Captain Gerald Blunt Lucas
13th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
Died of Wounds
Date of Birth: 11 August 1890
Place of Birth: Oakley, Teignmouth
Date of Death: 17 May 1916 aged 25
Buried: Maroeuil British Cemetery, France; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Memorial Window, Teignmouth, Devon
Awarded the Durbar Medal
Durbar Medal
Captain Gerald Blunt Lucas age 25. Durbar Medal. Gerald was born 11 August 1890, he was baptised at St. Nicholas Church, Shaldon, on 5 September 1890, the son of Lt. Col. Charles de Neufville Lucas (Major, 6th Bombay Cavalry) and Maud Lucas of Oakley, Teignmouth.
He was shown on 1891 census living in the family home in Shaldon, his parents were absent. In 1901 census he was a visitor in Northamptonshire. Gerald was educated at Haileybury College, Herts, a school founded by the East India Company.
He later attended Sandhurst Military College, obtaining his first commission on 29 January 1910 as 2nd Lieutenant with 107th Pioneers, Indian Army. In 1911 he was serving as a Lieutenant based in Rawalpindi, India where he received the Durbar Medal for his part in the King’s Coronation Ceremonies. He was transferred later that year to serve with 38th King George's Own Central India Horse Regiment, where he was gazetted Captain on 29 April 1912.
13th Squadron. Photo Courtesey of Lashenden Air Warfare Museum
Gerald was later attached to 13th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps where he was shot down by a German Fokker whilst on observation duty. He was flying as observer with 2nd Lt. Wright when they engaged in combat with a type ‘F’ plane while trying to induce AA gun near Bailleul to fire and give away its position whilst on artillery patrol. 2nd Lt FCA Wright was wounded, and Gerald Lucas died of wounds in the evening on 17 May 1916. Buried in a German grave, later reburied at Maroeuil British Cemetery, France; remembered on Seafront Memorial and St. James’ Memorial Window, Teignmouth. Grave Inscription reads R.I.P.
13 Squadron share an aerodrome with 11 Squadron. They also suffered a loss when Captain Gerald Blunt Lucas who was the observer in a BE2c (4105) piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Frederick Clive Avery Wright.
They were attacked by a Fokker. They crashed near Anzin St Aubin and both men were wounded, though Lucas later died of his injuries.
Official entry from air war diary 1916.
