Kenneth Seth-Smith

[Scott]

In this morning's mailbag:

I was astonished to find totally erroneous details of my father, Kenneth
Gordon Seth-Smith on [The Aerodrome].

He was born in 1914, and could not therefore have served in the RFC let alone scored victories!!

He was never engaged in action as he was a test pilot first for General
Aircraft and then Hawker. He WAS a member of the Reserve of RAF Officers,
and instructed RAF students at a number of sites during the mid 30s.

He never flew Sopwiths. He didn't learn to fly until they were long gone.

I have no idea whether any other Seth-Smith flew in the RFC but it was
categorically not Kenneth Gordon.

see www.seth-smiths.org.uk for the full lineage or Burkes Landed Gentry.

Would you please confirm to me immediately that this reference will be
corrected.

Will the real Kenneth Seth-Smith please stand up?

Obviously the ace named in Above the Trenches is not this man's father. Perhaps the GOGS got this man's career confused with the ace...

Thoughts or further info would be appreciated.

[rammjaeger]

Maybe the real guy is "Kenneth Arthur Seth" mentioned at this family site and not Kenneth Gordon Seth-Smith.

[Graeme]

There were two Seth-Smiths in the RFC/RAF:

The undermentioned ex-Cadets of the Officers Training Corps to be Second Lieutenants (on probation). Dated 25th September, 1915: —
Edward Gustav Seth-Smith, East Surrey Regiment.

The undermentioned 2nd Lts., Spec. Res., to be temp. Lts. whilst serving with R.F.C.
1st May 1917: —
E. G. Seth-Smith, E. Surr. R.

The appts. of the undermentioned as Flying Officers and their secdg. or transfer to Gen. List are antedated as follows: —
To 6th Apr. 1917—
2nd Lt. E. G. Seth-Smith, E. Surr. R., Spec. Res.

Asst. Instrs. in Gunnery.—(Graded as Equipment Officers, 3rd Cl.).
30th July 1917.
2nd Lt. (temp- Lt.) E. G. Seth-Smith, E. Surr. R., Spec. Res., from a Flying Officer.

and

The undermentioned Cadets and ex-Cadets of the Officers Training Corps to be Second Lieutenants, on probation. Dated 24th March, 1915: —
Kenneth Arthur Seth Smith, 3rd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers.

North'd Fus.—Lt. Kenneth Arthur Seth Smith, from a Spec. Res. Bn., to be 2nd Lt. 20th Feb. 1917, with seniority as from 19th Oct. 1916, and precedence next above H. F. Attwater, and to retain his higher rank and seniority in his present unit until ordered to join a Regular Unit.

Flying Officers (Observers).—
12th May 1917.
2nd Lt. K. A. Seth-Smith, North'd Fus., with seniority from 6th Mar. 1917, and to be secd.

The undermentioned 2nd Lts to be Lts —
North'd Fus — K A Seth-Smith 19th Apr. 1918

The undermentioned relinquish their temp. R.A.F. commns. on return to Army duty: —
Flying Officer K. A. Seth-Smith (Lt., Northumberland Fus.). 17th Nov. 1919.

I've got "K A" as being the ace.

Graeme