Harold Ainsworth
World War I
Unit Air Service
Rank Cadet U.S. Army
Entered Service From Pennsylvania
Date of Death December 19 1917
Buried Plot D Row 2 Grave 3
23 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AND 7 DAYS OLD.
HAROLD AINSWORTH
CADET AIR SERVICE
PENNSLYVANNIA
DEC. 19, 1917
HAROLD WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN
VOLUNTEER CADET TO LOSE HIS LIFE
IN ENGLAND.
His rank is Private First Class in the United States Air Service and considered Cadet in the British Royal Flying Corps.
Harold volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps in his birthland's Army. Almost three hundred American men volunteered for service where they would be trained to fly with the Allies until American squadrons would join World War I.
He is the 3rd of six sons born to Albert Ainsworth and Ethel Hothersall.
Brother of:
Percy Ainsworth ( 1890 - )
Cyril Ainsworth ( 1893 - 1964 )
Marcus Ainsworth ( 1897 - 1979 )
Eric Ainsworth ( 1898 - 1987 )
Frank Ainsworth ( 1900 - 1992 )
Husband of Alice Bryan (1894-1984), whom he eloped with on May 22,1917 in Washington, DC. They met in college. They were married less than 7 months before his death.
In 1910 at age 15, Harold was living in Swarthmore, PA with his parents and 5 brothers.
Harold attended Swarthmore College where he played on the Lacrosse Team, was in the English Club, the Musical Association and was the Business Manager on the Swarthmorean College Newspaper.
He was in the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.
Harold enlisted in the United States Air Service, Private 1st Class attached to British Royal Flying Corps (Cadet). on June 4, 1917 at Philadelphia, PA and was shipped overseas out of Fort Wood in New York City.
He is described as 5'6", Light complexion, Blue eyes with Brown hair and a photographic memory.
At the Stamford Aerodome (No. 1 Training Station) in Lincolnshire, Harold and Elliot White-Springs were duly ordered to go airborne and practice aerobatics in a rather decrepit old Curtiss aircraft J.N. 3, instead of the Sopwith Pups that they wanted to fly. They could not get any instructors to go up and show them how to do the manuvers because the instructors knew it was dangerous.
Springs did ten loops in succession and landed. Ainsworth went up later in the same machine and was coming over the top of his loop at about 4,000 feet, when the wings fell off, and he plunged downward to his death. It was a great blow to the whole station, for he was a fine soldier and a splendid fellow. Practically the entire strength of the Post took part in his funeral - both British and American.
Information on Harold's death provided by Dr. D. Wilson of Warwickshire from the book
"WAR BIRD, The diary of an Unknown Aviator".
Elliot White Springs was the author of the book about John MacGavock Grider, his best friend and fellow pilot during World War I. After the war Springs edited and amended Grider's wartime diary along with his own work to honor his friend and all of the pilots.
Verification of how he died was also reported in Col. Edgar Gorrell's book, "A History of the American Air Service in Great Britain."
Part of a personal letter written to Harold's father Albert from John Ainsworth of England (Albert's older brother and Harold's uncle). John had lost two of his sons Arnold and Herbert in World War I in France.
On Friday, I received a telegram from Stamford telling of Harold's death and saying a military funeral would be held on Saturday at two o'clock. I wired the sender, Clay, I would attend and went with Albert. We made ourselves known to the commanding officer, who explained that the Court had found that the machine had been mismanipulated in some way and had crashed to the ground. He showed us a number of wreaths provided by different parties, one from the American contingent, one from the officers of the same, one from the men of the Royal Flying Corps, one from their officers and others, I do not not remember from whom. He remarked he was pleased we had come and he would provide us a carriage to follow the coffin as chief mourners. He introduced us to the American contingent, with whom we had quite a conversation. One his roommate on the boat from New York; the principal one, however, was the man Clay, who had wired me. He was his bosom friend, and a nicer gentleman there could not be. His sorrow about Harold's mishap and sympathy for you and for all concerned needed no words to let us know it. Among his remarks he said, Harold was a straight, clean young man; an if ever anyone was ready for death, he was. This may be a comfort for you to know. It showed that, although away from home and relatives and in the way of much temptation to go wrong, he had kept his upright character. It was clear that he was held in very high esteem by all the corps. We were very much impressed with this; the whole demeanor of the officers and men generally showed it. The funeral was the grandest and most solemn I ever witnessed. The entire corps, about four hundred men, was in procession, each one with the left arm draped in crape. First was the firing party, with rifles reversed; then the coffin on a gun carriage, covered with the American flag and wreaths. This was drawn by sixteen men with two white ropes. On each side were the pallbearers, followed by our carriage; then came officers and men in accordance with rank.
The cemetery in which he was buried in the Presbyterian section, is at the opposite end of the town. Along the way the streets were lined with spectators with hats raised as the coffin passed. House blinds were drawn and shop shutters put up.
At the grave side the minster made a few appropriate remarks and offered prayer and performed the last service. Then the firing party shot over the grave and then, the bugle call. After this, each one of the American contingent, in order of rank, approached the grave and stood at the last salute. This was,indeed, a very touching scene. The cemetery is in a fine situation and the grave in a very prominent position near the entrance. A more beautiful location could not be desired. His friends were anxious about a nice tombstone and as they might have to move any day, at once collected forty pounds for this purpose. This will give you some idea how things are. I might say Harold was doing what is described as looping the loop. Mr. Clay seemed to feel it all the more because he said he had been up in the same machine only one hour before Harold's death.
Harold parents had originally requested that their sons remains be sent home to the U.S. The War Department advised that no soldiers would be sent home for the duration of the war which was recommended policy by General Pershing.
By 1919, his parents decided to leave his remains in Europe.
Harold was originally buried in the Casterton Cemetery in Stamford in Grave # 19, Section H, Row 0.
On May 16, 1922 his body was exhumed, re-identified and relocated to Brookwood. He was laid to rest on May 20, 1922 in his final resting place.
World War I
Unit Air Service
Rank Cadet U.S. Army
Entered Service From Pennsylvania
Date of Death December 19 1917
Buried Plot D Row 2 Grave 3
23 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AND 7 DAYS OLD.
HAROLD AINSWORTH
CADET AIR SERVICE
PENNSLYVANNIA
DEC. 19, 1917
HAROLD WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN
VOLUNTEER CADET TO LOSE HIS LIFE
IN ENGLAND.
His rank is Private First Class in the United States Air Service and considered Cadet in the British Royal Flying Corps.
Harold volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps in his birthland's Army. Almost three hundred American men volunteered for service where they would be trained to fly with the Allies until American squadrons would join World War I.
He is the 3rd of six sons born to Albert Ainsworth and Ethel Hothersall.
Brother of:
Percy Ainsworth ( 1890 - )
Cyril Ainsworth ( 1893 - 1964 )
Marcus Ainsworth ( 1897 - 1979 )
Eric Ainsworth ( 1898 - 1987 )
Frank Ainsworth ( 1900 - 1992 )
Husband of Alice Bryan (1894-1984), whom he eloped with on May 22,1917 in Washington, DC. They met in college. They were married less than 7 months before his death.
In 1910 at age 15, Harold was living in Swarthmore, PA with his parents and 5 brothers.
Harold attended Swarthmore College where he played on the Lacrosse Team, was in the English Club, the Musical Association and was the Business Manager on the Swarthmorean College Newspaper.
He was in the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.
Harold enlisted in the United States Air Service, Private 1st Class attached to British Royal Flying Corps (Cadet). on June 4, 1917 at Philadelphia, PA and was shipped overseas out of Fort Wood in New York City.
He is described as 5'6", Light complexion, Blue eyes with Brown hair and a photographic memory.
At the Stamford Aerodome (No. 1 Training Station) in Lincolnshire, Harold and Elliot White-Springs were duly ordered to go airborne and practice aerobatics in a rather decrepit old Curtiss aircraft J.N. 3, instead of the Sopwith Pups that they wanted to fly. They could not get any instructors to go up and show them how to do the manuvers because the instructors knew it was dangerous.
Springs did ten loops in succession and landed. Ainsworth went up later in the same machine and was coming over the top of his loop at about 4,000 feet, when the wings fell off, and he plunged downward to his death. It was a great blow to the whole station, for he was a fine soldier and a splendid fellow. Practically the entire strength of the Post took part in his funeral - both British and American.
Information on Harold's death provided by Dr. D. Wilson of Warwickshire from the book
"WAR BIRD, The diary of an Unknown Aviator".
Elliot White Springs was the author of the book about John MacGavock Grider, his best friend and fellow pilot during World War I. After the war Springs edited and amended Grider's wartime diary along with his own work to honor his friend and all of the pilots.
Verification of how he died was also reported in Col. Edgar Gorrell's book, "A History of the American Air Service in Great Britain."
Part of a personal letter written to Harold's father Albert from John Ainsworth of England (Albert's older brother and Harold's uncle). John had lost two of his sons Arnold and Herbert in World War I in France.
On Friday, I received a telegram from Stamford telling of Harold's death and saying a military funeral would be held on Saturday at two o'clock. I wired the sender, Clay, I would attend and went with Albert. We made ourselves known to the commanding officer, who explained that the Court had found that the machine had been mismanipulated in some way and had crashed to the ground. He showed us a number of wreaths provided by different parties, one from the American contingent, one from the officers of the same, one from the men of the Royal Flying Corps, one from their officers and others, I do not not remember from whom. He remarked he was pleased we had come and he would provide us a carriage to follow the coffin as chief mourners. He introduced us to the American contingent, with whom we had quite a conversation. One his roommate on the boat from New York; the principal one, however, was the man Clay, who had wired me. He was his bosom friend, and a nicer gentleman there could not be. His sorrow about Harold's mishap and sympathy for you and for all concerned needed no words to let us know it. Among his remarks he said, Harold was a straight, clean young man; an if ever anyone was ready for death, he was. This may be a comfort for you to know. It showed that, although away from home and relatives and in the way of much temptation to go wrong, he had kept his upright character. It was clear that he was held in very high esteem by all the corps. We were very much impressed with this; the whole demeanor of the officers and men generally showed it. The funeral was the grandest and most solemn I ever witnessed. The entire corps, about four hundred men, was in procession, each one with the left arm draped in crape. First was the firing party, with rifles reversed; then the coffin on a gun carriage, covered with the American flag and wreaths. This was drawn by sixteen men with two white ropes. On each side were the pallbearers, followed by our carriage; then came officers and men in accordance with rank.
The cemetery in which he was buried in the Presbyterian section, is at the opposite end of the town. Along the way the streets were lined with spectators with hats raised as the coffin passed. House blinds were drawn and shop shutters put up.
At the grave side the minster made a few appropriate remarks and offered prayer and performed the last service. Then the firing party shot over the grave and then, the bugle call. After this, each one of the American contingent, in order of rank, approached the grave and stood at the last salute. This was,indeed, a very touching scene. The cemetery is in a fine situation and the grave in a very prominent position near the entrance. A more beautiful location could not be desired. His friends were anxious about a nice tombstone and as they might have to move any day, at once collected forty pounds for this purpose. This will give you some idea how things are. I might say Harold was doing what is described as looping the loop. Mr. Clay seemed to feel it all the more because he said he had been up in the same machine only one hour before Harold's death.
Harold parents had originally requested that their sons remains be sent home to the U.S. The War Department advised that no soldiers would be sent home for the duration of the war which was recommended policy by General Pershing.
By 1919, his parents decided to leave his remains in Europe.
Harold was originally buried in the Casterton Cemetery in Stamford in Grave # 19, Section H, Row 0.
On May 16, 1922 his body was exhumed, re-identified and relocated to Brookwood. He was laid to rest on May 20, 1922 in his final resting place.
Harold Ainsworth
World War I
Unit Air Service
Rank Cadet U.S. Army
Entered Service From Pennsylvania
Date of Death December 19 1917
Buried Plot D Row 2 Grave 3
23 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AND 7 DAYS OLD.
HAROLD AINSWORTH
CADET AIR SERVICE
PENNSLYVANNIA
DEC. 19, 1917
HAROLD WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN
VOLUNTEER CADET TO LOSE HIS LIFE
IN ENGLAND.
His rank is Private First Class in the United States Air Service and considered Cadet in the British Royal Flying Corps.
Harold volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps in his birthland's Army. Almost three hundred American men volunteered for service where they would be trained to fly with the Allies until American squadrons would join World War I.
He is the 3rd of six sons born to Albert Ainsworth and Ethel Hothersall.
Brother of:
Percy Ainsworth ( 1890 - )
Cyril Ainsworth ( 1893 - 1964 )
Marcus Ainsworth ( 1897 - 1979 )
Eric Ainsworth ( 1898 - 1987 )
Frank Ainsworth ( 1900 - 1992 )
Husband of Alice Bryan (1894-1984), whom he eloped with on May 22,1917 in Washington, DC. They met in college. They were married less than 7 months before his death.
In 1910 at age 15, Harold was living in Swarthmore, PA with his parents and 5 brothers.
Harold attended Swarthmore College where he played on the Lacrosse Team, was in the English Club, the Musical Association and was the Business Manager on the Swarthmorean College Newspaper.
He was in the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.
Harold enlisted in the United States Air Service, Private 1st Class attached to British Royal Flying Corps (Cadet). on June 4, 1917 at Philadelphia, PA and was shipped overseas out of Fort Wood in New York City.
He is described as 5'6", Light complexion, Blue eyes with Brown hair and a photographic memory.
At the Stamford Aerodome (No. 1 Training Station) in Lincolnshire, Harold and Elliot White-Springs were duly ordered to go airborne and practice aerobatics in a rather decrepit old Curtiss aircraft J.N. 3, instead of the Sopwith Pups that they wanted to fly. They could not get any instructors to go up and show them how to do the manuvers because the instructors knew it was dangerous.
Springs did ten loops in succession and landed. Ainsworth went up later in the same machine and was coming over the top of his loop at about 4,000 feet, when the wings fell off, and he plunged downward to his death. It was a great blow to the whole station, for he was a fine soldier and a splendid fellow. Practically the entire strength of the Post took part in his funeral - both British and American.
Information on Harold's death provided by Dr. D. Wilson of Warwickshire from the book
"WAR BIRD, The diary of an Unknown Aviator".
Elliot White Springs was the author of the book about John MacGavock Grider, his best friend and fellow pilot during World War I. After the war Springs edited and amended Grider's wartime diary along with his own work to honor his friend and all of the pilots.
Verification of how he died was also reported in Col. Edgar Gorrell's book, "A History of the American Air Service in Great Britain."
Part of a personal letter written to Harold's father Albert from John Ainsworth of England (Albert's older brother and Harold's uncle). John had lost two of his sons Arnold and Herbert in World War I in France.
On Friday, I received a telegram from Stamford telling of Harold's death and saying a military funeral would be held on Saturday at two o'clock. I wired the sender, Clay, I would attend and went with Albert. We made ourselves known to the commanding officer, who explained that the Court had found that the machine had been mismanipulated in some way and had crashed to the ground. He showed us a number of wreaths provided by different parties, one from the American contingent, one from the officers of the same, one from the men of the Royal Flying Corps, one from their officers and others, I do not not remember from whom. He remarked he was pleased we had come and he would provide us a carriage to follow the coffin as chief mourners. He introduced us to the American contingent, with whom we had quite a conversation. One his roommate on the boat from New York; the principal one, however, was the man Clay, who had wired me. He was his bosom friend, and a nicer gentleman there could not be. His sorrow about Harold's mishap and sympathy for you and for all concerned needed no words to let us know it. Among his remarks he said, Harold was a straight, clean young man; an if ever anyone was ready for death, he was. This may be a comfort for you to know. It showed that, although away from home and relatives and in the way of much temptation to go wrong, he had kept his upright character. It was clear that he was held in very high esteem by all the corps. We were very much impressed with this; the whole demeanor of the officers and men generally showed it. The funeral was the grandest and most solemn I ever witnessed. The entire corps, about four hundred men, was in procession, each one with the left arm draped in crape. First was the firing party, with rifles reversed; then the coffin on a gun carriage, covered with the American flag and wreaths. This was drawn by sixteen men with two white ropes. On each side were the pallbearers, followed by our carriage; then came officers and men in accordance with rank.
The cemetery in which he was buried in the Presbyterian section, is at the opposite end of the town. Along the way the streets were lined with spectators with hats raised as the coffin passed. House blinds were drawn and shop shutters put up.
At the grave side the minster made a few appropriate remarks and offered prayer and performed the last service. Then the firing party shot over the grave and then, the bugle call. After this, each one of the American contingent, in order of rank, approached the grave and stood at the last salute. This was,indeed, a very touching scene. The cemetery is in a fine situation and the grave in a very prominent position near the entrance. A more beautiful location could not be desired. His friends were anxious about a nice tombstone and as they might have to move any day, at once collected forty pounds for this purpose. This will give you some idea how things are. I might say Harold was doing what is described as looping the loop. Mr. Clay seemed to feel it all the more because he said he had been up in the same machine only one hour before Harold's death.
Harold parents had originally requested that their sons remains be sent home to the U.S. The War Department advised that no soldiers would be sent home for the duration of the war which was recommended policy by General Pershing.
By 1919, his parents decided to leave his remains in Europe.
Harold was originally buried in the Casterton Cemetery in Stamford in Grave # 19, Section H, Row 0.
On May 16, 1922 his body was exhumed, re-identified and relocated to Brookwood. He was laid to rest on May 20, 1922 in his final resting place.
World War I
Unit Air Service
Rank Cadet U.S. Army
Entered Service From Pennsylvania
Date of Death December 19 1917
Buried Plot D Row 2 Grave 3
23 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AND 7 DAYS OLD.
HAROLD AINSWORTH
CADET AIR SERVICE
PENNSLYVANNIA
DEC. 19, 1917
HAROLD WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN
VOLUNTEER CADET TO LOSE HIS LIFE
IN ENGLAND.
His rank is Private First Class in the United States Air Service and considered Cadet in the British Royal Flying Corps.
Harold volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps in his birthland's Army. Almost three hundred American men volunteered for service where they would be trained to fly with the Allies until American squadrons would join World War I.
He is the 3rd of six sons born to Albert Ainsworth and Ethel Hothersall.
Brother of:
Percy Ainsworth ( 1890 - )
Cyril Ainsworth ( 1893 - 1964 )
Marcus Ainsworth ( 1897 - 1979 )
Eric Ainsworth ( 1898 - 1987 )
Frank Ainsworth ( 1900 - 1992 )
Husband of Alice Bryan (1894-1984), whom he eloped with on May 22,1917 in Washington, DC. They met in college. They were married less than 7 months before his death.
In 1910 at age 15, Harold was living in Swarthmore, PA with his parents and 5 brothers.
Harold attended Swarthmore College where he played on the Lacrosse Team, was in the English Club, the Musical Association and was the Business Manager on the Swarthmorean College Newspaper.
He was in the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.
Harold enlisted in the United States Air Service, Private 1st Class attached to British Royal Flying Corps (Cadet). on June 4, 1917 at Philadelphia, PA and was shipped overseas out of Fort Wood in New York City.
He is described as 5'6", Light complexion, Blue eyes with Brown hair and a photographic memory.
At the Stamford Aerodome (No. 1 Training Station) in Lincolnshire, Harold and Elliot White-Springs were duly ordered to go airborne and practice aerobatics in a rather decrepit old Curtiss aircraft J.N. 3, instead of the Sopwith Pups that they wanted to fly. They could not get any instructors to go up and show them how to do the manuvers because the instructors knew it was dangerous.
Springs did ten loops in succession and landed. Ainsworth went up later in the same machine and was coming over the top of his loop at about 4,000 feet, when the wings fell off, and he plunged downward to his death. It was a great blow to the whole station, for he was a fine soldier and a splendid fellow. Practically the entire strength of the Post took part in his funeral - both British and American.
Information on Harold's death provided by Dr. D. Wilson of Warwickshire from the book
"WAR BIRD, The diary of an Unknown Aviator".
Elliot White Springs was the author of the book about John MacGavock Grider, his best friend and fellow pilot during World War I. After the war Springs edited and amended Grider's wartime diary along with his own work to honor his friend and all of the pilots.
Verification of how he died was also reported in Col. Edgar Gorrell's book, "A History of the American Air Service in Great Britain."
Part of a personal letter written to Harold's father Albert from John Ainsworth of England (Albert's older brother and Harold's uncle). John had lost two of his sons Arnold and Herbert in World War I in France.
On Friday, I received a telegram from Stamford telling of Harold's death and saying a military funeral would be held on Saturday at two o'clock. I wired the sender, Clay, I would attend and went with Albert. We made ourselves known to the commanding officer, who explained that the Court had found that the machine had been mismanipulated in some way and had crashed to the ground. He showed us a number of wreaths provided by different parties, one from the American contingent, one from the officers of the same, one from the men of the Royal Flying Corps, one from their officers and others, I do not not remember from whom. He remarked he was pleased we had come and he would provide us a carriage to follow the coffin as chief mourners. He introduced us to the American contingent, with whom we had quite a conversation. One his roommate on the boat from New York; the principal one, however, was the man Clay, who had wired me. He was his bosom friend, and a nicer gentleman there could not be. His sorrow about Harold's mishap and sympathy for you and for all concerned needed no words to let us know it. Among his remarks he said, Harold was a straight, clean young man; an if ever anyone was ready for death, he was. This may be a comfort for you to know. It showed that, although away from home and relatives and in the way of much temptation to go wrong, he had kept his upright character. It was clear that he was held in very high esteem by all the corps. We were very much impressed with this; the whole demeanor of the officers and men generally showed it. The funeral was the grandest and most solemn I ever witnessed. The entire corps, about four hundred men, was in procession, each one with the left arm draped in crape. First was the firing party, with rifles reversed; then the coffin on a gun carriage, covered with the American flag and wreaths. This was drawn by sixteen men with two white ropes. On each side were the pallbearers, followed by our carriage; then came officers and men in accordance with rank.
The cemetery in which he was buried in the Presbyterian section, is at the opposite end of the town. Along the way the streets were lined with spectators with hats raised as the coffin passed. House blinds were drawn and shop shutters put up.
At the grave side the minster made a few appropriate remarks and offered prayer and performed the last service. Then the firing party shot over the grave and then, the bugle call. After this, each one of the American contingent, in order of rank, approached the grave and stood at the last salute. This was,indeed, a very touching scene. The cemetery is in a fine situation and the grave in a very prominent position near the entrance. A more beautiful location could not be desired. His friends were anxious about a nice tombstone and as they might have to move any day, at once collected forty pounds for this purpose. This will give you some idea how things are. I might say Harold was doing what is described as looping the loop. Mr. Clay seemed to feel it all the more because he said he had been up in the same machine only one hour before Harold's death.
Harold parents had originally requested that their sons remains be sent home to the U.S. The War Department advised that no soldiers would be sent home for the duration of the war which was recommended policy by General Pershing.
By 1919, his parents decided to leave his remains in Europe.
Harold was originally buried in the Casterton Cemetery in Stamford in Grave # 19, Section H, Row 0.
On May 16, 1922 his body was exhumed, re-identified and relocated to Brookwood. He was laid to rest on May 20, 1922 in his final resting place.
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