Captain
James Norman CLITHEROE
Royal Air Force
Died: 22nd May 1918 - Age: 32

Commemorated:

1. Memorial:Blackpool CemeteryA 400
2. Book:The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918Pg.119
3. Memorial:The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour27A GQS
4. Memorial:Liverpool Masonic Hall War MemorialCol.1. Hope St.
    

Awards & Titles:

 

Early Life :

The majority of this legend is courtesy of Geoff Cuthill of the Province of West Lancashire, to whom the project is grateful.

James was born at Layton with Warbreck, near Blackpool on 18th April, 1888 to Robert Clitheroe, a solicitor's clerk, and Ellen, who were married the previous year in Fylde. James was baptised at St. John the Evangelist Church in Blackpool on 27th May, 1888 by the Rev. N.S. Jefrey

The first census return James appears on is that of 1891 which shows the family residing at 44 Charles Street, Layton with Warbreck, Fylde, his father being a solicitor’s clerk, age 28, his mother 27, and his grand-mother Mary Clitheroe age 70, having been born in 1821. The family also have a general Domestic servant living in, a Lizzie Davis age 17. Sadly Ellen Clitheroe dies just a year later in 1902 age 28 years. However in 1896 his father re-marries to a Mary Jane Williamson and the family are found on the next census of 1901 at 94 Raikes Road. His step-mother is given as aged 31, born in Blackpool, and James has a two year old sister, Mary.

James attested to the Lancashire Royal Field Artillery (Militia) at Preston on 29 March 1906 as Gunner 1098. He was residing at his father’s home at 94 Raikes Road, Blackpool and occupied as a clerk with Mr Butchis, a local solicitor of 11 Birley Street. The form has his age as 19 years 6 month, being five foot and eight and a half inch in height, weighing 125 pound having a fresh complexion, with grey eyes and brown hair. His religion is Church of England, and he has a scar on the back of his neck, and two moles under his right armpit. He is put with the Second Battalion and is shown as promoted to Bombadier on 29 May 1906 and in the following year he is discharged by purchase on 23 May

James cannot be found on the 1911 census, so in all probability was away at sea, as a later record shows he was employed by Cunard. However the family still reside at 94 Raikes Road, with no additions to the family, although it shows his father no longer a solicitor’s clerk, but as an Estate Agent.

James married Edna Georgina Greenhalgh Pilling at South Shore Parish Chuch, Blackpool, on 8 October 1914. He is recorded as a 26 year old bachelor residing at 28 Waterloo Avenue, South Shore, occupation as seafaring, his father Robert a deceased Gentleman. Edna (who was born in Bolton in 1889) is described as a 25 year old spinster, of the same address, whose father Richard Pilling was also a deceased Gentleman.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

Unit / Ship / Est.: 53rd Training Squadron 

Action : Accident 

Accidents were a minor factor in the casualty list. Our definition is deaths resulting from activities that were not directly associated with 'active service'. We have excluded Naval Accidents which are seperately identified because of their numbers and impact. Many accidents involved the aviators, operating at the the limits of technology.

Detail :

With the outbreak of war in 1914 there would be no pressure for James to join any of His Majesty’s Force’s as he was in the Merchant Navy, however his surviving Royal Air Force record says his previous civilian occupation was with Cunard Steamship Company as a Marine Catering Officer from May 1905 to August 1915. The same record for James shows his service beginning on 2 May 1917 at Farnborough. This would in all likelihood be with the Royal Flying Corps as the supplement of the London Gazette of 5th September 1917, gives James commissioned as a 2nd Lieut (Temp) from the 27th July 1917, the rank being made permanent and confirmed on 27 October 1917. According to one letter he wrote to the lodge whilst serving with the Royal Flying Corps, James said “ my own opinion is aeroplanes in sufficient numbers could finish this war,”.

Serving as a Lieutenant in 53rd Sqn. R.A.F. he died at 4.20 pm on Wednesday, 22 May 1918, near Grantham, age given as 32 years. He was at the time of his death flying a RE8 type aircraft with 2/Lieut Clarence Everard Johnson, numbered B6669 out of Harlaxton airfield as a pilot instructor when his aircraft went into a spin and hit the ground. No. 53 Squadron Royal Flying Corps had arrived at Harlaxton on 6 December 1917, and reformed into No. 40 Department Station, R.A.F., on 15 August 1918. Harlaxton was a triangular grass surface landing ground oriented unusually to the north.

The death of James was well reported at the time and the Liverpool Echo under the headline “A Flying Accident” has “The death has occurred, as a result of a flying accident, of Lieutenant J. N. Clitheroe, who was well known among shipping circles, being a member of the Cunard Steamship Company’s catering department. Mr Clitheroe had for some time been an instructor in the R.F.C., and only last week was in Liverpool on a short leave. He was killed on the day after his return”. Killed with James was Lieut Clarence Everard Johnson age 19 of 78 Dunkirk Road, Lenton, Nottingham, who was laid to rest at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Lenton.

James was brought back to Blackpool and laid to rest in Layton cemetery in Grave A.400, just one of the 139 First World War graves scattered throughout the cemetery. The Probate calendar has; Clitheroe, James Norman of 1 Hougoumont Grove, Waterloo, near Liverpool, Second Lieutenant Royal Air Force died 22nd May 1918 at Harlaxton, Grantham, Lincolnshire. Probate Liverpool 30th August 1918 to Edna Georgina Greenhalgh Clitheroe widow. Effects £245.2s.4d.

In addition to masonic memorial, James is commemorated on Blackpool Cenotaph, The Promenade, Blackpool, the Cunard Memorial, St. Nicholas Church, Pier Head, Liverpool and the Memorial in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Park Road, Waterloo, Liverpool.

Footnote: His son and namesake, was born on 17 August 1918, at West Derby, Liverpool, three month after his father’s death, and his widow, Mrs Edna Clitheroe, went to reside at 16 Gilpin Avenue, East Sheen. This son would go on to serve in World War Two in the Intelligence Branch of the Special Operations Executive, and his service still remains classified until at least 2031.

Masonic :

TypeLodge Name and No.Province/District :
Mother : Marlborough No. 1620 E.C.West Lancashire

Initiated
Passed
Raised
4th March 1912
5th May 1913
5th October 1914
 

James Norman Clitheroe was initiated a member of Marlborough Lodge No 1620 on 4 March 1912, a 23 year old Ships Steward of 29 (39) College Road, Crosby. He was passed to the second or fellow-craft degree on 5 May 1914, and raised to the third or master mason degree on 5 October 1914. His Grand Lodge certificate was issued on 12 October 1914, with a free duplicate issued to him on 22 March 1917. No reason for this was recorded on the return sheet.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

Additional Source:

Last Updated: 2021-02-26 14:53:10