Captain John Leslie Horridge
On 21st November, 1918, only ten days after the declaration of the Armistice, Captain John Leslie Horridge, of 91 squadron, was killed in a flying accident at Kenley, when his Sopwith Dolphin, D5298 suffered engine trouble at 200ft and crashed onto Kenley Common, after stalling.
A report of his death in The Times on Thursday December 5th, 1918 reads as follows:
‘CAPTAIN JOHN LESLIE HORRIDGE, RAF., acidentally killed while flying at Kenley on November 21, aged 22, was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs John Horridge, of Boholt House, Bury, Lancashire, and Plas Llanfair, Llanfair P.G., Anglesey. He was educated at Uppingham School (1910-1915), and was previously at the Preparatory Lower School, Uppingham. He was a member of the football XV, and cricket and hockey XI.’s, and a school praeposter. In 1915 he passed into Pembroke College, Cambridge, but did not take up his studies, preferring to take his place in the service of his country. He applied for a commission in the RFC, and while waiting to receive it he joined the Grahame White Flying School as a private pupil, and took his certificate in November. On receiving his commission in January, 1916, he went into training at the Curragh and afterwards at Ruislip, taking his wings on May 21. He went to France on May 25, where he was attached to No. 7 Squadron, and later to No. 4 Squadron. In Janury, 1917, he was made flight commander. He returned to England in June of that year, and was in the Home Defence Wing on the South-East coast until June, 1918, most of the time with No. 37 Squadron. Latterly he was with a squadron mobilised for overseas, whither he expected to proceed at an early date.’
John was buried in the family vault at St John’s Free Church of England Chapelyard, Tottington, near Bury, Lancashire on 26th November 1918,
Rest in peace Sir and thank you for your service.
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