George Francis Jack NEEDHAM

George Francis Jack NEEDHAM. Air Mechanic 2nd Class 27571, Australian Flying Corps died 23rd April 1918 aged 29. Son of Richard John and Emma Plumb Needham. Born at Adelaide. At rest in Leighterton Church Cemetery, Gloucestershire. His brother Charles Francis Albert Needham also fell.
Some notes from his army records.
He joined up on the 27th January 1914 aged 26 and 11 months, occupation, bank accountant. He was posted to 14th Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Field Artillery. On the 23rd April 1918 he was killed in a aeroplane accident.
Witnesses say him flying solo at about 1030 am they saw the plane coming out of a spin and part of the left wing, left the plane caused the plane to nose dive into the ground. The pilot was removed from underneath the wreckage, but found him to be dead. His body was token to AFC (Cottage Hospital) Tetbury. The Court of Enquiry into the crash found that the pilot caused excessive strain by forcing the plane out of a spin causing the right, upper rear main spar to break in the air. The accident happened at Leighterton Air Base.

His brother Charles Francis Albert Needham joined up on the 5th November 1915 aged 19 and 10 months as Trooper 946, Light Horse, occupation Bank Clerk, son of Richard John and Emma Plumb Needham. His mother was his next of kin and she lived at George Street, Parkside, He embarked Melbourne on the 2nd October 1916, disembarked at Plymouth, England on the 19th November 1916. He was then posted to France, embarking from Folkeston of the 19th April 1917, joined his unit at Etaples the following day. At some stage he was transferred as Gunner 29989, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade and on the 20th July 1917, gunner with the 20th Field Artillery Brigade . He was killed in action in Belgium on the 4th October 1917 aged 19 whilst serving with 4th Battery, 2nd Brigade, Australian Field Artillery. He is at rest in Huts Cemetery, Dickenbuch, Belgium.