Cecil Gardner
Encyclopedia
Captain Cecil Vernon Gardner was a World War I flying ace
credited with ten aerial victories.
Cecil was born in or near Banbury
c1888, the son of James and Hannah Elizabeth Gardner, who raised him at Grovehill Farm in the parish of Tingewick
, near Buckingham
. He enlisted in the British Army in December 1915. He became a Second Class Air Mechanic when he transferred into the Royal Flying Corps
in March 1917. April 1917 saw the RFC suffering crippling losses against superior German planes and tactics, and Gardner was commissioned in July of that year.
After training as an officer and a pilot, he was assigned to 19 Squadron RFC in January 1918 to fly a Sopwith Dolphin. On 1 April 1918, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged, to create the Royal Air Force.
His first victory came on 6 June 1918 (during the desperate German offensive that had begun in March, pushing the British back over all of the ground they had gained since the Battle of the Somme in 1916) It was shared with 3 other pilots, Gordon Budd Irving
, Finlay McQuistan
, and John De Pencier.
Between the first and last days of July, he brought down a further 4 enemy aircraft
August 8 saw the start of the decisive Allied counter-offensive that, in 100 days leading up to 11 November 1918, completely crushed the German Army, and on 11 August Gardner shot down 2 enemy planes in one afternoon. He shared his ninth victory, on 16 September 1918, with James Hardman.
His final fight took place on 27 September, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VII
over Haynecourt
, bringing his total to six enemy planes destroyed and four driven down out of control. Gardner then was shot down by German ace Leutnant Gustav Borm of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1, and fatally injured. He died of his wounds three days later.
He was buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, near Bapaume where he was shot down. His name is also recorded on the War Memorial at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in Buckingham
, together with that of his older brother, Percy, killed on the Western Front in May 1917, serving as a Private in the London Regiment (Artists Rifles).
Lieut. (T./Capt.) Cecil Vernon Gardner.
A bold and skilful leader, who has carried out many offensive patrols, proving himself at all times to be a brilliant fighting pilot. During recent operations he has accounted for eight enemy machines.(FLIGHT Magazine, 7 November 1918)
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with ten aerial victories.
Cecil was born in or near Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
c1888, the son of James and Hannah Elizabeth Gardner, who raised him at Grovehill Farm in the parish of Tingewick
Tingewick
Tingewick is a village and civil parish about west of Buckingham in the Aylesbury Vale district of Buckinghamshire, England. The parish is bounded to the north by the River Great Ouse, to the east by a tributary of the Great Ouse, to the west by the county boundary with Oxfordshire and to the...
, near Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
. He enlisted in the British Army in December 1915. He became a Second Class Air Mechanic when he transferred into the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in March 1917. April 1917 saw the RFC suffering crippling losses against superior German planes and tactics, and Gardner was commissioned in July of that year.
After training as an officer and a pilot, he was assigned to 19 Squadron RFC in January 1918 to fly a Sopwith Dolphin. On 1 April 1918, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged, to create the Royal Air Force.
His first victory came on 6 June 1918 (during the desperate German offensive that had begun in March, pushing the British back over all of the ground they had gained since the Battle of the Somme in 1916) It was shared with 3 other pilots, Gordon Budd Irving
Gordon Budd Irving
Captain Gordon Budd Irving was a World War I flying ace credited with twelve aerial victories.-Early life:Gordon Budd Irving was the sole son of attorney William Henry Irving and Mary Maude Smith Irving. His childhood home was at 76 Spadina Street, Toronto; he attended church nearby at Trinity...
, Finlay McQuistan
Finlay McQuistan
Captain Finlay McQuistan was a World War I flying ace who was credited with 11 aerial victories.-Early life:Finlay McQuistan is the son of Finlay and Agnes J...
, and John De Pencier.
Between the first and last days of July, he brought down a further 4 enemy aircraft
August 8 saw the start of the decisive Allied counter-offensive that, in 100 days leading up to 11 November 1918, completely crushed the German Army, and on 11 August Gardner shot down 2 enemy planes in one afternoon. He shared his ninth victory, on 16 September 1918, with James Hardman.
His final fight took place on 27 September, when he destroyed a Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
over Haynecourt
Haynecourt
Haynecourt is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.-Heraldry:-References:*...
, bringing his total to six enemy planes destroyed and four driven down out of control. Gardner then was shot down by German ace Leutnant Gustav Borm of Royal Prussian Jagdstaffel 1, and fatally injured. He died of his wounds three days later.
He was buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, near Bapaume where he was shot down. His name is also recorded on the War Memorial at the Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
, together with that of his older brother, Percy, killed on the Western Front in May 1917, serving as a Private in the London Regiment (Artists Rifles).
Honors and awards
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)Lieut. (T./Capt.) Cecil Vernon Gardner.
A bold and skilful leader, who has carried out many offensive patrols, proving himself at all times to be a brilliant fighting pilot. During recent operations he has accounted for eight enemy machines.(FLIGHT Magazine, 7 November 1918)