Capt. John Aiden Liddel
Probus Learn About Local Hero
Natalie Larner gave an outline of Captain John Aiden Liddell VC MC whose 1915 burial in South View cemetery, Basingstoke was attended by many dignitaries and public crowds.
Although he was born near Newcastle in 1888, during the first world war his family was living at Sherfield Manor which today is Sherfield School.
Captain Liddell had joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was responsible for a machine gun section that remained unsupported for 43 days during which he was wounded. For this action he received the MC.
Before the outbreak of the war, he had trained as a pilot, flying a Boxkite at the Vickers school at Brooklands and following recouperation he joined the Royal Flying Corps and was stationed in northern France/Belgium.
On 31 August 1915 he, together with an observer/gunner, was flying a two-seater RE 5 biplane at 5,000 feet over Bruges when they were fired on by enemy aircraft. Badly wounded with a shattered right thigh he lost consciousness and the plane dived 3,000 before he was able to gain control.
Burial place of Capt. Liddel in Basingstoke’s South View cemetery
The plane was badly damaged and with the crew member also wounded he managed to fly back to base saving not only the plane but also the life of his observer. Captain Liddell had his right leg amputated but died a month later. He was 27 years old.
His body was brought back to England where a Catholic mass was held in London before travelling to Basingstoke where it was met with a full military band and paraded through the town to much public admiration. His observer attended the funeral.
The posthumous VC was presented to his father by the King at Buckingham Palace.
Several commemorative plaques of Captain John Aiden Liddell VC MC are found around Britain, but two can be found in Sherfield on Loddon, with his name on the village war memorial and on an engraved paving stone atop a brick plinth near to the village cross roads.
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