On a recent visit to Fyfield Church, near Ongar, I noticed a brass memorial plate in the Chancel, which read:
IN MEMORY OF
FLIGHT CMDR WILLIAM FRITH HORNER
(LIEUT RN) DSC, RN
Beloved only son of
Leonard and Annie Marion Horner
Drowned at sea whilst undertaking a hazardous flight during the Great War December 21 1917
Aged 22 years
I was curious as to the circumstances surrounding the death of this man, who died at the age of only 22, but had already been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). The medal is awarded to all ranks of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, and RAF in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea.
According to the London Gazette Horner was promoted to the rank of Sub Lieutenant in March 1915 and in July 1916 was promoted from Flight Sub Lieutenant to Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS)
The RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form the Royal Air Force.
At some point Horner was sent to Caldale Camp situated to the west of Kirkwall, in the Orkney Isles. Built as an airship station during WW1 sometime between 1915 and 1916 it was first commissioned with the Royal Naval Air Service in July 1916, and was an element of the strategic network protecting the British coastline.
At a time when German U-Boats were ruthlessly attacking the maritime convoys engaged in bringing essential supplies to British shores, British airships played a vital role in neutralizing this danger and were crucial in enabling Britain to eventually emerge victorious.
The SSP ( Submarine Scout Pusher) airship was developed in early 1917 following the success of the Maurice Farman type using a re- designed car with a rear mounted 75 hp Rolls Royce engine giving a top speed of 52 mph. These engines were later changed for 100 hp Green engines. The Car was rectangular, 25 foot long with a rounded nose and took a crew of three and on the bottom was a single landing skid. The 143.5 foot long envelope of the airship had a capacity of 70,000 cubic feet. Only six SSP airships were ever built.
Horner was awarded his DSC for
‘for zeal and devotion to duty during the period from 1st July to 31st December, 1917’
At 17.00 on the 21st December 1917 the airship SSP 4 left Caldale for anti-submarine patrol of the north of the Orkney Isles. The night had a full moon and weather reported as ''favourable'' and it was hoped the airship may catch a U boat by surprise on the surface. The crew for this flight were:
Pilot Flight Commander William Frith Horner
Engineer A.M (E) Ernest Frank Anthony
W/T A.M 2 (w/t) Rowland Charles Behn
Airship SSP4
By 17.45 the wind and increased with snow showers and at 17.50 SSP 4 reported that she would be returning to base due to heavy snow. At Caldale the base and hanger lights were turned on to await the airships return.
Nothing more was heard from the airship and at 01.00 the lights at Caldale were turned off as the airship was known only to have enough fuel to last until midnight.
Next morning the wreck of SSP 4 was found at Tafts on the south shore of Westray but there was no sign of the crew. The confidential papers, charts, a boot, leather jacket and a glove were found still on board. The airship was salvaged and returned to Caldale where a court of enquiry found that the switch was still in the contact position and the throttle still set at full forward and the propeller was very badly damaged so it is thought the SSP 4 hit the water while the engine was still running. The crew may have abandoned the ship thinking it would sink.
The bodies of the crew were never found. Horner is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial.