Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Brigadier-General G S Shephard
Gordon Strachey b: 9 Jul 1885 d: 19 Jan 1918
DSO - 4 Jun 1917, MC - 18 Feb 1915, MiD - 17 Feb 1915, MiD - 20 May 1918.
(Army):- 2 Lt: 28 Jan 1905, Lt: 5 May 1907, Capt: 16 Jan 1913, (T) Maj: 1 Dec 1914, (T) Lt Col: 10 Dec 1915, Bt Maj: 1 Jan 1916, Bt Lt Col: 10 Dec 1915, (T) Brig-Gen: 8 Feb 1917,
(RAF):- Brig-Gen: 1 Apr 1918,
28 Jan 1905: Officer, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
28 Nov 1912: Flying Officer, No 4 Sqn, RFC.
16 Jan 1913: Flying Officer, RFC
1 Jan 1914: Flight Commander, No 4 Sqn RFC.
25 Nov 1914: Returned to Home Establishment
4 Jan 1915: Officer Commanding, No 10 Sqn RFC
6 Mar 1915: Officer Commanding, No 6 Sqn RFC
10 Dec 1915: Officer Commanding, No 12th (Corps) Wing, RFC
18 Jan 1917: Temporay Officer Commanding, 1st Brigade
4 Feb 1917: Posted to 1st Brigade
8 Feb 1917: GOC, 1st Brigade
19 Jan 1918: Killed in Flying Accident
He was born in Madras in July, 1885, the second son of Sir Horatio and Lady Shephard. Educated at Summerfields, Eton and the RMC Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers in January, 1905. Before WWI he became a member of the Royal Cruising Club and joined the RFC in 1912, having gained RAeC Certificate No 215 on 14 May 1912, flying to France with the first five squadrons on 13 August, 1914. He received the Legion of Honour good reconnaissance work during the retreat from Mons. The diary of the 1st Brigade RFC records: 'Bruay, January 19th, 1918. Casualties. Personnel: Brigadier-General G. S. Shephard, D.S.O., M.C. Commanding 1st Brigade R.F.C., killed in flying accident. Machines: Nieuport Scout No. B3160, wrecked.' The Casualty Report for January includes the following: 'No. 40 Squadron. No. 10 Wing. Left Aerodrome [Bruay] to visit Auchel at 11.5 am. on 19/1/18. Spun into ground at about 11.15 am. on edge of Auchel aerodrome. Pilot admitted to hospital and died from injuries.'
This page was last updated on 28/01/19
A J Shelfoon