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St Lawrence Churchyard, Swindon Village, near Cheltenham |
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St Lawrence Churchyard, Church Lane |
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| 1 officer of the Gloucestershire Regiment is buried in this cemetery | |
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Captain Douglas
Ridley Clunes GABELL is buried on the South boundary of the church. After attending Sandhurst in early 1916 he was commissioned as a Regular Officer into the Gloucestershire Regiment in July 1916 and, on 1st September 1916, was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps. He saw considerable service on the Western Front being twice brought down. On the last occasion, in the Spring of 1917, he was wounded and required hospitalisation in the UK His services as an instructor were required and he was posted to 13th Training Squadron Royal Flying Corps, later, Royal Air Force, as a Wing Examiner. The unit was based near Yatesbury, Wilts. On 12th July1918 whilst test-flying an RE8 aircraft, serial number C2236, with fellow Cheltonian Lt F G Delmar-Williamson, the aircraft collapsed in mid-air over Chippenham and crashed to the ground, killing both airmen. Captain Gabell was buried on the 16th July 1918 and Lt Delmar-Williamson on 17th July 1918 at St Peter's Church, Leckhampton. A biography can be viewed her. |