Duncan Flower Cunningham-Reid
Duncan Flower Cunningham-Reid, above born 1889 in Merton Norfolk, The
eldest son of Arthur Morse and Agnes Celina Reid, formally Flower. ( Arthur
Morse Reid the rector of Merton during the mid - late 1800s, He was
born c 1855, died in Preston 1909 aged 54)
Observer 2nd Lt Duncan Flower Cunningham-Reid of 29th Lancers, who
started training in the first week of the war at the “Inns of Court
Training Corps” in the Cavalry, he later offered his services as an
Interpreter with the Indian Expeditionary Force. He applied with success
then transferred in October 1915 to12 squadron of the RFC. He was killed
at the age of 26, as was his pilot Lt Norman Gordon-Smith 19th December
1915 whilst on reconnaissance escort of another British aircraft,
surrounded by enemy aircraft Reid and Smith were able to fight off some
of the aircrafts over Bruges allowing the other British aircraft to
return home with important information, thus saving the lives of those
two airmen. The aircraft of Reid and Smith along with a German aircraft
fell from the sky , crashing at Oostcamp Belgium.
Both of the British airmen received a full military honourable funeral a
high tribute was paid by the enemy to these British airmen for there
bravery. The tail end of there aeroplane was used as there original
grave marker.
There are conflicting dates for the death of Duncan Flower
Cunningham-Reid his grave stone is clearly dated 19th November 1915
which is believed to be incorrect, which may well be amended by the CWGC
at some point. The grave of 2nd Lt Norman
Gordon-Smith is inscribed 19th December 1915. aged 22. The two grave
stones of these brave men stand side by side at the Cement House
Cemetery in Belgium. Plot VIIA. D. 8.. Below left is the head stone
to Duncan Flower Cunningham.
The image to the right above is the memorial
dedicated to Duncan Flower Cunningham-Reid, placed by his mother and
brother Alec Cunningham-Reid.
The memorial stands in the Holy Trinity Church at
Stratford upon Avon
