Born in 1899 at Birmingham, Kenneth was one of a family of seven children. His father, Edgar, was a commercial clerk from London. His mother, Anna Maria Barker, was a Birmingham lass. The family lived at 51 Gillott Road, Edgbaston.
Kenneth signed up in 1914, aged 15 years. A substantial number of volunteers lied about their age to enroll. The minimum recruitment age was 18 years. The Army would only send soldiers to France once aged 19 years. Being so young, Kenneth most probably spent his time in England.
Throughout WWI, there was an increasing need for pilots in the Royal Flying Corp (RFC) as the service increased its role, particularly by 1916. Trainee pilots got, on average, three hours' tuition, using dual controls before they went solo. They then had to complete at least fifteen hours of solo flight. Many never achieved this, thrust into operations too soon or failing to complete their training. A new pilot's life expectancy was a few weeks.
The RFC recruited Kenneth from the Army, most probably when he reached his 18th birthday in late 1917 or early 1918. His prospects certainly improved. Besides the allure of a more exotic role, there was extra pay. Also, promotion to Second Lieutenant, even though the lowest level of officer class.
On Saturday 23 March 1918 at 6.30pm Kenneth landed his De Havilland DH6 in Hemingford Meadow to ask for directions. The airplane was a biplane used for training. Kenneth was a pupil under training, adding more solo hours to his total. It's possible he was aiming for a night out in St Ives, intending to leave his plane at Wyton Airfield. Kenneth took off again and flew over the River Great Ouse. He suddenly took a turn to the right and collided 'like a battering ram' with the south side of All Saints Parish Church steeple, the crash heard 'for miles around'.
The Cambridge Independent Press mocked up a photo of the falling steeple. The paper included a fuller report.
The top 40 feet of the steeple fell with a crash onto the south-west end of the roof. The aircraft itself disappeared tail-downwards through the north-west portion of the roof. Inside the church was 'a scene of indescribable destruction'. Spectators found Kenneth's body in the wreckage of his plane. Death from a broken neck was instantaneous. He was just 19 years old. Kenneth's burial took place on Wednesday 27 March 1918 at Priory Road cemetery, Huntingdon.
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| The damaged church spire, 1918. |
The Board of Enquiry that followed could find no evidence of any fault with the aircraft. They suggested evening mist or blind-spots from by the aircraft's wings as causes. Inexperience was another possible factor. It was fortunate the accident didn't occur on the following day. The church would have been full for Sunday service.
When the vicar contacted the military authorities about repair, they confirmed nothing would happen until the war had ended. The congregation moved their services to the school hall in Ramsey Road.
The Ecclesiastical Insurance Company insured the church against impact by aircraft, whether hostile or otherwise. A Government inspector reviewed the damage in early May. He appointed an architect and builder.
In November 1918 the Hunts Post reported that the church was insured for £14,000 (today £500,000). Some upgrading was required as part of the repairs, the cost estimated at £7,000. The Government offered to pay £3,873. A Committee of Reconstruction was formed and an appeal for donations made. Work started in December 1918. Within days of the appeal, wellwishers had donated almost £1,000.
By March 1919 donations had reached £1,500. This, added to the Government's contribution, covered the greater part of reconstruction. It did not cover reinstatment of the tower and bells, which needed another £1,800. By early May 1919 a date was set to reopen the church, Thursday 2 October 1919. It actually took until June 1920 to reopen. In 1924 the spire was reinstated. It took a further six years before the bells were rehung and sounded across St Ives again, in 1930.
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