated.

Woody

Woody

There are some mentions of your man in books on the war in the air.

2Lt John Bowley Quested, formerly with the Army Service Corps, was the observer in Vickers FB 5 5457 of No 11 Sqn RFC, flown by 2Lt A L (?) Neale, when he was involved in combat with an Albatros over Peronne on 14 December 1915. Neither airmen was injured.

On 27 December 1916, Capt J B Quested was flying FE 2b 7666 of No 11 Sqn RFC, with 2Lt H J H Dicksee as observer, when the aircraft was forced to land behind the British lines near Wancourt after combat with enemy aeroplanes from Jasta 1. The FE crew shot down Ltn Gustav Leffers, an 'ace' credited with nine victories (and who may have been flying a captured Nieuport) but were then themselves shot down. Capt Quested wasn't injured, but 2Lt Dicksee was wounded. A victory was credited to OffSt Wilhelm Cymera of Jasta 1; it was the first of his eventual five before he was killed in action on 7 May 1917.

Capt Quested was awarded the Military Cross on 13 February 1917. The citation read:

For conspicuous gallantry in action. He manoevred his machine with great skill, and thereby enabled his observer to bring down a hostile machine. He has on many occasions displayed great courage and ability.

The French Croix de Guerre was awarded on 1 May 1917

Capt (Temporary Major) Quested seems to have survived the War.

I hope that this helps.

Gareth

Gareth - Very grateful for this information. I had no idea about the MC etc - I only have a pair. Would you be so kind as to advise your sources for the information you have given. Someone said I should try The Cross and Cockade but I don't have access to those magazines.

Again, Many Thanks

Woody

Crikey - I have made a mistake - The Quested medals I have are to R A Quested 1248. Sorry for the confusion - do you have any info on this man please ?
I got carried away with the thought I had medals to a MC winner!

Many Thanks

Gary Wood

Gary

An extract from A Contemptible Little Flying Corps by McInnes and Webb is below.

More to come!

Gareth

Gary

Here's part 2.

Gareth

Gary

Part 3 is below. I'll dig out the Cross & Cockade journal later today and see if there's anything else in the article that might help you.

Regards

Gareth

Amazing - very very grateful for this information. I am looking on the internet now to see if I can buy the book. A scan of the Cross and Cockade pages would be superb.

I am amazed at the knowledge and kindness of people on this forum.

Again. Many Thanks

Gary Wood

Gary

Unfortunately, I now find that I can't help. I do have a copy of Cross & Cockade journal Vol 1, No 2, but the article was in the journal of Cross & Cockade - Great Britain (now C & C International).

The penny dropped when I saw the publication date of 1970, rather than the mid-1960s.

Perhaps somone else has the C & C GB journal.

Regards

Gareth

HI Gary

I hope the following is of some use to you.

Born on 14th December 1893 in Cheriton, Kent, he was commissioned on 11 November 1914 and flew with 11 Squadron as an observer from April 1915. Training as a pilot, he rejoined the unit in July 1916 to fly FE2Bs and from the late summer of that year until early 1917 he and his gunners accounted for eight enemy machines, plus another driven down damaged. On 27 December 1916 he and his observer, Lieutenant HJM Dicksee were shot down by Manfred von Richthofen and crashed one kilometre behind the Allied trenches near Ficheux, the German’s 15th victory. Lieutenant Dicksee was slightly wounded on this occasion, but both were back in action in January. In July, after a period as an instructor, Quested was sent to 40 Squadron for a refresher course, were he was injured in a crash. In October 1917 he commanded No 1 Aerial Gunnery Range in France, but returned to England in February 1918 after receiving further injuries. From August 1918 to March 1919 he commanded No 2 Aeroplane Supply Depot, but was then posted to 79 Squadron in Germany. After the war he resided for some time in Australia. He received the MC and Croix de Guerre during 1917.

If you would like a list of his ‘Kills’ let me know.

I hope this is of some use to you.

Regards

Martyn

Martyn

Some interesting information, but I think the man you refer to is Capt John Bowley Quested MC, and not 1248 Cpl Roy Albert Quested. We had some earlier confusion over the two.

Regards

Gareth

I see what you mean Gareth. Teach me to read the thread properly before answering.

Regards


Martyn

Hi Woody

Roy Albert Quested is my grand dad. My mothers dad. I'm going to e-mail my mothers e-mail address to you as she knows everything about him. I'm sure she would love to correspond with you about him.

Thanks for your message

This is very interesting information - I have emailed your mother to try and find out more about him. Do you know if there are any photos of him at all?

Regards

Woody

Yeah. There is a photo of him in uniform with a a comrade of his posing with a swagger stick. I had a scan but I lost it in a hard drive crash! My grandad was a very noble sort. I know he served in both wars and I think he refused a commision on the grounds that he wanted to be with the enlisted men. He had a piece of Richthovens plane and there is a story about that, I think. He died in the R.S.A shortly after moving there in his eighties. He used to tell me stories about this and that but it ws a long time ago (1978). When he served in the RAF in WW2 he had the same serial number from his RFC days. If I remember correctly he was one of the men who conducted the first aerial bombing trials when they usd to drop darts out of planes to determine trajectory and such. He was a navigator I think and had the job of dropping the dart. He was a London bus driver/instructor between the wars and my mum was his conductress. Are you selling his medals?

Does anyone know what became of this Gent after his crash!!!!!!

2Lt A L (?) Neale,

Did he go on with his flying??????

Ivanjuice
Just checking to see if you are still around and interested in the Quested medals still?
I would be interested in finding out more about him and his brother.

Cheers

Woody