Lt. Donaldson, cleweth thomas lee

Neale · 2 October 2009, 02:55 PM

Hi There,

Does anyone know anything about this chap?

LT. DONALDSON, CLEWETH THOMAS LEE. Died 1917.

Or the 52 Sqn during WW1?

Thanks for any help or advice.

Regards,

Chris Neale.

Scott · 2 October 2009, 03:47 PM

According to The Largs War Memorial - The Great War

Cleweth Thomas Lee DONALDSON was the son of Archibald Falconer DONALDSON and Jane Giliebrand Lee DONALDSON, born in approximately 1897. He flew with the Royal Flying Corp's 52nd Squadron and the Glasgow Yeomanry (Queen's Own Royal), and was killed on April 14th 1917. Cleweth was buried in the Metz-en-Couture Communal Cemetery British Extension in France.

Neale · 2 October 2009, 09:37 PM

Thanks for that Scott,

I still can't find anything to do with the 52nd Sqn as yet or how this chap was killed/died.

I was just interested in what this chap got up to during his life.

Thanks again for the help.

Still very new to this site

All the best Chris.

Graeme · 3 October 2009, 01:12 AM

Chris

He and his observer, 2nd Lt Seton Rodney Carter, were shot down and killed on 14 April 1917 in BE2g 7241, probably by Ltn Heinrich Gontermann of Jasta 5 who claimed a BE near Metz-en-Couture.

No 52 Squadron was formed at Hounslow on 15 May 1916 as a Corps reconnaissance squadron. It was equipped with various versions of the BE2 until October 1916 when it re-equipped with the RE8 and moved to the Western Front in November. However, in February 1917, the squadron transferred its RE8s to No 34 Squadron and reverted to BE2s. Three months later it received RE8s again and these were operated until the end of the war in the usual range of Corps duties; it suffered something like 121 combat-related casulaties.

The squadron was reduced to cadre and returned to Netheravon in February 1919 but in August it moved to Lopcombe Corner where it disbanded on 23 October 1919. Perhaps not surprisingly, given its main function was artillery-observation etc, the squadron operated out of 24 locations during its time on the Western Front.

Neales that I know of -

2nd Lt (temp Capt) Albert Leslie Neale, Lincoln Regiment at No 11 Sqn RFC, received the Military Cross as per the London Gazette of 26 May 1917

temp 2nd Lt (acting Capt) G B Neale was Mentioned in Despatches as per the London Gazette of 20 May 1918

Graeme

Neale · 3 October 2009, 02:09 AM

Hi again Graeme,

You are a star!

Many thanks for alllllllll that information regarding Lt. Donaldson and his observer 2nd Lt Seton Rodney Carter and the event around that time which include the 52nd Sqn.

I just wanted to ask as an item of his caught my eye on an internet auction site and I thought that there must be a tail to tell. I'm sure someone will get a nice bit of history as and when they win.

Many thanks also for that Neale family RFC/RAF info........sad to say that I dont have any of their medals etc at the moment, but you never know with luck at some stage I will reunite them with the Neale family.

All the best and thanks again to you and Scott for the help.

Regards,
Chris Neale.