Evelyn Copland Perry
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Walter Copland Perry (4 December 1890 – 16 August 1914) was a pioneer British aviator and one of the first flying instructors in England. He was killed on 16 August 1914 in a flying while serving with the Royal Flying Corps
in France, making him the first British Army
officer to die in France during World War I
.
Evelyn Walter Copland Perry was born on 4 December 1890, the son of Walter Copland Perry
, the noted author and barrister and his wife Evelyn née Stopford.
On 12 September 1911, Perry gained his Royal Aero Club
certificate on the Barber "Valkyrie" and became the 130th person in the United Kingdom to learn to fly. He was then employed as a Royal Aircraft Factory pilot and carried out a considerable amount of flying at Brooklands
on a Burgess-Wright
. In 1912, he worked with Thomas Sopwith
at his flying school at Brooklands, where amongst others he trained Hugh Trenchard
.
With the outbreak of World War I
, Copland Perry was commissioned as a second lieutenant
. He flew to France with the Royal Flying Corps
and was killed in a flying accident on 16 August 1914, making him possibly the first officer to die in the Great War. Copland Perry was buried in the St. Acheul Cemetery in Amiens
.
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in France, making him the first British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer to die in France during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Evelyn Walter Copland Perry was born on 4 December 1890, the son of Walter Copland Perry
Walter Copland Perry
Walter Copland Perry , was a noted British author and barrister.A student of the Middle Temple, who matriculated 12 January 1847, Perry was called to the bar 31 January 1851....
, the noted author and barrister and his wife Evelyn née Stopford.
On 12 September 1911, Perry gained his Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
certificate on the Barber "Valkyrie" and became the 130th person in the United Kingdom to learn to fly. He was then employed as a Royal Aircraft Factory pilot and carried out a considerable amount of flying at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
on a Burgess-Wright
Burgess Company
The Burgess Company was a U.S. airplane manufacturer between 1910 and 1918.-History:The business was incorporated in 1910 as the "Burgess Company and Curtis, Inc." . The company was an offshoot of the W. Starling Burgess Shipyard, of Marblehead, Massachusetts.Burgess was the first licensed aircraft...
. In 1912, he worked with Thomas Sopwith
Thomas Sopwith
Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith, CBE, Hon FRAeS was an English aviation pioneer and yachtsman.-Early life:...
at his flying school at Brooklands, where amongst others he trained Hugh Trenchard
Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard GCB OM GCVO DSO was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force...
.
With the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Copland Perry was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. He flew to France with the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
and was killed in a flying accident on 16 August 1914, making him possibly the first officer to die in the Great War. Copland Perry was buried in the St. Acheul Cemetery in Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
.