De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 4 page 208

Berwick Advertiser Friday 08/06/1917

Berwickshire News Tuesday 12/06/1917

Medal Index Card

ETONA NON IMMEMOR 07/06/1917 Chronicle

Charles Stewart Vane-Tempest was born on the 5th May 1896, at Norton-on-Tees, the son of the late Charles Henry Vane-Tempest, [only son of Lord Ernest Mcdonnell Vane-Tempest, brother of the 5th Marquis of Londonderry], also great grandson of the third Marquis of Londonderry, and his wife Florence Mary, now wife of Nigel Sydney Augustine Harrison, of Wellington House, Norton. Daughter of William Kirk J.P., born Norton-on-Tees.

He was educated at the Reverend Herbert Bull's Preparatory School, Westgate-on-Sea, and at Eton College, whilst there he played for the Eton Eleven v Harrow at Lord's in July 1914. He joined Eton College in the Michaelmas term 1909, under his master of R.S Kindersley.

At Eton he was the Captain of his House and a member of 'Pop'. He was a keen cricketer, and his name appears in the 'Eton Chronicle' frequently describing his cricketing averages and performances.

He was also a member of the E.T.O.T.C., and by 1910 consisted of 504 all ranks, he was in Company 'A' which won the Inter Company Marching and Shooting Competition which was held in Wraysbury on Tuesday March 29th 1910.

On the outbreak of the War he immediately applied for a commission in the (T.F.) Durham Light Infantry, and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in August 1914.

He was promoted Lieutenant in 1915, but because of his age he was too young to go to the front, he joined the Royal Flying Corps in October 1916. From the 1st of January 1917 to the 28th January 1917, he was with the 28th Reserve Squadron in Warwickshire. He obtained his wings in December 1916.

[No. 28 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed on 7 November 1915 at RAF Gosport. Initially a training squadron it became a fighter squadron equipped with the Sopwith Camel. After the end of the First World War it had claimed 136 victories. It numbered eleven flying aces among its ranks].

He then served with the Expeditionary Force in France from the 7th February 1917, in 70th Squadron, he died a prisoner of war at Ligny on the 25th March 1918. Charles died of wounds sustained in aerial combat over the German Lines a few hours earlier.

He was captured with 2nd Lieutenant Frederick Allinson, possibly victims of Ltn.K.Deilmann Jasta 6.

[2Lt. F. Allinson was the son of Thomas and Annie (stepmother) Allinson of ‘Westview’, Muston Road Filey in Yorkshire and he was 24 years old at the time of his death in action].

The Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung April 18th gives the following list of British airmen and machines which are declared to have fallen in the German lines on the Western Front during March:- No 7763: Lieut. Charles Stuart Vane Tempest, Lieut Allinson.

Source: Flight Magazine 10th May 1917

A friend wrote:- All who knew him admired his firm, straight and strong character, and his perfect sincerity. His predominant qualities were great courage and intense gratitude to anyone who had helped him by love or advice. He loved every minute, nay every second, of life, and whoever came in contact with him was the better for his companionship.

He was unmarried.

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

In his will on Saturday 15th December 1917, he left £217 10s 8d.

He is remembered at Norton on N68.02, N68.05 and at Stockton in S138.35 page 2, and S138.35b page 58.

He is also remembered in Ireland's WW1 Roll of Honour.

Eton College Archives
28th Squadron
70th Squadron
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Vane-Tempest