Lot 2090

Description

Family Group with Royal Flying Corps Pilot Ace Killed in Training: Pair: British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. Capt. K.L.Gopsill on both medals. Brother: British War Medal 1914-18. Lieut. W.L.Gopsill. R.A.F. All medals impressed. The first pair on court mounted style display card, very fine - extremely fine.

Captain Kenneth Lloyd Gopsill was born at Handsworth, Staffordshire in 1897; educated at King Edward's School, Aston, Birmingham and Alleyn's School, Dulwich; apprenticed to Tangyes, Soho and was studying for matriculation at the Birmingham University when war broke out; Enlisted in 14th Royal Warwick Regt on 17Sept1914 a few days before his 17th birthday; Mar1915 he was gazetted to the East Surrey Regt and in Jan1916 attached to RFC; served seven months in France with a fighting squadron returning to England 15Dec1916 on staff of Central Flying School, Upavon; gazetted Lt 05Sep1916 and Temp Capt and Flight Commander 01Mar1917; returned to the front as Flight Commander May1917; wounded 12Jul1917 and then appointed deputy instructor in England Nov1917; returned to the front again 12Feb1918 and killed in a flying accident with No 43 Sqn No 10 Wing on 15Feb1918, flying a Sopwith on gun practice. Accident report, 'Machine left aerodrome at 7.25 am & crashed on aerodrome at 7.45 am. Pilot was firing into the pond on the aerodrome & machine suddenly nosedived steeply & spun into ground from about 200 ft. Cause unknown & not ascertainable owing to damage of machine. Pilot killed.' It was recommended that the aircraft be struck off 43 Sqn and RFC. Capt Gopsill had six enemy aircraft destroyed or out of control to his credit during the period 2Aug1916 to 12Jul1917. An example of the ferocity of the air combat can be read in the narratives of operations on 24May1917, 'Capt K L Gopsill (Pilot), 2nd Lt E H Jones DCM (Observer) on Sopwith A/2393 were dived at from above and in front whilst two others manoeuvered to attack from behind. Capt Gopsill stalled and fired at the front H.A. which immediately spun down - presumably under control. Meantime the two H.A were scoring hits and 2nd Lt Jones was wounded in the leg. The pilot again stalled and spun down and on flattening out was attacked from the side. 2nd Lt E H Jones opened fire once more and after 20 rounds the H.A. turned on his back, burst into flames and went down vertically. Second H.A. followed them to the line.' Lt Walter Leonard Gopsill RAF, Observer, France Dec1917 - May1918. Formerly University of London O.T.C. With research including copies of reports of Capt L H Gopsill's combat operations.