William Laurence Mason
Rank: Air Mechanic 1st Class
Service Number: 312260
Date of Birth: 25 December 1883
Regiment: 75 Sqn Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death: 19 October 1917
Age at death: 33
Cemetery / Memorial: Harrogate (Harlow Hill) Cemetery
Country: England
Grave / Reference: H,163
Relatives: Son of David and Jane Mason, husband of Frances Mason
Address: 13 Coronation Road, Oatlands Mount, Harrogate
The story of William Mason is unique in that he was not from Hadleigh and so does not appear on the Hadleigh Great War Memorial. However, William was tragically killed while on duty here in Hadleigh and so we wanted to include his story.
1911 Census.
Air Mech 1st Class William Mason RFC
William was serving as an Air Mechanic with 75 Sqn, Royal Flying Corps. The unit was based at the old Hadleigh Aerodrome located between Hadleigh and Hintlesham on the Pond Hall Road.
No. 75 Squadron RFC was first formed on 1 October 1916 as a Home Defence unit with the aim of defending against enemy air attacks. The Germans carried out many successful air raids in the East of England using their Zeplin airships. While there are some very notable stories of such raids, one that was less well known was an attack that took place very close to the Aerodrome on Pond Hall Road in 1917. On the night of 19/20 October 1917, several bombs were dropped from an airship slightly to the east of the aerodome. There were no casualties and no serious damage. The only evidence was a series of craters in the nearby fields. The site was investigated and recorded by an Intelligence Officer from the Harwich Garrison. It is not known whether this was intended to be a deliberate attack on the aerodrome, or if it was coincidental. Maybe an airship returning home after a failed mission was just getting rid of its unwanted load to reduce weight.
The story of what happened to William was reported in the Harrogate Advertiser on Saturday 27th October 1917 and read as follows:
Fatal Accident to Harrogate R.F.C. Man
1st Air Mechanic William Laurence Mason, of the Royal Flying Corps, was the unfortunate victim of a machine gun accident while engaged on his duties in an aeroplane hangar at Hadleigh, Suffolk, on Friday, October 19th. The inquest was held on Saturday morning.
Lieut. Wooley Dodd identified the body of the deceased, who was a married man, and a native of Harrogate. He related certain technicalities in connection with the aeroplane and machine gun, and was of the opinion that no blame was attached to anyone. Cpl. Adams said he was proceeding to unload the gun attached to a machine in the hangar, when by some unaccountable means it went off. The deceased at that moment stepped off the machine he was engaged on right in front of the gun. The charge went through him. Dr Muriel described the injuries the deceased had received, stating that the charge had entered below the heart. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned. The jury expressed sympathy with the relatives. This verdict was subsequently confirmed by the Military Board of Enquiry into the accident, who added that no blame was attached to anyone.
1st A. M. W. L. Mason was the fourth son of Mr and Mrs David Mason, of 3, Hookstone Road, Harrogate, who both survive him. He was 33 years of age, and leaves a widow. He served his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker with Messrs Chas. Walker & Sons, Parliament Street, Harrogate, and continued in their employ for some time. About 10 years ago he entered the employ of Messrs W H Slater & Son, 21.22 West Park, Harrogate, and left them to join the Royal Flying Corps in June 1916. The officers and men of his squadron were particularly kind, and did everything possible to save his life, and afterwards made every possible arrangement for his last journey to Harrogate.
The funeral cortege left the aerodrome at Hadleigh at 11.15 am on Monday, October 22nd after a very impressive service in the open air conducted by the clergy of Hadleigh, who paid a tribute on behalf of the officers, NCO's, and men of the R.F.C. to the deceased memory, and at the same time offered a special prayer for the widow and parents.
The coffin, covered with the Union Jack, was conveyed to the station on a trailer attached to a motor van of the R.F.C. and was preceded by the whole of the men of the squadron, and followed by one of the officers (Lieut. Neville Smith), who, together with 4 of the deceased comrades, accompanied it to Harrogate. The commander of the squadron (Captain Cook) and another of the officers of the squadron flew two aeroplanes over the procession as a guard of honour all the way to Hadleigh station, and remained in the air over the train until it left. On arrival at Harrogate on Tuesday morning the remains were taken to his father's home, 3, Hookstone Road, and escorted there by his comrades of the R.F.C.
The funeral with full military honours took place at Harlow Cemetery, Harrogate, the same afternoon at three.
A firing party, four pipers and drummers of the Argyle and Sutherland Highland Regiment, stationed at Ripon, headed the procession from the house to the cemetery. Immediately preceding the hearse walked his late fellow workers at West Park, while the men of the Royal Flying Corps walked at the sides of the hearse as poll bearers, Lieut. Neville Smith following the hearse as chief mourner No 75 H.D. squadron, R.F.C. The coffin was of unpolished English oak, fitted with brass handles, and an engraved nameplate, which bore the inscription: "William Laurence Mason, born 25th December 1883, died 19th October, 1917."
The principle mourners were: Mrs F Mason (widow), Mr D and Mrs T Mason (father and mother), Mr T H Mason (brother), Miss A Mason, Mrs Simpson, Mrs Knibbs, Miss Alice Mason, (sisters), L/Cpl Knibbs (4th Notts & Derby Regt), Mr J Marshall (brother in law), Miss M Marshall (sister-in-law), Mr Kitchin (uncle), Miss A Mason, Miss D Knibbs (nieces), Mr Kirk (who also represented Mr G S Mason brother, who is on active service in France), Mrs Wigin, Mr Charles Walker, Mrs W H and Miss R Slater, Mr and Mrs Meyers, Mrs Breeden, Mrs Atkinson, Mrs A Gamble, Mrs A Bay and many other friends. The family wreaths included: "To my dear devoted husband," "mother and dad," "Nance and George" "Sis and Ren," "May, Alice and Harry," " George," "from his nieces, Alice and Dorothy," "Mable," "Tom, Lizzie, and family." The Royal Flying Corps sent four beautiful artificial wreaths with inscriptions. "In deep sympathy," from the officers "A" Flight. 75 H.D. squadron, R.F.C. "In deep sympathy" from NCO's and men "A" Flight, 75 H.D. Squadron, R.F.C.; "In deep sympathy," from officers "B," "C," and Headquarters Flights, 75 H.D. Squadron, R.F.C.; "In deep sympathy," from NCO's and men "B," "C," and Headquarters Flights, 75 H.D. Squadron, R.F.C. The following wreaths were also amongst the numerous floral tributes: "M Kirk," "Mrs Wigin," "Dean Carter and Mrs Carter (Hadleigh Rectory)," "His fellow workers at West Park," "an old friend," "Mr, Mrs, and Miss Bearpark,” “ Mr and Mrs W H Slater and family,” “ Mrs Cooper,” and “ The Oatlands Mothers’ Meeting.”
The coffin was borne into church by the men of the RFC, and to the grave by his late fellow workmen. The officiating clergymen were the Revd. J. W. Holmes, Curate of St Mark's Church, Harrogate.
The very large gathering of friends both outside 3, Hookstone Road, and at Harlow Cemetery testified to the esteem in which the deceased and his family are held.