Christopher Monckton

A Second Lieutenant with 13 Squadron, Christopher died on 1st of July 1916 at the age of 18. 

Christopher was born at Hilton, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, on 4 April 1898, a son of Arthur and Lady Gertrude Moncton. Christopher’s maternal grandfather was the 4th Earl of Radnor. He was baptised at Worfield, Shropshire, on 24 April 1898. In 1901 his family lived at Hilton House, Worfield, and, by 1911, were living at Normanston Hall, Beccles Road, Lowestoft. His family also had a house at 29 Queen’s Road, Saint John’s Wood, London.

Christopher was educated at Mr. Phillip’s School and Keates House, Eton College. He rowed for Eton at Henley. 

Christopher left school after the summer term in 1915 in order serve obtain a commission in the Army. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Irish Fusiliers (Special Reserve), dated 22 September 1915. Christopher was attached to the Royal Flying Corps. He took his aviator’s certificate test in a Maurine Farman biplane at the Military Flying School, Shoreham, on 22 November 1915. He went to France in 1916 to serve with 13 Squadron. 

At 2.10 p.m. on 1 July 1916 Christopher took off from Savy aerodrome in his BE2c aircraft. He was on a bombing expedition over St. Quentin and was attacked by an enemy aircraft. Christopher was shot in the head and killed.    

Killed in action in BE2C, 2648 on the Western Front CREDIT:Malcolm Barrass