Charley Gordon ECCLES

‘The Darwen News’ (Saturday, 9 June 1917)

(Kindly supplied by Tony Foster, Bury, Lancashire)

543 Lieutenant C G Eccles

Lieutenant C G Eccles, Royal Flying Corps second son of R H Eccles, Captain, the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), of Chesham Bentham, and formerly of Tullyallan, Darwen, has been killed in action. Lieutenant Eccles fell on the 25th May last while on patrol duty somewhere in France. The first official intimation received was that he was missing, but this has sine been followed by another stating that he was killed. Lieutenant Eccles was born on April 19th, 1888 at Lynwood, Darwen. He was educated first at Sandy Knoll preparatory school, St Annes-on-sea, afterwards at Rossall, the King's College school, Worcester. From 1900 to 1912 he was employed in an Indian plantation in India, and in September, 1913 went to the Malay States, and was employed on a rubber estate belonging to Messrs Guthrie Co of London. At the outbreak of the war he came home, and on December 26th 1914, received a commission in the Royal West Kent Regiment. He went out with the British Expeditionary Force in Oct 1915, and served with his battalion till July 1916. He then volunteered for the RFC and was under training in England at Netheravon and Upavon. He received his "wings" in December, and proceeded to France on January 10th 1917. He came home on leave on April 18th, and went out again on 28th of that month. Almost at once he was transferred to another squadron as Flight-commander, and on May 25th met his death on duty.

We understand that his machine (a single-seater, as Lieutenant Eccles was in a scout squadron) received a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire, was seen to fall entirely "out of control" and crashed to earth close to the German trenches. Captain R H Eccles has received a letter from the Officer commanding the squadron in which his son was serving. The following is an extract from the letter: "Lieutenant Eccles was most splendid, and so absolutely reliable and conscientious. The whole squadron officers, NCO's and men would have done anything for him, and he was immensely popular for the best reasons. He was a Flight-Commander who was so tremendously reliable. He was also not only a most efficient officer, but a brave and gallant pilot. We have all lost a very true friend."

Additional research courtesy of Remember the Fallen: www.rememberthefallen.co.uk

Charley Gordon ECCLES
Captain

41st Squadron Royal Flying Corps

Died aged 29 on 25th May 1917

Son of R. Herbert Eccles and Jean M. Eccles, of Dingleton, Melrose, Roxburghshire

Native of Darwen, Lancashire

Buried in Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium, Grave II. F. 20.

Capt., Royal West Kents, attached. R.F.C.
Born, September 19, 1888. Fell flying, May 25, 1917.
Charley Eccles was the son of Captain R. Hubert Eccles, of Tullyallan, Darwen, Lancashire. He entered the School in Mr. Castley's House and the Fifth Form in May, 1905, and left in the Sixth Form in July 1907. He was a keen athlete, representing the School in cricket and football, and of a particularly bright and happy disposition. On leaving he entered Lloyds Bank at Manchester and consequently took an appointment with Mr. Richardson, of Bhicampore, India, on his sugar plantation and afterwards on a rubber estate in the F.M.S. He did well in India, where he served as a Volunteer in the Behar Light Horse. On the outbreak of the war he returned to take a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, where he did excellent work. His Squadron Commander writes of him as "a most reliable and conscientious Flight Commander and a splendid brave pilot." He had been many months in France when on May 25th his machine received a direct hit from an anti-aircraft fire and went down entirely out of control over the lines of the enemy. One writes of him: "Absolutely intrepid, he died a hero's death."
W. H. C.

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, June 1917, No.89, Vol.VIII

Appears on:

Worcester Kings School WW1 Memorial

Worcester Cathedral Cloister Windows Kings School

Worcester Kings School War Memorial for School House

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966

1909

ECCLES Jean Marshall of Tullyallan Darwen Lancashire (wife of Richard Herbert Eccles esquire justice of the peace) died 19 January 1909 Probate Lancaster 22 March to the said Richard Herbert Eccles and Amy Agnes Dugdale (wife of Adam Dugdale esquire justice of the peace). Effects £808 2s. 3d.

1917

ECCLES Charley Gordon of Chesham Bentham Yorkshire captain in the general list and R.F.C. died 25 May 1917 in France Administration London 24 December to Richard Herbert Eccles captain in the Royal West Kent regiment. Effects £221 16s. 8d.

1931

ECCLES Richard Herbert of Dingleton Melrose Roxburgh N.B. died 6 July 1931 at New Saughton Hall Polton Midlothian N.B. Probate Lancaster 31 August to Annie Eccles spinster and Malcolm Eccles major Indian Army. Effects £9 14s. 6d.