William Curphey
Encyclopedia
Captain William George Sellar Curphey was a World War I flying ace
credited with six aerial victories.
, Hampstead, and at London University. He belonged to the Officers Training Corps
at London University.
in that regiment was gazetted 16 November 1914. A promotion to Temporary lieutenant
followed on 1 June 1915. On 15 July 1916, Curphey was transferred from the Berkshires to the General List of the Royal Flying Corps
. He was advanced from Pilot Officer
to Flight Commander with an accompanying promotion to Temporary Lieutenant on 8 January 1917.
s to the Battle of the Somme in France on 28 May 1916. He scored six wins between 22 August 1916 and 7 February 1917; one of them was shared with fellow ace Thomas Robb
. On 4 February, he suffered a slight head wound and was forced to land by Leutnant Erwin Böhme
; this was Böhme's tenth victory.
's second victim. Curphey was then shot down by Leutnant Franz Walz
as the German ace's seventh victory. Curphey's plane was 20 feet from a crashlanding when it burst into flames. He died of the resulting burns the following day, in a German field hospital
in Bouchain
. At the time of his death, Curphey had a promotion to major
pending; the new rank would have removed him from flight status.
Temp. Lt. William George Sellar C'urphey,
Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous skill and gallantry. He
brought down an enemy machine, and two
days later attacked and brought down
another. He has frequently attacked formations
of hostile aircraft and driven them
down.
Bar to the Military Cross (in lieu of a second award)
His Majesty the KING has been graciously
pleased to award a Bar to the Military
Cross to the undermentioned Officer:—
Temp. Lt. (temp. Capt.) William George
Sellar Curphey, M.C., Gen. List and E.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He,
with a patrol of four machines attacked a
hostile formation of ten machines. After a
prolonged fight he drove one enemy machine
down. Later, although wounded, he again
led another attack on a hostile machine and
succeeded in bringing it down. He has on
many previous occasions done fine work.
(The Military Cross was awarded in London
Gazette dated 14 November 1916.)
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
credited with six aerial victories.
Early life and entry into military
Curphey was born to Mr. and Mrs. William Salvador Curphey, residing at 87 Canfield Gardens, Hampstead, Middlesex, England; the elder William Curphey was a civil servant. The younger William Curphey was educated at Glasgow Academy, at University College SchoolUniversity College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, Hampstead, and at London University. He belonged to the Officers Training Corps
Officers Training Corps
The Officer Training Corps is a part of the British Army which provides military leadership training to students at UK universities...
at London University.
Professional advancement
Curphey enlisted in the Royal Berkshires in the early days of World War I. His commission as Temporary Second lieutenantSecond 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...
in that regiment was gazetted 16 November 1914. A promotion to Temporary lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
followed on 1 June 1915. On 15 July 1916, Curphey was transferred from the Berkshires to the General List of 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...
. He was advanced from Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
to Flight Commander with an accompanying promotion to Temporary Lieutenant on 8 January 1917.
Aerial success
Curphey was one of the original pilots of 32 Squadron, which was posted with its Airco DH.2Airco DH.2
|-DH.2 aces:Distinguished pilots of the DH.2 included Victoria Cross winner Lanoe Hawker , who was the first commander of No 24 Squadron and ace Alan Wilkinson. The commander of No. 32 Squadron, Lionel Rees won the Victoria Cross flying the D.H.2 for single handedly attacking a formation of 10...
s to the Battle of the Somme in France on 28 May 1916. He scored six wins between 22 August 1916 and 7 February 1917; one of them was shared with fellow ace Thomas Robb
Thomas Robb
Thomas Robb, also known as Thom Robb, is the national director of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and a pastor at the Christian Revival Center.-Early life:Thomas Robb was born in Detroit, Michigan into a Baptist family and grew up in Tucson, Arizona....
. On 4 February, he suffered a slight head wound and was forced to land by Leutnant Erwin Böhme
Erwin Böhme
Erwin Böhme , Pour le Mérite, was a German pilot during World War I. He was born in Holzminden, grew into an athletic sportsman, and became a flying ace during the war credited with 24 victories. He was a both a close friend and a military subordinate of Oswald Boelcke and was inadvertently...
; this was Böhme's tenth victory.
Death in combat
On 14 May 1917, Curphey was one of a trio of patrollers who attacked three German observation balloons. Six Albatros fighters then attacked them. An Albatros on Curphey's tail became Saint Cyprian TaylerSaint Cyprian Tayler
Captain Saint Cyprian Churchill Tayler MC was an English World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. He scored those victories while flying two tours of combat for two different squadrons; he used three makes of aircraft in the process....
's second victim. Curphey was then shot down by Leutnant Franz Walz
Franz Walz
Generalleutnant Franz Walz began his military career in the infantry in 1905. In 1912, he switched to aviation. He attained the rank of Hauptmann while becoming a flying ace during World War I. He flew more than 500 combat sorties in Palestine and upon the Western Front. He scored seven confirmed...
as the German ace's seventh victory. Curphey's plane was 20 feet from a crashlanding when it burst into flames. He died of the resulting burns the following day, in a German field hospital
Field hospital
A field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
in Bouchain
Bouchain
Bouchain is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies halfway between Cambrai and Valenciennes. Bouchain is a former part of the County of Hainaut.-Heraldry:-References:* Halesworth and Eitorf are twinned with Bouchain....
. At the time of his death, Curphey had a promotion to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
pending; the new rank would have removed him from flight status.
Honors and awards
Military CrossTemp. Lt. William George Sellar C'urphey,
Gen. List and R.F.C.
For conspicuous skill and gallantry. He
brought down an enemy machine, and two
days later attacked and brought down
another. He has frequently attacked formations
of hostile aircraft and driven them
down.
Bar to the Military Cross (in lieu of a second award)
His Majesty the KING has been graciously
pleased to award a Bar to the Military
Cross to the undermentioned Officer:—
Temp. Lt. (temp. Capt.) William George
Sellar Curphey, M.C., Gen. List and E.F.C.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He,
with a patrol of four machines attacked a
hostile formation of ten machines. After a
prolonged fight he drove one enemy machine
down. Later, although wounded, he again
led another attack on a hostile machine and
succeeded in bringing it down. He has on
many previous occasions done fine work.
(The Military Cross was awarded in London
Gazette dated 14 November 1916.)
Reference
- Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. Christopher F. Shores, Norman L. R. Franks, Russell Guest. Grub Street, 1990. ISBN 0948817194, 9780948817199.
- Under the Guns of the Kaiser's Aces: Bohme, Muller, Von Tutschek and Wolff: The Complete Record of Their Victories and Victims. Norman L. R. Franks, Hal Giblin. Grub Street, 2003. ISBN 1904010024, 9781904010029.