James Elmslie and the King's Jockey

[Coquet]

I've had a look today for the grave of one James Elmslie at the West Cemetery. Elmslie was an Amble man killed in an aviation accident just before the start of WW2; a somewhat unusual event for Amble. The funeral was attended by most of the town by the look of things. Elmslie was a wireless operator working for British American Air Services Ltd. On the day of the accident his aircraft was transporting the King's Jockey, John Crouch, to Newcastle to race in the Northumberland Plate.

Anyway, did not find the grave, some other time perhaps.

[Coquet]

Morpeth Herald 23 June 1939

Amble Man’s Tragic Death In Air Crash
There was a widespread regret and sorrow in Amble when it was learned that Mr. James Elmslie, an Amble man was one of the party of three who perished in the ill-fated aeroplane which crashed near Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co. Durham, on Tuesday.
After a widespread search the machine, wrecked and burned out was found on Wednesday night. The three occupants, who had all been thrown clear, were dead.
James Elmslie was 32 years of age, and his parents live at 19 Wellwood Street, Amble. He was educated at the Duke's School, Alnwick; many Old Boys will remember his cheery personality and pleasant disposition. He made many friends there, who will grieve at at his untimely end. After leaving the Dukes School, 16 or 17 years ago, he became a wireless operator in the Merchant Service, a job which he seemed to enjoy. Later he transferred to British Airways, and about three years ago he joined British American Airways as their chief radio operator. He was clever and resourceful, and had a bright future before him.
Sympathy will go out to Mr. and Mrs. Elmslie in their sad loss.


Below: the de Havilland Dragon Rapide, identical to Elmslie's plane



[image by Adrian Pingstone, wikimedia commons]

[Coquet]

MISSING PLANE’S FATE.

DESCENT IN FLAMES ON ETTERGILL MOOR.

THREE OCCUPANTS KILLED.

Teesdale was again the scene of an aerial tragedy when on Wednesday afternoon on Ettersgill Moor, near High Force, the remains of an aeroplane and the dead bodies of its three occupants were found lying on the hill side in a secluded part of the wide moorland between Teesdale and Weardale. It was later established that the aeroplane was that which vanished on Tuesday while carrying John Crouch, the King’s jockey, to Newcastle, with Mr F.S. Appi as pilot, and Mr J. Elmslie, as the wireless operator.
The first to sight the missing aeroplane was Mr Robert Redfearn, postman of Forest Post Office, who while on his round saw something white in the distance. He went home and got his field glasses and saw that what he had seen was the wreckage of the aeroplane. Later, Mr Walton, Lord Barnard’s gamekeeper, become interested, and Mr M. Richardson, Middleton-in-Teesdale, who had got wind of the rumour, took his car up, and having no doubt that the heap was the wreckage of a plane, advised Sergeant Blake and P.C. Douglas at Middleton police station. The party then tramped from the end of the moor road leading from Newbiggin over boggy ground to the spot where the heap was lying and found that the aeroplane had been burned out after its nose had been embedded several feet in the fell side, and near by, but clear of the wreckage, were three human bodies terribly mangled.
The inaccessibility by car to the place where the wreckage was found caused much delay in reaching the spot. The road from Newbiggin to Ettersgill, a typical moorland cart way, is not of the best, and when we had gone a mile past moor house, where Mr Walton lives, there were still between two and three miles to be traversed on foot to the lonely spot on the hillside where the plane and its dead occupants had been lying for a least 24 hours.
It was in the weird half-light of departing day with the north wind blowing half a gale, and mist and clouds occasionally enveloping the hill tops that the task of moving the bodies of the ill-fated flyers was carried out. Sergeant Blake, of the Durham County police force who had charge of the proceedings, had secured a hay bogey on rubber wheels commonly called a sledge on account of its wide flat top, but this vehicle could not get within at least a mile of the place where the charred wreckage and the crushed bodies were lying on account of the boggy character of the ground. It was getting on for midnight when the bogie with its sad load was on its way to Moor House. Each body had to be separately lifted on to a stretcher borne by four men who when the gathering mist fell could hardly see a hand before them. They had to pick their way over the fenny ground to where the bogie, drawn by a sturdy dales pony, was waiting at the end of the moorland road to receive the bodies. The three parties of stretcher bearers occasionally lost sight of each other and one could only ascertain the whereabouts of the others by shouting and listening for a reply. At last the first party reached the stone wall which marked the beginning of the rough road to Moor House, where at nearly midnight the sad burdens were laid down in an improvised mortuary to await the inquest.

[Coquet]

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 01 July 1939

INQUESTS ON JOCKEY, PILOT AND OPERATOR

NO SUGGESTION OF "NEGLIGENCE"

A verdict of " Death by misadventure" was returned at the inquests here today on the three victims of the aeroplane crash on Ettersgill Fell, between Teesdale and Weardale, on Tuesday of last week. The occupants of the machine, all of whom were killed, were John Crouch (24), of Beech Way. Epsom, the King's jockey, who was a passenger; Ferruccio Sylvani Appi (20), pilot, of Henlow Camp, Bedfordshire; and James Elmslie (33), wireless operator, of Amble.

Eric Raymond Taylor, chief engineer of British-American Air Services. Ltd., the owners' of the machine, said he personally inspected the aeroplane, which was a De Havilland, and engines before signing the daily certificate of safety for flight. Everything was in perfect order and the pilot, Appi, also signed the certificate.
The machine was due to leave Heston about 10 a.m. It was the duty of the pilot or the traffic manager to obtain a weather report, and this was done. Appi was a highly skilled and perfectly reliable pilot.
Answering Mr. Andrew Balfour, representing the National Provincial Bank, Crouch's trustees, Taylor said it was highly improbable that the pilot had been cruising round for some time before the accident. Appi had informed Newcastle Airport that his estimated time of arrival was 12.25 p.m. The route was left entirely to the discretion of the pilot.

An Air Ministry Inspector of Accidents, Major S. J. Fill, in his report, stated that the marks on the ground and the distribution of the wreckage were consistent with the machine having flown into the hillside. It was evident the machine had not fallen or nose-dived to the ground. He found no evidence to suggest any part of the structure or controls had failed or developed defects in the air.
Major Fill said the weather conditions were not such as to stop regular air services, and the pilot had had a verbal weather forecast given to him. He was also in wireless communication with Newcastle.
Mr. Balfour asked for details of the wireless communications between the pilot and Newcastle Airport, and Major Fill then read several messages asking for bearings and replies from Newcastle which stated that there was haze, low clouds and that fog regulations were in operation there. At 12.11 the aeroplane received another instruction regarding its course, and a statement that fog regulations had been suspended at Newcastle.

Young Commercial Pilot.

In reply to a suggestion that Appi was exceptionally young for a commercial pilot, Taylor said Appi had amassed a considerable amount of experience and had had between 600 and 800 hours solo flying.
Sergeant Charles Blake, of the Durham County Constabulary, Middleton-in-Teesdale, said a search for the missing machine was made on Wednesday, June 21. The fells were covered with mist and nothing was discovered. At 5.55 p.m. he received a telephone message that the wreckage of a machine had been found on Ettersgill Fell, and there he found the three occupants, who had been thrown clear, dead. They had all received multiple injuries.
"The aeroplane, which was burnt out, had apparently flown straight into the hillside. The appearance of the ground suggested that the machine had struck the ground 25 yards from the summit of the hill, ploughed it up for 15 yards, and then caught fire," he said.
The place where the crash occurred was known as Dora's Seat and was 2,158 feet above sea level.

Major Fill added that these were purely normal communications to machines in flight, and there was nothing in the weather that made it inadvisable to fly.
Addressing the jury. the Coroner (Mr. J. E. Brown-Humes) said the accident appeared to be a simple one. The pilot must have lost his bearings and crashed into the hillside because of bad visibility caused by fog. Until greater perfection was attained in air travel there was bound to be hazard. but there was nothing to suggest In this case criminal negligence, either by the pilot or the company. It was, In his opinion, purely a case of misadventure.

[Coquet]

Morpeth Herald 30 June 1939

MR. J. ELMSLIE, AMBLE
FUNERAL OF PLANE CRASH VICTIM

Then were many mourners at the funeral, at Amble West Cemetery on Saturday of Mr. James Elmslie, aged 32, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. ELmslie, 19 Wedlwood Street, Amble, one of the victims of the plane crash at Ettersgill Common, near Barnard Castle, last week.
Prior to the interment, service was conducted at St. Cuthbert's Parish Church, Amble, by the Vicar, the Rev. J. M. Grey, who also officiated at the graveside.
Amongst the family mourners was Miss Molly Newbauld, to whom Mr. Elmslie was engaged. Their wedding was to have taken place shortly. Miss Newbould, an Australian nursing sister, whom Mr. Elmslie met while working as a wireless operator at sea,, had travelled for the funeral from London, where she is engaged in private
nursing work. Her wreath was of pink roses and carnations, inscribed "From Molly."



The chief mourners were Mr. and Mrs. W. Elmslie, father and mother; Miss Molly Newbould, fiancee; Mr. and Mrs. A. Young Glasgow, Mr. and Mrs. A. McDonald, Dulgarry, North Wales, Mr. and Mrs. J. Gray Alnmouth (brothers-in-law and sisters), Mrs. J. Anderson, Newcastle, Mr. and Mrs. G. Temple, Broomhill, Mrs. P. Elmslie, Felling, Mr. and Mrs. A. Ross, Stobswood, (uncles and aunts), Mr. J. Elmslie, Carlisle, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. F. Turner, Warkworth, Mr. G. Temple, Miss H. Temple, Mr. W. Temple, Mrs. S. Temple, Broomhill, Mr. J. Elmslie, Felling, Mrs. C. Ross, Mr. and Mrs. J. Temple, Felton (cousins).

Representing the Lord Warkworth Lodge of Freemasons: Worthy Bro. W. M. Davison, Master; Bro. J. M. Dinsdale, secretary; Worthy Bro. T. H. Turner, treasurer; Worthy Bros. A. E. Green, J. R. T. Purvis, B. Parris, S. A Hagon, Bros. W. B. Donaldson, J. G. Young, C. Davison, F. Wade, C. Sample, J. Hedley, N. Young, J. Henry, J. J. E. Cavers, R. Lonsdale, J. Fraser, J. R, Ballantyne, H. Murray, G. A. Kyle, G. Fairbairn, E. Coulson, T. Thompson, R. Miller, J. Purvis, T. R. Spratt, J. E. Smith, J. Stobert, F. Balton, W. S. Sample, P. Burns, A. Sample, D. R. Baston.

Amble Urban Council : Councillor A. E. Green (chairman), Alderman T. H .Tulley, Councillors T. G. Hogg, J. R. Smith, E. Coulson, E. Carse.

Amble Welfare Bowling Club: Messrs J. W. Douglas and R. Kennedy.

Amble Mechanics' Institute : Messrs J. H. Smith, M. Weddell, C. Davison, J. W. Brown

Amongst other mourners were Mr. and. Mrs. J. Earnshaw, Mr. T. L. McAndrews. Amble; Mr. J. Fordy, Warkworth; Miss E. Taylor, Mr. O. Taylor, Hauxley; Mr. and Mrs. E. Earnshaw, Brussels; Mrs. J. R.Armstrong, High Hauxley; Mr. T. D. Purvis, Netherton Colliery; Miss J. H. D. Gray, Mr. G. W. Bolton, Mrs. S. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. T. Prentice, Mr. N. Aisbitt, Mr. J. Wilson, Mr. T. Young, Miss Percy, Mr. R. Hook, Miss Gibb, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. W. Wilkie, Mr. and Mrs. J. Johnstone, Mr. J. Hamilton, Mr J. Bell, Mr. R. Adamson, Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Henry, Mr. and Mrs. R. Baston, Mr. J. R. Roberts, Mr. E Jones, Mr. W. Aitchison, Mr. J. Donaldson, Mrs. Appleby, Mr. J. Anderson, Mrs. Park, Mrs. Aitchison, Mr. W. Young, Mrs. Gibb, Mrs. Smailes, Mrs. Matthews, Mr. W. Laws, Mr. J. Pringle, Mr. R. Patten, Mrs. Hedley, Mr. C. Scorer, Mrs. Coulson, Mrs. Harrison, Mr. E. Bailes, Mr. J. Ballantyne. senr., Miss Lundgren, Miss Bartle, Miss Thompson, Mr. J. Wrigglesworth, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Battle, Mr. and Mrs. Asquith.
Mr. W. Burrell, Warkworth; Mr. R Gray, Alnmouth ; Mrs. R Lewis, Mrs. Freeman, Mr. W. Nicholson, Mr. R. Coulson, Mr. J. Wilson, Mrs. Lyall, Mrs. Emmerson, Mrs. King, Mrs. Linton, Mrs. J. Purvis, Mr. J. Davis, Mr. T. Davis, Mrs. J. Wood, Mr. J. Wade, Ms. J. King, Mr. A. Young, Mrs. Kane, Mr. M. Gray, Mrs. J. L. Manders, Mrs. Gardner, Mr. E. Marr, Mrs. English, Mrs. Cleminson, Mrs. Mason, Mr. R. Burn.

The underbearers were Messrs D. Kay, J. W. Stobart, J. Whittle, J. Young, T. M. Henry and T. Turnbull.
Funeral arrangements were carried out, by Mssrs J. Ballantyne and Son, Amble.

[Coquet]

I came across this story looking for some info on Amble man David Robert Baston [b 1899]. He appears to be in the mourners list, which is how I found it. As usual one story leads to 3 others!

I was talking to an Amble senior at the West Cemetery today and they had not heard of the Elmslie story either.

Here's some more links, if you feel like reading more:

Jack Crouch

de Havilland Dragon Rapide G-AERE of British American Air Services crashed near Ettersgill, County Durham on the 20th June 1939

Aviation Safety Network's page on the crash

Auction revives memory of jockey's death in County Durham plane crash (The Journal)

[Coquet]

Rather sad the both Crouch and Elmslie were soon to marry their fiancées.

[janwhin]

Quite a story, Coquet. I'd never heard it before and Elmslie seems an unusual name. Lots of familiar names at the funeral though.