Cecil Marchant

Cecil James Marchant
Nickname(s)	"Chaps"
Born	15 June 1895
Died	30 May 1965 (aged 69)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army Royal Air Force
Years of service	1913–1919
Rank	Captain
Unit	King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) No 46 Squadron RFC/No. 46 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	World War I  • Western Front
Awards	Military Cross

Captain Cecil James Marchant MC (15 June 1895 – 30 May 1965) was an English flying ace during World War I. He was credited with nine aerial victories.^[1]

Early life and military career

Cecil James Marchant was born in London, and enlisted into the Army in 1913, when he was 18 years old.^[2] He served in the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and had achieved the rank of sergeant by 8 October 1914, when he received a mention in despatches from the Commander-in-Chief, Field-Marshal Sir John French.^[3] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 14th Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) on 22 July 1915.^[4]

Flying service

Marchant served about 18 months in the trenches, before being transferred to the Royal Flying Corps.^[2] He was granted Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No. 3971 on 1 August 1916,^[1] and was appointed a flying officer the same day, as was customary on completion of pilot training, and transferred to the General List.^[5]

His first assignment was as a Sopwith Pup pilot in No. 46 Squadron in early 1917. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 March 1917.^[6] That combat tour ended in June.^[2]

On 1 January 1918, Marchant was appointed a flight commander with the temporary rank of captain.^[7] He returned to No. 46 Squadron in February 1918, which had been re-equipped with the Sopwith Camel. He scored his first aerial victory on 22 March, and ran his tally to nine over the next 45 days.^[2]

He was awarded the Military Cross, which was gazetted on 22 June 1918. His citation read:

Temporary Captain Cecil James Merchant, General List and Royal Flying Corps.

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He, with two other pilots of his squadron, bombed a freight train from a height of 50 feet, three trucks being derailed. Again, on a later occasion he, with five other pilots, bombed and fired at a column of enemy transport with such good effect that three-quarters of the personnel became casualties and most of the vehicles were destroyed. Whilst on a low bombing reconnaissance during the recent operations he brought down two hostile two-seater machines out of control and shot down a third in flames. He has at all times displayed marked gallantry and resource."^[8]

On 2 July 1918, Marchant was severely enough wounded to require removal from combat duty for hospitalization.^[2] He was temporarily appointed a 3rd Class Staff Officer in the Air Ministry on 6 October 1918,^[9] and again on 10 February 1919.^[10] On 20 March 1919, he was appointed an adjutant; this time, he was an acting captain, though drawing the pay and allowances as a lieutenant.^[11]

List of aerial victories

List of aerial victories^[1]

No.	Date/time	Aircraft	Foe	Result	Location	Notes
1	22 March 1918 @1500 hours	Sopwith Camel Serial number C1554	LVG reconnaissance aircraft	Driven down out of control	Bullecourt	Victory shared with Donald Roderick MacLaren
2	23 March 1918 @1015 hours	Sopwith Camel s/n B9211	Reconnaissance aircraft	Driven down out of control	Croisilles
3	23 March 1918 @1030 hours	Sopwith Camel s/n B9211	Reconnaissance aircraft	Set afire; destroyed	Mory
4	23 March 1918 @1410 hours	Sopwith Camel	Albatros D.V	Driven down out of control	Morchies
5	3 April 1918 @1245 hours	Sopwith Camel s/n B9211	Albatros reconnaissance aircraft	Destroyed	Map grid 57 D L32	Victory shared with Maurice Freehill
6	20 April 1918 @1000 hours	Sopwith Camel s/n B9211	Albatros reconnaissance aircraft	Destroyed	Harnes	Victory shared with Maurice Freehill
7	25 April 1918	Sopwith Camel	LVG reconnaissance aircraft	Destroyed	West of Lens	Victory shared with Philip Tudhope
8	2 May 1918 @1700 hours	Sopwith Camel s/n B9211	Pfalz D.III	Driven down out of control	Estaires	Victory shared with John Henry Smith
9	6 May 1918 @1800 hours	Sopwith Camel	DFW reconnaissance aircraft	Captured	Saint-Venant	Victory shared with Victor Yeates, John Henry Smith, Donald Roderick MacLaren, H T W Manwaring

Post World War I

Marchant worked in his family's business postwar. He was also a prime mover in organizing squadron reunions.^[2][12][13]

Cecil James Marchant died on 30 May 1965.^[1]

References

Citations

1. "Cecil James Marchant". The Aerodrome. 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
2. Shores et.al. (1990), p.259.
3. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28942. p. 8355. 16 October 1914.
4. The London Gazette: no. 29242. p. 7331. 27 July 1915.
5. The London Gazette: no. 29723. p. 8399. 25 August 1916.
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30314. p. 10116. 28 September 1917.
7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30473. p. 782. 11 January 1918.
8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30761. p. 7418. 21 June 1918.
9. The London Gazette: no. 31147. p. 1372. 28 January 1919.
10. The London Gazette: no. 31196. p. 2616. 21 February 1919.
11. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31399. p. 7517. 10 June 1919.
12. "46th Squadron Annual Dinner". Flight. XIII (639): 215. 24 March 1921. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
13. "Reunions". Flight. XXXV (1579): 320. 30 March 1939. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

Bibliography

• Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.