Flight Sub-Lieut.  Reginald Alexander J. Warneford

Information from the Roll of Honour

Parish Surname Initials Award Rank Ship or Regiment Place of Death Date of Death
Littleham (Exmouth) Warneford Reginald Alexander J. V.C. Flight Sub-Lieut. R.N.A.S. France 17 June 1915

An asterisk * in the Place of Death indicates an hospital death
A double asterisk ** in the Place of Death indicates the record is annotated with Missing


Further Information from Contributors


RoH Ref.
4966
Forename
Reginald Alexander John
Surname
Warneford
Rank or Rating
Service Number(s)
Father
Reginald Henry William Warneford
Mother
Alexandra (nee Campbell)
Wife
Date of Birth
15 October 1892
Where Born
Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
Date Baptised
Ship or Regiment
Royal Naval Air Service
Date of Death
17 June 1915
Place of Death
Buc, France
Grave or Memorial
Remarks
Awarded the Victoria Cross (London Gazette 11 June 1915). The citation read "For most conspicuous bravery on the 7th June 1915, when he attacked and, single-handed, completely destroyed a Zeppelin in mid-air. This brilliant achievement was accomplished after chasing the Zeppelin from the coast of Flanders to Ghent, where he succeeded in dropping his bombs on to it from a height of only one or two hundred feet. One of these bombs caused a terrific explosion which set the Zeppelin on fire from end to end, but at the same time overturned his Aeroplane and stopped the engine. In spite of this he succeeded in landing safely in hostile country, and after 15 minutes started his engine and returned to his base without damage. Died in an airplane testing accident.
Contributor
PB, Carol Fogg, Mike Tracey, Sue Turner, Dave Gwilliam