KITSON, Harold Strachan
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Moonee Ponds Victoria Australia , 26 October 1894 |
| Home Town: | Kew East, Boroondara, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Engineering Student |
| Died: | Flying Accident, South Carlton Lincoln Lincolnshire United Kingdom, 15 June 1917, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery Australian section Grave 454 |
| Memorials: | Brisbane No 3 Squadron Roll of Honour, Kew War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Lieutenant, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Oct 1916: | Embarked Lieutenant, No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 15 Jun 1917: | Involvement Second Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1917-06-15 |
Help us honour Harold Strachan Kitson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 15th June…… Harold Strachan Kitson was born at Moonee Ponds, Victoria on 26th October, 1894.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 22nd August, 1914 as a 19 year old, single, Engineering Student from 23 Berry Street, Kew, Victoria.
Private Harold Strachan Kitson was posted to “H” Company, 10th Infantry, A.I.F. on 23rd August, 1914.
He was discharged on 14th September, 1914 as he was “unsuitable.”
On 3rd March, 1916 Harold Strachan Kitson re-enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force & supplied a letter from Captain Pollard, Department of Defence, Melbourne to O/C Recruiting Depot, Town Hall, Melbourne, dated 1st March, 1916 reads: “The bearer Mr Kitson is presenting himself for enlistment in A.I.F. with a view to joining the A.F.C. if accepted. Will you please arrange that on enlistment he is instructed to report to the O.C. Flying Corps at Laverton.”
Harold Strachan Kitson was posted to Reinforcements No. 1 Australian Flying Squadron from 20th March, 1916. He was appointed Acting Corporal from 29th March, 1916.
Acting Corporal Kitson was discharged “being supernumerary to Establishment.”
Harold Strachan Kitson applied for a Commission in the Australian Flying Corps, A.I.F. on 24th October, 1916. He listed his educational qualifications as Merit Certificate & his Military qualifications as “1 year Senior Cadets, 4 years Citizen Forces 48th Infantry Lieutenant.” To the question “Date on which applicant qualified at a competitive examination for first appointment as 2nd Lieutenant” Harold Kitson answered “August 1915.” At the time of completing the form for a Commission Harold Kitson was an Engineering Student living at “Kalunga” Barry Street, Kew.
Lieutenant (rank as per Embarkation Roll) Harold Strachan Kitson embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Ulysses (A38) on 25th October, 1916 with the “C” Flight, 2nd Australian Flying Squadron & disembarked at Devonport, England on 28th December, 1916.
[Note: The Statement of Service form recorded “(Hon Lieutenant) A.F.C. 1916”]
He was On Command to No 49 Reserve Squadron, R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps), Spittlegate for Elementary Instruction from 8th January, 1917.
On 13th May, 1917 Second Lieutenant Kitson was taken on strength of No. 68 Squadron, Harlaxton from A.F.C. Details ex No. 63 Squadron, R.F.C.
Second Lieutenant Kitson returned to No. 68 Squadron, A.F.C., Harlaxton on 4th June, 1917 from School of Aerial Gunnery at Turnberry.
He was detached for duty with No. 45 Training Squadron from 11th June, 1917.
On 15th June, 1917 Second Lieutenant Kitson was piloting a Sopwith Serial number B 1734 from No. 45 Training Squadron, South Carlton, Lincolnshire, England when his plane crashed.
Second Lieutenant Harold Strachan Kitson died on 15th June, 1917 as a result of an aeroplane accident 3 miles N.E. of South Carlton near Lincoln, England.
A Court of Enquiry was held on 16th June, 1917 at South Carlton Aerodrome “for the purpose of inquiring into the circumstances whereby Lt Kitson, H.S. A.F.C. No. 45 T.S. met his death in aeroplane accident on the 15th June, 1917 about three miles N.E. of South Carlton. On Sopwith Scout. 1734.”
Court of Enquiry Finding:
1. Machine so completely smashed no evidence could be collected from remains.
2. Can only suppose accident was caused thro giddiness of the Pilot – resulting from first spin into which he had probably put the machine purposely.
Finding of Court of Enquiry as listed on Casualty Card:
Nature & Cause of accident – Pilot lost control & crashed in spinning nose dive.
He was buried in Newport Cemetery, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England where 7 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/newport.html
Click images to start slideshow.