Captain L de S Duke, DFC, 84 Squadron, Canadian

[Ferris]

Hello everyone --

This is a re-hash of a previous post I made a few years ago about Lancelot. I never did get any feedback then, and am hoping for some input now if anyone has something. Thanks for your time.

Cheers, Ferris.

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I am looking into Lancelot de Saumarez Duke, a Canadian who signed up in Victoria and went over with the 88th Victoria Fusiliers, CEF. He then crossed over to the RFC while working in Headquarters in London.

After a tour as an Observer, he trained up as a pilot and finished out the war with 84 Squadron flying SE5a's.

I am trying to track down his kills, both as an Observer and as a pilot. Do any of his actions as an Observer count towards the "Ace" qualification? His DFC Citation reads "in recogition of distinguished services rendered during the war." Was this common? Did he hold any positions within 84 Squadron ie. Flight Commander? What would make his "services" warrant a DFC?

He was wounded 23 April 1918, and I am also looking for details on his wounding as well.

[normanf]

The only claims I see in 84's records are for one Pfalz DIII 'ooc' on 11 April and a Fokker DrI on 23 April 1918. Do you know his previous sqn? Any claims made as an observer will have been included in any final total, always provided he scored any as an observer. Unfortunately his DFC citation did not appear in the LG. Normanf

[JoaoMVM]

Im writing by memory but i think he was either in 10 or 35 Squadron, in 1916/1917(I think its 10 Squadron, but i really cant remember exactly, id have to check my notes).
No record of kills, but im interested in any He was wounded in action in April 1918 with 84 Squadron.
Cheers
Joao

[Graeme]

Ferris

There was a 2nd Lt/Lt Duke (I don't yet have initials for this officer but believe it to L de S Duke) who served with No 4 Sqn RFC during 1916; I have two claims recorded - an EA out of control on 2 September 1916 and another EA crashed on 1 November. As Norman has said, there are only two claims for L de S Duke in No 84 Sqn.

His DFC was included in the King's birthday honours list of 3 June 1919 (Gazette number 31378, page 7031) so was announced without citation:

Air Ministry,
Strand, London, W.C. 2.
3rd June, 1919.

His Majesty The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned rewards to Officers and Other Ranks of the Royal Air Force, in recognition of distinguished services rendered during the war:—

AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.

Lt. (A. /Capt.) Lancelot de Saumarez Duke (Can. Inf.). (FRANCE)

Graeme

[josquin]

Ferris

Some more information about Captain Lancelot deSaumarez Duke,DFC.
Born 3 October 1896, at Newara, Elyia, Ceylon; the son of
Dr. Valentine deS. Duke; educated at Monkton Combe School,
near Bath, England and at University School, Victoria, British Columbia
(he was in OTC at both schools). He was employed as a bank clerk
when he was commissioned a Lieutenant in 88th Battalion, CEF,
1 January 1916; his residence at that time was Victoria, B.C. The
records at the Directorate of History and Heritage,, Canadian Forces
Headquarters, list the following service: joined RFC, at Oxford,
11 Sept. 1916; served with 35 Sqn. 4 November 1916 to 30 July 1917;
to Reading, 10 August 1917; to 4 Training Sqn. 25 Sept. 1917;
to 74 Sqn. 18 October 1917 ("under instruction"); to 86 Sqn. 29
January 1918; with 84 Sqn. 11 Feb. to 28 April 1918 (wounded
23 April); with 84 Sqn. again 28 Sept. 1918 to 8 April 1919;
repatriated 4 July 1919. Distinguished Flying Cross, dated 3 June
1919, no citation other than "in recognition of distinguished services
rendered during the war." Captain Duke was a frequent traveler:
from Canada to England, in 1938 and 1952; from Canada to New
York City, 1n 1944; from Canada to Valparaiso, Chile, in 1936.
The DHH records suggest that Joao was right about Duke's squadron
assignment for 1916 and that the Lt. Duke in 4 Sqn. was another
man--given L.deS. Duke's RFC seconding date of 11 September 1916.
Thus, using Norman Franks' information concerning 84 Sqn. claims, it
appears that Duke had 2 victories rather than the 5 required for an
ace.
regards josquin

[R Gannon]

As noted Duke was wia on 23 Apr 18 whilst with 84 Sqn whilst fling B8403. This occurred between 1640 & 1645 between Faucaucourt & Harbonieres when A & C Flights were engaged by 10 Triplanes. There are no German claims which match this fight - however both Lt Proctor & Lt Stubbs claimed to have crashed Triplanes, Proctor's being as 'green with black tail'. This points towards Jasta 12, who were active on same sector at this time. However there are no 'known' Js 12 losses this date, my suspicion being that two of its pilots got, what de Ridder euphamistically called: 'birthday presents'.

Cheers Russ.

[Graeme]

Hi Russ

I have Vzfw Dobberahn of Jasta 12 as being wounded in a triplane on 23 March 1918; unfortunately no time or location, so nothing to confirm whether or not this was the result of tangling with 84 Sqn.

Graeme