2nd Lieutenant Percival George Angood
Percival George Angood was born in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, in the Spring of 1894. His parents were George Angood, a builder and bricklayer from Chatteris, and his wife Mary Ann Angood (nee Read), from Doddington.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 155 New Street, Chatteris, with Mary Ann’s sister, Emily. Other members of the Angood family lived in some of the neighbouring addresses between Nos.153 and 157.
By 1911, George was a builder and ironmonger and the family were living at 7 High St., Chatteris, with Percival, now 16 years old, working as an ironmonger’s assistant for his Father. He played tennis and was also a talented musician who played the organ at the Wesleyan Chapel in New Road, not far from his home, where his father was Choir Secretary. After a Wesleyan Choir Concert in January, 1912, The Cambridgeshire Times reported that:
Mr. Percival G. Angood presided at the organ and played with the brilliancy which Chatteris audiences have learned to expect from this promising young organist.
On 29th November, 1915, Percival enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Company. However, he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps Depot at Denham on 6th September, 1916, where he would have received basic military training. From there, he progressed to No.1 School of Aeronautics (probably based in Reading), on 20th December, 1916, where he would have learned aviation theory, navigation, wireless, morse, and artillery / infantry co-operation. On 12th February, Percival joined No.12 Reserve Squadron, for flying training, most likely on the Avro 504. On 27th February, Angood was discharged to a commission in the Royal Flying Corps – his rise from Cadet to 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) appeared in the London Gazette on 8th March. On 23rd April, he moved to No.13 Reserve Squadron where he would have advanced to flying frontline aircraft and completed his training.
In July, 1917, Percival married Grace Anetta Buck in her hometown of Yarmouth, Norfolk. It appears that Percival took up duties as a ferry pilot at No.7 Air Acceptance Park, Kenley, and the newlyweds’ set up home in the area, but their happiness was to be short-lived.
On 11th September, 1917, Angood was tasked with ferrying a Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 (A3901), from Kenley to 62 Squadron at Rendcomb, in Gloucestershire. At the inquest into Angood’s death it was noted that the aircraft’s engine was new, so it seems likely that A3901 had been assembled and tested at No.7 Air Acceptance Park, Kenley. Angood intended to navigate his course to Rendcomb via Swindon, using the railway lines and landmarks as a guide. However, he somehow missed Swindon and found himself over Chippenham, an area which would have been familiar to him as he had trained with No.13 Reserve Squadron at Yatesbury nearby. He landed in a field at Showell Farm and contacted Yatesbury, who dispatched Sydney Alonza Ahern RFC, an acquaintance of Angood’s, with fuel for the R.E.8. Finding nothing amiss with the engine, Angood made three attempts to take-off, but choked the engine each time. Eventually, he borrowed Ahern’s motorcycle and rode over to Yatesbury to fetch a mechanic and have lunch, returning with Sergeant Jack Kimberley and a mechanic. Kimberley tested the engine and found nothing wrong with it, advising Angood that to avoid choking the engine, he should not put the throttle on quite so quickly. He also pointed out that there was a tree straight ahead, which the pilot would be unable to see once in the cockpit. Angood’s next attempt to take-off was successful but he must have forgotten about the tree. As he hit the top branches, the observers on the ground heard the propeller break with a “crack” and the machine dived into the ground.
Angood was found lying across the wires of the R.E.8 with only his legs and feet in the cockpit. His lifeless body was moved to a vacant cottage nearby.
At the inquest, it was established that the field Angood was attempting to take-off from was 250 yards long and there should have been plenty of room to get airborne. Sgt. Kimberley had the impression that the young pilot was nervous prior to take-off and put his problems with the throttle and choke down to inexperience. A Doctor gave evidence that Angood’s death had been caused by a broken neck.
Percival Angood’s body was brought home and laid to rest in Chatteris Meeks cemetery, without any military display, in deference to the wishes of his parents. His coffin was draped in the Union flag and the first portion of the service was conducted by Revd. J. Green in the Wesleyan Chapel where Percival had been church organist. During the service, “Happy the Heart Where Graces Reign,” one of his favourite hymns, was sung. The commandant of RAF Kenley was represented by Lieutenant Le Strange. After the service, the cortege proceeded to the cemetery, which was crowded with sympathetic spectators. Floral tributes were so numerous that they had to be transported on a separate carriage. Percival was just 23 years old when he died and is remembered on the Chatteris Town war memorial.
The inscription on his grave reads:
Sacred to the memory of my dear Husband, Lt. Percival G. Angood. Killed on active service, Sept. 11 1917, aged 23 years. In God’s Own Keeping.
Rest in peace Sir and thank you for your service.
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