Captain William Assheton Summers

Birth	1895, Lydney, Gloucestershire
Parents	Frank and Constance Summers, of Froyle Place, Alton, Hants
Residence	Froyle Place, Upper Froyle, Hants
Occupation
Enlisted
Regiment	22nd Sqdn., Royal Flying Corps
Regimental No:
Rank	Captain
Service Record	He joined the 18th Hussars where he attained the rank of Lieutenant. On 9th September 1915, at The Military School, Farnborough, Hampshire, he took his certificate on a Maurice Farman bi-plane in order to join 22nd Sqadron RFC

Death	1st August 1916, killed in action, aged 20
Theatre of War	France & Flanders
Commemoration	The Arras Memorial at Faubourg D´Amiens Cemetery, Arras (Flying Services Memorial)
Medals	Military Cross awarded 27th July 1916 for “conspicuous gallantry and skill”.

William Assheton Summers was born in Lydney, Gloucestershire, on 22nd August 1895. He was the son of Frank and Constance (née Taylor) Summers, who were living at Froyle Place, Upper Froyle. Educated at Eton and Sandhurst, William was one of the first young men in Froyle to enlist. He received a commission in the 18th Hussars in March, 1914, and went out with his regiment in the early days of the war. He transferred to the R.F.C. in May 1915 and on 9th September 1915, at The Military School, Farnborough, he took his certificate, on a Maurice Farman Biplane, in order to join the 22nd Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (which, on 1st April 1918, became the Royal Air Force). On 27th July 1916 he received the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and skill. Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Summers, as pilot, and (Temporary) Lieutenant Tudor-Hart, as observer, attacked a flight of nine enemy planes, completely breaking up their formation. They were quite unsupported, but only broke off the engagement when they ran out of ammunition many miles over the enemy’s lines. Their plane was under constant heavy fire from as many as four hostile aircraft at once, and was badly damaged. Froyle Parish Magazine reported the honour with pride in the August Magazine:
It gives us much pleasure to record the fact that Captain W.A.S.Summers has been recommended for the Military Cross. A man in the Flying Corps describes the exploit for which the honour was accorded, in the following words. He says ‘I have just seen in orders that Summers has got the Military Cross. He well deserves it. Apparently the other day he attacked nine Hun machines single handed, and drove one down. All this the other side of the line. Then on his way he fired into the Reserves and stampeded their horses, and crossed the trenches at 1500ft, very low, so he did well.’ We heartily congratulate Captain Summers, and also Mr and Mrs Summers.
But only a month later the news was tragic:
Only a month ago we had the pleasure of recording the fact that Captain W.A.S.Summers had won the Military Cross, and now we have to record his death, shot down by anti-aircraft guns as he was flying over military lines. This brave and gallant young officer is only one among many who have died nobly doing their duty for King and Country. But the fact that he lived here, and that we knew him, brings home to us what the war is costing the country in young and promising men. May he rest in peace, and may ‘the God of comfort and consolation’ help his relatives and friends, and all who are in sorrow, to bear their loss with patience and resignation. It was for us they died.
William died on 1st August 1916, shot down between Albert and Bapaume, while flying his FE2b. In a letter to Frank and Constance Summers, his Brigadier wrote:
Your boy was quite the most stout-hearted in a very brave lot of pilots, and our superiority in the air here is largely due to him and to the example he set to others. I had his name down for further reward for his extraordinarily fine work in this battle.
As well as the Military Cross, William was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Captain William Assheton Summers is commemorated on the Flying Services Memorial at the Arras Memorial at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, France.
An FE2b, similar to that flown by William Summers Note the gunner standing up in the front cockpit
William Summers wrote this ‘Combats in the Air Report’ on 25th June 1916. We believe he received his MC for this action.
Squadron 22 Date: 25.6.16 Type of Aeroplane FE.2b Time: 11am Armament 2 Lewis Guns Duty Patrol Pilot Capt W A Summers Height 9,500ft Observer Lt W O T Tudor-Hart Locality HEBUTERNE – GREVILLERS Remarks on hostile machine: Types F.A.B. Speed about 70 miles per hour One small fast tractor bi-plane, with M gun over top plane Speed 95mph other machines firing from rear and front. Narrative When at 9,000 feet at 11 am we saw our AA guns firing at two flocks of HA; one flock approaching from NW and the other from SW. Headed of the latter, climbing to 9,500 feet. The machines passed over our head at 10,000 feet; ten machines in formation (three lines of 3 machines and 1 in rear). We opened fire on rear machine 200yds above us, firing one drum. The rear machine returned our fire, the formation immediately scattered and a general engagement ensued. We fired until all our ammunition was exhausted. The enemy was reinforced by 4 other machines during the fight. We were attacked front and rear, on both flanks. When a machine approached on our tail Observer signalled to Pilot, who turned to meet it, the enemy machine always pulling up over our heads. We were engaged by all the enemy machines, but they withdrew one by one from the fight, fighting a sort of rearguard action. Sometimes we were under fire of four machines; we turned to meet their direct fire, giving a burst to each. At one time the small biplane from above approached our front to 100 feet, a collision nearly resulting. A gun stoppage occurred; drum spring was shot off drum and drum went overboard; Pilot put our nose down and enemy fire passed over our heads. The fight lasted 15 minutes, all but 2 enemy machines having broken off when our last drum was emptied. We then put our nose down, the enemy AA guns opened fire and we crossed over our lines at about 6,000 feet at 11.20 am. Observer only fired gun from front mounting, the machine gun being turned to meet rear attack. Gun was always in position when we turned to meet another opponent. We fired 7 drums. Damage to machine: Two main spars shot through; one very badly; One aileron spar badly splintered; tail boom, pressure pump, tail lift wire shot through. Some holes in undercarriage. Estimated over 1,000 rounds fired by HA.