Major Eric Tyson DSO MC, No 5 Sqn RFC

[Dolphin]

Name: TYSON, ERIC JAMES

Initials: E J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Major

Regiment: Royal Flying Corps

Unit Text: 5th Sqdn.

Age: 24

Date of Death: 12/03/1918

Awards: DSO, MC

Additional information: Son of Joseph and Annie Tyson, of Balham, London; husband of Cora Tyson, of 148, Bedford Hill, Balham, London. Educated at Westminster School.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. G. 16.

Cemetery: MAROEUIL BRITISH CEMETERY

Major Tyson DSO MC of No 5 Sqn RFC, was flying RE8 C5096 with 2Lt B Bidmead as his observer when shot down near Arras on 11 March 1918. C5096 was carrying out an artillery observation mission when involved in combat with nine enemy aircraft. Major Tyson was fatally wounded, and died the next day, while 2Lt Bidmead was wounded.

Major Tyson had previously served in No 12 Sqn, and was awarded the MC in the Gazette of 20 October 1916 for gallantry in bombing raids, including an attack on a train when himself under attack from enemy aircraft. The DSO was Gazetted on 8 January 1918 for gallantry on photographic reconnaissance and artillery observation duties.

The victory over Major Tyson was credited to Gefreiter Sielemann of Jasta 57. It was Gefr Sielemann’s only victory; he had joined Jasta 57 on 20 February. When flying Pfalz D.III 8178/17 on 27 March he was shot down and taken prisoner near Bapaume after combat with Bristol F.2Bs.

[christine liava'a]

MAROEUIL BRITISH CEMETERY

Country: France

Locality: Pas de Calais

Location Information: Maroeuil is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 6 kilometres north-west of Arras, between the roads to Houdain and Aubigny. The British Cemetery lies at the end of a track running north from the road to Bray and Ecoivres (C.1).

Historical Information: The cemetery was begun by the 51st (Highland) Division when Commonwealth forces took over the Arras front in March 1916 and it retained its association with that division until the summer of 1918. Almost half of the graves are those of Highland territorials and many of those remaining are of London territorials who were at Maroeuil from July to December 1916.

The cemetery also contains the graves of 25 officers and men of tunnelling companies of the Royal Engineers who died in mine explosions. The cemetery was protected from observation by the crest of the hill behind it and whenever possible, bodies were brought back to it from the front line by tramway.

Maroeuil British Cemetery contains 563 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 11 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

[Dolphin]

Major Tyson had a very active career with No 12 Sqn in 1916. As a Second Lieutenant, he was mentioned in RFC Communiqué No 34 for his action on 25 April when, with 2Lt Breese as his observer, they took 50 photographs (49 successful) in one flight.

Promoted to Captain, he is mentioned in Communiqué No 53 for his action on 7 September, when he led a formation from No 12 Sqn to bomb the aerodromes at Valenciennes and La Briquette. After losing sight of the ground, Capt Tyson navigated by compass for seventy minutes before emerging from cloud over the target. The raid was claimed to have caused great damage and was recorded in Volume II of 'The War in the Air'.

On 12 September Capt Tyson was wounded when bombing railway targets at Bapaume; he was flying his BE2C without an observer, no doubt to accommodate the bomb load. He was awarded the DSO for this action.

He was clearly a gallant airman.

[rflory]

Major Eric James Tyson, RFC

Born 17 Mar 92, the only son of Joseph Tyson of Balham, School Bursar and Annie, daughter of John Branson, of Rockingham, Northants.

Eduated at Westminister School from 4 May 05 to July 1910

Before the war was a motor engineer

Enlisted in the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) in August 1914

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant, RFC on 5 Aug 1915

Flight Commander and Captain, 23 Jun 16

Promoted to Major on 21 Nov 16

In command of No. 5 Squadron, RFC in France

Mentioned in Despatches

Military Cross, London Gazette 20 Oct 16

Distinguished Service Order, London Gazette of 26 Sept 17

Married Cora Florence Gladys, daughter of Philip C. Davis of Trinity Road, Balham

Died on 11 Mar 18 of wounds received in action near Arras, France

Sources: The Record of Old Westministers, Vol. III; The Distinguished Service Order, 1886-1923.

Regards. Dick Flory