John Aidan Liddell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Aidan Liddell
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Liddell, front, while serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the Western Front
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| Born | 3 August 1888 Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Died | 31 August 1915 (aged 27) De Panne, Belgium |
| Buried |
Basingstoke (South View or Old) Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1912–1915 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders No. 7 Squadron RFC |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches |
John Aidan Liddell (born August 3, 1888 – died August 31, 1915) was a brave British pilot. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for courage. This award is given to soldiers from Britain and Commonwealth countries. He also received the Military Cross.
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John Liddell's Early Life
John Liddell was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. This was on August 3, 1888. He went to school at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. Later, he studied at Balliol College, Oxford. There, he learned about animals in a subject called Zoology.
Military Career and Heroic Actions
In 1912, John Liddell joined the British Army. He became an officer in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's). In May 1914, he earned his pilot's license.
When the First World War started, Captain Liddell went to France. He spent 43 days in the trenches. He was in charge of a machine gun team. For his bravery, he received the Military Cross. After this, he trained to be a pilot. He then joined No. 7 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps.
A Daring Flight
On July 31, 1915, Liddell was flying a reconnaissance mission. He was checking areas over Ostend-Bruges-Ghent in Belgium. His plane was hit by machine gun fire. Liddell was badly wounded in his right leg. He briefly lost consciousness.
Despite his injury, he fought hard to control his plane. It had dropped almost 3,000 feet. Even though he was still being shot at, he finished his mission. He managed to fly the damaged plane back to the Allied lines. The controls of his plane were smashed. Part of the plane's landing gear and cockpit were also broken. But he saved the plane and the life of his observer. For this amazing act of courage, Liddell was awarded the Victoria Cross.
John Liddell's Legacy
A month after his heroic flight, John Liddell died from his wounds. This happened on August 31, 1915, in De Panne, Belgium. He was 27 years old. He is buried in the Holy Ghost Cemetery in Basingstoke. His sister, Dorothy Liddell, is buried there too. She worked at the hospital where he died.
Many memorials honor John Liddell. A brass plaque was placed in Edinburgh. It remembers his bravery and sacrifice. Another memorial is at Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied. His Victoria Cross medal is on display. You can see it at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum in London.
There is also a plaque in the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling. This church is near Stirling Castle, which is important to his regiment. On August 29, 2017, a new memorial was unveiled in Newcastle upon Tyne. It honors Liddell and other brave soldiers from the area.
