Diss Family History Group

FERSFIELD

TRAGIC DEATH OF MR. C. S. M. WOODE

It is our very painful duty to record a terrible fatality involving the death of Pilot-Officer Cecil Stanley Marshall Woode, eldest son of the Rev. C E Woode, Rector of Fersfield. Mr. Woode who was 20 years of age, and connected with 99 Bombing Squadron, was the victim of a fatal air crash, which occurred at Bircham Newton, on Friday. Another officer, first class A.C. Ernest Forrester was seriously injured and is now lying in the West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital. The mishaps occurred only about a quarter of a mile from Bircham Newton Aerodrome, the machine, a 2-seater Avro, crashing from a height of 2000 feet. The flight was for training purposes.

Pilot-Officer Cecil Stanley Marshall Woode was educated at Norwich Grammar School, passing from there to Cranwell, and at the entrance examination was awarded the "Wakefield" Scholarship by the Air Ministry. He was a good all-round athlete and represented the Royal Air Force Cadet College in their Athletic Team for the “two and three miles”. He was captain of the Cadet Association Team and was the Cadet-Whip to the College Beagles, and during his time at Bircham Newton was Captain of the Association Team there.

Endowed with a very gentle temperament the deceased was immensely popular among his fellow officers and the men who served under him. He also most ably discharges his very perilous duties. His connection with the Air Force was not, as is frequently the case, of a temporary character, but of life-engagement and he could always be depended upon for courage, tact, and presence of mind. These qualifications did not forsake him when engaged on his last and fatal flight and when face to face with a terrible death. As an illustration of his popularity and good nature it may be mentioned that very recently one of his air mechanics died in hospital from double pneumonia. It came to his knowledge that the airman’s widow was very badly off and when she came over in connection with the obsequies Mr Woode not only paid her railway fare back to her home, but at the officers’ mess made a collection on her behalf which realised no less than £18. Kindly acts and sympathy for others were inbred in his nature and his bright sunny disposition and generosity secured him hosts of friends. Thos who shared his duties are lavish in their praise of his kindness and speak without any qualification of his cheerfulness, integrity and good fellowship. He was a thorough sportsman in the true sense of the term, for he “played the game,” and when visiting his home in Fersfield he delighted to take part in local football and cricket matches on the Roydon Road ground and other fields and could always be depended upon to add credit to his side.

Unbounded sympathy is felt for the parents and members of the family in their terrible bereavement. Every post has brought letters and messages of condolence and on Tuesday morning about 100 were received from sympathisers from all parts of the country. A pathetic note is struck in a letter written last week to the parents, in which the deceased referred to the pleasant anticipation of paying a visit to his home on Monday, but alas! before that day arrived his name had been added to the long list of those whose lives have been sacrificed in the conquest of the air.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest on the late Mr Woode was held at the Bircham Newton Aerodrome on Saturday, before Mr Coroner Barton.

Oswald Bertie Swain, Flying Officer, adjutant 99th Squadron, R.A.F., identified the body. Deceased had been stationed at the aerodrome. He was 20 years of age last August.

William Charles Ward, Pilot-Officer, stated that at 10.15 a m on Friday he saw Pilot-Officer Woode take off with an Avro 2-seater machine. Aircraftsman Ernest Forrester was also in the machine. After deceased had been up about five minutes he came over the aerodrome at a height of about 800 feet. He went into a stall turn, and did not seem to recover, but skidded across the sky with the nose out. The machine then commenced to spin, and after one spin it stopped, but continued in the nose dive, and almost immediately started spinning again. From that spin it nose-dived to the ground. Witness was about a quarter of a mile from the accident, and the machine fell into a field next to the aerodrome grounds. Help was sent as soon as the accident was seen.

Arthur Francis Riggs, flying officer, stated that at 10.5 a m on Friday he took up the machine, which was an Avro No. 3083. He did a circuit of the aerodrome and landed. He took off again and did a second circuit and second landing. The machine, in his opinion, was in perfect flying condition. An Avro machine was one on which everyone learned to fly, and was easy under controls. On landing the second time he taxied up to the tarmac and Pilot-Officer Woode got into the machine in the front seat. Aircraftsman Ernest Forrester got into the rear cockpit. Woode then took off and witness walked to the flight office. Five minutes later Pilot-Officer Ward rushed in and said that Woode had spun on to the ground. Witness went out to the wrecked machine, and when about ten yards from it he saw Forrester half standing up and bent forward a bit. His face was frightfully injured. Witness lifted Forrester by the shoulders and he was carried over the plane. Witness then lifted away the seat, which was on top of Woode, and raised him by the shoulders. He was dead. The machine began to spin when about 400 feet up.

Dr Alexander Muirhead described the injuries.

An accident expert stated that no definite opinion had yet been formed as to the cause of the accident. Investigations were still being made and would probably last a fortnight. Even then the cause of the accident might remain obscure. The evidence showed that the machine got into a spin and failed to get out of it.

George Reynold Read, Officer-Commanding 99th Squadron, said deceased joined the Air Force in February. 1923. He was a Cranwell cadet. He had done a great deal of flying. He had been at the Bircham aerodrome since last September.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was recorded.

THE FUNERAL.

The body was conveyed from Bircham Newton to Fersfield on Tuesday afternoon, and the coffin covered with the British Ensign was placed in the Church where it remained until the time of the funeral at 2 30 on Wednesday. The remains were received at the Church by the Rev. C. J. Eastwood, Rector of North and South Lopham, who recited suitable sentences as they were being borne to the Chancel. The interment was accorded full military honours. A large number of the Royal Air Force attended, one officer, 39 non-commissioned officers and men being present from Martlesham, and several of deceased’s brother officers from Bircham Newton. A military guard of honour was stationed in the churchyard as the mourners passed through, other members of the Air Force acted as bearers, pall bearers, and a firing party, while some took places in the choir and were joined there by regular choristers. The Church was thronged, and many could not obtain admission. Miss Woodcock, who was at the organ, played suitable music as the congregation assembled. The service which was of a very simple character and deeply impressive commenced with the singing of the hymn “Nearer my God to Thee;” this was followed by the reading of Psalm xxiii, and the usual lesson was read by the Rev. H. C. Frere, Rector of Roydon, the prayers being said by the Rev. Leonard Holt Wilson, Rector of East Harling; another hymn, “How bright those glorious spirits shine,” was sung, and as the coffin was being borne from the Church to the grave the organist played as a voluntary the tunes set to the hymns “On the resurrection Morning” and “Onward Christian Soldiers.” The Rev. L. H. Wilson officiated at the graveside, and at the close the firing party discharged three volleys and the “Last Post” brought a very reverent but extremely sad service to a close.

The principal mourners were Rev. C. E. and Mrs Woode (father and mother), Cadet D. M. Woode (brother), Miss Molly Gladden (fiancée), Mr W. Brunger (cousin), Miss Brunger, Mr and Mrs Gladden (Bressingham), Mr Ronald Gladden, Miss B. Gladden. Midshipman F. M. Woode (brother) was unable to be present owing to being on his ship in the Pacific.

Others present included Mr L. Nottidge (South Lopham Hall), Mrs and Miss Nottidge, Mr Walter Brasnett, Mrs Brasnett and members of thir family from Fersfield Hall, Mr and Mrs Eastwood, Rev B. M. Downton (Palgrave), Rev R. L. Whytehead (Diss), Rev C. J. Eastwood, Rev T. A. Nock (bressingham), Rev R. Jones (Banham), Rev C. A. Sturges-Jones (Garboldisham), Rev Canon E. S. Aspinall, Rector Wherstead (whose son was with the late Mr Woode at Cranwell and was killed in a similar manner on 29th September last), Mr E. C. Read (Eye), the head master of Norwich Grammar School with A. J. Kingswell and J. Hanly representing the School House, Mr C. Denny, representing Diss Football Club (of which the deceased was a member), Mr A. A. Bobby, Mr W. M. Thomas, Mr G. E. K. Burne, Dr Pearce, Mr F. W. D. Hammond, Mr and Mrs Bordeaux, Mr V. Golding, Mr R. F. Perfitt, and others from Diss, Mr Geo. Orford, Mr Herbert Pearce, Mr Fredk. Crick, Mr, Mrs and Miss Edwards, Mr Maidment, Mr and Mrs F. Wade, Mr Manson, Mrs W. Pearce, Mr W. Branch, Mrs and Miss Brand, Mrs Parsley, Mrs Howard, Mr W. H. Haslet, Mrs Poulter, Police-constable Poulter, Mr Green, Mr G. Bowen, Mrs A. Pearce, Mrs Piper, Mrs Scott, Mr G. Miles (Bressingham), Mrs H. C. Frere, Mr Lewis, Mr Goose (Roydon), Mr A. R. Fickling, Mr H. Rampley, Mr Wm. Sore, Mr G. Buckle, Lyon Bros., Mr R Lond, Mr H. Mills, Mr A Boggis, Mr H. Lond and practically all the parishioners of Fersfield, together with a large company from the surrounding villages.

The grave was tastefully lined with moss relieved with white flowers, and the panelled oak coffin with brass furniture had the following inscription on the plate:

“CECIL S. M. WOODE,
Died February 27th, 1925,
Aged 20 years.”

A large number of magnificent floral tributes of love and sympathy were inscribed as follows: - “To our darling son, from father and mother, brothers and sister. He gave his life for duty, he had no more to give.” “To my darling Billy, from Scruffy.” Uncle Gerald; Miss G. Gladden; Aunty Cecil; Uncle Alf and Bertha; Mr and Mrs F. W. Gladden, Bressingham Hall, Mr and Mrs W. T. Brunger, and Aunty Lil; Audrey and Gerald; Uncle George and Aunt Isa; Vic and Arthur; All at Fersfield Hall; Mr and Mrs Hall; Frank and Eric; Jack Hyde; boys of School House, Norwich Grammar School; Mr and Mrs Oakley and from Hill Farm; Fersfield Social Club; the Council School children, Fersfield; Mr and Mrs H. A. Frere, Roydon Hall; Rev C, J. Eastwood, Mrs and Miss Eastwood; Mr and Mrs Nottidge and Evelyn; the maids at Bressingham Hall; Mrs H. Hoskins and family.

The service wreaths were from Air Officer Commanding and Officers at head quarters, Inland Area, R.A.F.; the Officer Commanding and Officers, Bircham Newton Station, R.A.F.; the Officer Commanding and Officers 99 Squadron R.A.F.; the Officer Commanding and Officers No. 7 Squadron, R.A.F.; the Warrant Officers, N.C.O.’s and men of No. 7 Squadron, R.A.F.; the Corporals R.A.F., Bircham Newton; the Captain, Officers, Staff and Cadets of H.M.S. “Worcester” the Mechanical Transport Section, R.A.F., Bircham Newton; Officers and Men, A. and A.E.E.H., Martlesham Heath; Brother Officers, No. 3 Group, head quarters.