Arthur Mansfield (1879 - 1961)

Born 10 Dec 1879 in Chard, Somerset, England

Ancestors

Husband of Florence Annie (Galpin) Mansfield — married 17 Apr 1911 in Chard, Somerset, England

Descendants

Died 19 Dec 1961 at age 82 in Reading, Berkshire, England

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Timeline

1879 Arthur was born December 10, 1879 to John Mansfield and Jane Jeffery in Chard, Somerset. He was the fifth born child in their family.

1881 The Census finds him aged 1, living with his parents, two brothers and two sisters^[1].

1891 The 1891 Census finds him aged 11, living on Crimchard, Chard with his parents, brother and two sisters. He is listed as a Scholar ^[2].

1911 On Sunday, 2 April, the night of the census, Arthur is residing at 27 Gordon Terrace, Bridgwater, Somerset and his occupation is listed as a Tailors Outfitter. He is boarding in the home of William and Sarah Burrows along side two other boarders Elizabeth Tripprell (64, no occupation) and Frederick Thomas (21, butchers assistant). Two weeks later on the April 17 ^[3], aged 31, he married Florence Galpin in Chard, Somerset^[4].

1912 On July 03, Arthur's wife gives birth to their first son Clifford Arthur in Chard, Somerset.

1917 On March 07, Arthur's wife gives birth to their first daughter Dorris Gwendoline in Reading, Berkshire.

1938 He enlisted with the British Royal Air Force on July 03, 1918 aged 38, and was issued the service number of 263814. He listing his occupation as a Tailor and his religious denomination as Baptist. This is recorded as his first entry in to the H.M.Forces. He was 5ft 5 3/4" tall with a 31 1/2" chest, Black grey Hair (bald), Hazel eyes, and fresh complexion. His wife Florence is next of kin living at 36 Addison Road. During his service he was a member of the 38 Squadron, and Chiseldon Wb^[3].

1939 September, He is living with wife and son. His occupation is listed as a Foreman Tailor. ^[5]

1961 The last know address for Arthur was 36 Addison Road, Reading^[6] in 1961. He passed away aged 82 on December 19, 1961^[7] in Reading, Berkshire and was interred at Henley Road Cemetery, Caversham, Reading on December 22 the same year ^[6].

Royal Air Force

The No. 38 Squadrons motto is "Ante lucem" (Before the dawn) and the badge is a heron volant. The heron was chosen because it is found in great abundance in East Anglia, where the unit was formed. A further reason was that herons rarely miss their mark, become active as twilight descends, and are formidable fighters when attacked. No. 38 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Thetford, Norfolk, on 1st April 1916, but less than two months later, on 22nd May, it was re-designated No.25 Reserve Squadron. On 14th July 1916, the squadron was re-formed at Castle Bromwich for Home Defence duties in the Midland Counties area and there is interest in noting that until mid-September 1917, it was commanded by Captain AT Harris, later to become Air Chief Marshal Harris, C-in-C, RAF Bomber Command 1942-45, and now Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Sir Arthur Harris. On 1st October 1916, the squadron was deployed as follows: HQ at Melton Mowbray, and "A", "B" and "C" Flights at Stamford, Buckminster and Leadenham, respectively. No. 38's FE2b's went up in all the Zeppelin raids from January 1917 onwards, but no successes were achieved. At the end of May 1918, the squadron - still with FE2b's - was transferred to Dunkirk as a night-bombing unit and between 13/14th June and 30/31st October 1918, raided the enemy on 47 nights, dropped nearly 50 tons of bombs and put in 1,591 hours' war flying. In February 1919, after having handed its aircraft over to No.102 Squadron, No. 38 returned to England and in the following July disbanded.^[8].

Sources

1. ↑ 1881 Census attached
2. ↑ 1891 Census attached
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} British Royal Air Force, Airmen's service records 1912-1939, Military, armed forces & conflict, Service Records, Great Britain. Archive reference AIR 79/2325
4. ↑ GRO, England & Wales marriages 1837-2008, Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records, Marriages & divorces, Great Britain. Volume 5C Page 764.
5. ↑ 1939 Register attached.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Berkshire Burial Index, Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records, Deaths & burials, Great Britain.
7. ↑ England & Wales deaths 1837-2007, Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records, Deaths & burials, Great Britain. Vol 6A Page 132.
8. ↑ http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/38squadron.cfm