THE FINAL resting places of a Bromsgrove airman and another from Devon have been rededicated in France with full military honours 101 years after their deaths.
The moving ceremony for the town’s Lt Leonard Cameron Kidd MC and Second Lt Fenton Ellis Stanley Philips MC was held at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery in France after painstaking research by a Royal Canadian Navy Officer.
Lt Commander Steve St Amant, serving as a Liaison Officer between the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command and the Military Of Defence (MOD), came across the two graves which were marked as: ‘A British Airman (Observer) of The Great War’ and ‘A British Airman (Pilot) of The Great War’.
It was common practice for aircrews to be buried together where possible, and St Amant therefore concluded there should be a way of identifying these two aviators.
St Amant found the pair buried in the plots had been recovered from the same location, in an area within which Lt Kidd and Second Lt Phillips were operating.
He also found both casualties were wearing RFC uniforms and the Military Cross ribbons they had both been awarded in 1916.
Lt Kidd was born in Bromsgrove in 1893 and was educated at Bromsgrove School.
When war broke out he was tea planting in Ceylon and, already a qualified pilot, he enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps and was sent to France in February 1916.
Operating over the Somme area, shortly before his death Lt Kidd was told he had been awarded the Military Cross.
An entry in the London Gazette of November 14, 1916, records his Military Cross was awarded ‘for conspicuous skill and gallantry on contact patrol work’.
On one occasion he carried out three contact patrol flights, each 1,000ft, and obtained valuable information under heavy fire. He also attacked enemy reinforcements with a machine gun from a height of 500ft.
In addition to the Military Cross Lt Kidd, who was 23 when he died, was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Second Lt Phillips MC was born in 1895 and when war broke out he enlisted into the Artists Rifles as a Private.
He was sent to France in May 1915 and in May 1916 joined the Royal Flying Corps. In September 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross.
Lt Kidd and Second Lt Phillips were killed on October 12, 1916. They were members of 3 Squadron RFC, and had flown out of the RFC Aerodrome at La Houssoye at around 1.50pm in a Morane Parasol reconnaissance aircraft. The pair did not return and were believed to have been shot down by anti-aircraft fire between Gueudecourt and Eaucourt L’Abbaye.
For a century their whereabouts remained unknown and the pair were commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. However, the thorough research by Lt Commander Steve St Amant revealed the two plots at the Caterpillar Valley Cemetery belonged to Lt Kidd and Second Lt Phillips.
The service last Thursday, organised by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) was attended by personnel from the current 3 (Fighter) Squadron Royal Air Force and was conducted by Rev Fr Flt Lt James Mealy, the RAF Coningsby Station Chaplain and Padre of 3 (Fighter) Squadron.
Lt Commander St Amant and other Royal Canadian Navy representatives were present, along with Standard Bearers from the Royal British Legion, local dignitaries and the headteacher and pupils from Bromsgrove School.
Rev Fr Flt Lt Mealy said it was an honour to be part of the rededication service for the two aviators.
“They are remarkable and brave young officers who gave their everything so we can enjoy our today.
“Also, as the 3 (Fighter) Squadron Padre, it is especially meaningful to me, to finally give these two men the honour and blessing that they deserve and give praise and thanksgiving to God for the sacrifice they gave for us.
“Their names will continue to live on.”
Lt Commander Steve St-Amant said: “I was ecstatic when I first got the news that their graves were to be rededicated. I also felt my research had been validated.
“Despite the fact these two young men lost their lives 101 years ago, they have been the catalyst for something wonderful.
“I will continue to do this research where I can simply because I want to see unknowns come out of the cold.
“We owe it to them and their families, regardless of the passage of time.”
