Dates:
War Service:
Captain HARRY GEORGE ERNEST LUCHFORD, MC and Bar, of 20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps was killed on 2 December 1917 when his Bristol Fighter was shot down by the German ace Leutnant Walter von Bulow-Bothcamp. Harry Luchford had himself shot down 27 German aircraft.
The award of the Military Cross was announced in the London Gazette of 26 October 1917. The citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has carried out a great deal of extremely useful work, and has proved himself a capable and determined leader. On one occasion when on a photographic reconnaissance he and his observer shot down and destroyed two enemy scouts. He has destroyed five other hostile machines.”
On 5 April 1918 the Gazette published the citation for the bar to his MC:“ For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When engaged on a patrol, he and his observer encountered about fifteen hostile aeroplanes, and shot one of them down in flames. Later, when engaged on a reconnaissance with three other machines, he encountered eight hostile, aeroplanes and shot one of them down. On another occasion he destroyed one of three hostile scouts which were attacking one of our machines, and also shot down a hostile two-seater.”
He originally enlisted in the Norfolk Regiment, and received his commission in the Army Service Corps in September 1914. He served in France with the Indian (Meerut) Divisional Cavalry from December 1914 to January 1916. He transferred to the R.F.C. and qualified as a pilot on May 19th, 1917.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.
Location of Memorial:
He is remembered on the memorial at the Private Banks Cricket and Athletic Club in Catford.
Details:
He was 23. He was born in India on 28 October 1894, the eldest son of George and Helena Luchford of "Walmer", Quernmore Road, Bromley. Before enlisting he was a clerk in Martins Bank in Lombard Street in the City.
Source:
CWGC; London Gazette; Flight magazine of 2 May 1918;
Contributed By: Andy Pepper
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