AN UNEXPECTED CONNECTION

Perth Academy were contacted by someone who had just visited the grave of Gladsone Leyden, a former pupil of the school who had lost his life in the Great War. The person concerned was Peter Baker, and he and his wife Jane had visited the grave of her great-uncle Harold Bryant.

They had travelled to France and visited Perreuse Chateau Franco British National Cemetery on the centenary of Harold's death. They arrived at dawn and kept a vigil at the graveside until the time of the fateful accident in which he died. In an act of kindness, and shared remembrance, they laid wreaths at the graves of all four flyers who had lost their lives in this tragic mid-air collision. The four casualties were:

Second Lieutenant Harold Bryant, 104 Squadron RAF. Son of Mr H. B. Bryant, of "Claremont", Kingsdown Parade, Bristol.

Lieutenant Francis Beaufort, 104 Squadron RAF. Son of Esther Penley (formerly Beaufort), of 103 West 77th Street, New York, U.S.A. and the late Jay Henry Beaufort.

Serjeant Alan Windridge, 104 Squadron RAF. Son of Charles and Edith Windridge, of 38 Landsdowne Crescent, Notting Hill, London.

Flight Lieutenant Herrick Leyden, 104 Squadron RAF. Son of Patrick Peter and Margaret Florence Gladstone Leyden of “Beechwood”, 9 Pitcullen Terrace, Perth.

Photographs of Peter and Jane's visit are included below.

In 1911, the Leyden family were living at 2 Osborne Terrace, Bryn Road, Swansea. Father, Patrick Peter Leyden (Customs and Excise and Old Age Pensions Officer). b. c1867, Milton, Kerry; Mother, Margaret Florence Leyden, b. c1870, Athlone, Rosscommon; Son, Herrick Peter, b. 1898, Pontardawe, Swansea; and Son, Robert Gladstone, b. c1901, Pontardawe. Herrick Peter (Gladstone) Leyden was born on 24th March 1898.

Gladstone was educated at Swansea Grammar School (now Bishop Gore School) and Perth Academy, and enlisted in Perth on 16th January 1917 with the 3rd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Regimental No. S/18816. 

He went to Nigg for basic training from 18th January until 7th March 1917, then went to Denham Camp in Buckinghamshire. Gladstone was gazetted as a Probationary Temp. Second Lieutenant on 5th July 1917 with the Royal Air Force.

Gladstone Leyden was killed whilst flying a de Havilland DH9 aircraft (D7229) of 104 Squadron. The aircrafts Observer, Sergeant A. L. Windridge, was also killed. Another DH9 aircraft (D2881) was seen to receive a direct hit by Anti-aircraft fire, folded up, and fell on to 2nd Lt. Leyden’s aircraft. The crew of the second aircraft were 2nd. Lt. F. H. Beaufort and 2nd. Lt. H. O. Bryant.

SOUTH WALES WEEKLY POST, Saturday September 7th 1918

“THE DAILY TOLL. Swansea Flying Officer’s Fate."

“The number of Swansea Grammar School ‘Old Boys’ who have made the supreme sacrifice in serving their country increases, and the latest name to be sorrowfully but proudly added to the golden list is that of the son of a former Swansea resident - Mr P. P. Leyden, late surveyor of Customs and Excise at Swansea, who left the town for Perth in 1915."

"Lieut. H. P. Gladstone-Leyden belonged to the Independent Arm of the Royal Air Force and was killed whilst engaged in a bombing raid over Germany on the 13th August. The bereaved father has received a letter - from Major J. C. Quinnell, the O.C. of the squadron – in which Lieut. Leyden is referred to as ‘a most excellent officer who did splendid work and would have made a name for himself in the Royal Air Force. Please accept on behalf of his fellow-officers with the squadron my deepest sympathy in your loss."

"Lieut. Leyden’s only brother, R. W. Gladst.Leyden is now a cadet in the R.A.F.”

Herrick Leyden is also commemorated on the St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Perth, War Memorial and the War Memorial at Bishop Gore School, Swansea.