Captain Thomas Frederick Le Mesurier

DSC DSC may refer to: Academia * Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) * District Selection Committee, an entrance exam in India * Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Educational institutions * Dalton State Col ...

& Two Bars (6 February 1897 – 26 May 1918) was a British

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

credited with seven aerial victories. Le Mesurier was awarded the

Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...

(DSC) and Two Bars for his conspicuous service in bombing operations.

Early life

Thomas Le Mesurier was born on 6 February 1897, in Shepherd's Bush, London to Ernest Cecil Le Mesurier and his wife Gertrude Arabella Swain. He was educated at St. John's College, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex.

Military career

Le Mesurier was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the

Royal Naval Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Ro ...

in March 1915, and was confirmed in his rank of flight sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service on 23 July 1915. His records show that as he passed flying training at the

Central Flying School The Central Flying School (CFS) is the Royal Air Force's primary institution for the training of military flying instructors. Established in 1912 at the Upavon Aerodrome, it is the longest existing flying training school. The school was based at ...

at Upavon, and was granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 2753 on 17 March 1916. He was then posted to No. 5 Squadron RNAS, flying the

Airco DH.4 The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited (Airco) was an early British aircraft manufacturer. Established during 1912, it grew rapidly during the First World War, referring to itself as the largest aircraft company in the world by 1918. Ai ...

two-seater day bomber. Le Mesurier was promoted to flight lieutenant on 31 December 1916. Le Mesurier's first aerial victory came on 3 June 1917 when, with observer Flight Sub-Lieutenant R.G. St. John, he drove down out of control an

Albatros D.III The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service ('' Luftstreitkräfte'') during World War I. A modified licence model was built by Oeffag for the Austro-Hungarian Air Service ( ''Luftfahrtruppen''). ...

west of

Bruges Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the country by population. The area of the whole city a ...

. His next came on 5 June when he destroyed and drove down two more D.IIIs over

Snellegem Snellegem is a town in Jabbeke, Belgium. It is located between Jabbeke and Zedelgem. It is about 8 km from the city of Bruges. See also *West Flanders West Flanders ( nl, West-Vlaanderen ; vls, West Vloandern; french: (Province de) Fland ...

and Diksmuide, with observer Aerial Gun Layer H.S. Jackson. Le Mesurier was promoted to flight commander on 30 June 1917. He would share all his subsequent victories with ASL Jackson, all over Albatros D.Vs, and occurring on 19 August, 11 September, and 15 and 21 October. On 1 April 1918 the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and the Army's Royal Flying Corps (RFC) were merged to form the Royal Air Force, and Le Mesurier's rank of flight commander was converted to the RAF equivalent of captain. He was also transferred to No. 211 Squadron RAF (formerly No. 11 (Naval) Squadron) at some point after 10 March 1918.

Death

On the morning of 26 May 1918, Le Mesurier and his observer, Second Lieutenant R. Lardner, were flying an Airco DH.9 (number D1693) on a test flight when they were engaged by German Marine Flak near Schoorbakke and suffered severe damage to the aircraft. Le Mesurier managed to pilot the stricken aircraft back towards his own lines, but crashed after the port wing folded up crossing over the trenches at near

Pervijze Pervijze (french: Pervyse, English ''Pervyse'') is a small rural village in the Belgian province of West Flanders, and a part ("Deelgemeente") of the municipality of Diksmuide. Pervijze has an area of 12.23 km² and almost 900 inhabitants. Be ...

. The aircraft was completely wrecked, but salvaged on 27 May and taken to No. 8 Air Park. Lardner was killed instantly, and Le Mesurier died later. Le Mesurier is buried in the Town Cemetery in Dunkirk.

Awards and honours

;Distinguished Service Cross :Flight-Lieutenant Thomas Frederick Le Mesurier, RNAS. (12 May 1917). ::"For conspicuous work as a pilot of a bombing machine. Has taken part in fourteen raids and numerous fighter patrols." ;Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross :Flight Commander Thomas Frederick Le Mesurier, DSC, RNAS. (29 August 1917). ::"For consistent skill and courage in leading his flight on bombing raids, particularly on the 28th July, 1917." ;Mentioned in Despatches :Flight Commander Thomas Frederick Le Mesurier, DSC, RNAS. (14 September 1917). ;Second Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross :Lieutenant (temporary Captain) Thomas Frederick Le Mesurier, DSC, RAF. (21 June 1918). ::"For gallantry and consistent good work. He has at all times displayed the utmost gallantry in action, and by his determination and skill has set a very fine example to the pilots of his squadron. On the 23rd April, 1918, in spite of bad weather conditions, he successfully dropped bombs on the Ostend Docks from a height of 800 feet amidst very intense anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire. He also made valuable observations. He has taken part in many bomb raids, and has destroyed or driven down out of control several enemy machines."

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Le Mesurier, Thomas 1897 births Military personnel from London Burials in France 1918 deaths People from Shepherd's Bush People educated at Hurstpierpoint College Royal Naval Air Service aviators Royal Naval Air Service personnel of World War I Royal Air Force personnel of World War I British World War I flying aces Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) British military personnel killed in World War I Royal Naval Reserve personnel