Lt. James Arthur Menzies. Canadian Infantry and Royal Flying Corps.
Lt. Menzies is another Canadian who is remembered in the General Cemetery.
He was from Ottawa, born on 20th May 1896, and gained his pilot’s certificate at the Military School at Thetford on 20th December 1916.
Lt Menzies is buried next to Lt. Brophy, another Canadian. They both attended the Ottawa Collegiate Institute.
A Zeppelin raid started on 24th September around midnight, and Lt. Menzies (observer) and 2nd Lt. Pinnock (pilot) left Elsham. On their return, the plane hit a tree as it was landing.
2nd Lt. Pinnock was injured and survived; however, Lt. Menzies was killed. He was 21 years old.
His death certificate says his death was due to: “Shock due to fracture of the skull occasioned by an aeroplane, in which was observer, coming into contact with a tree in a wood and falling to the ground the fracture being accidentally caused by an ammunition drum striking or falling on the back of his head. Accidental death.”
Sadly, just two months later, 2nd Lt. Pinnock was killed while flying.
Lt. Menzies’ headstone has the inscription:
“If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”
There is more information about Lt. Menzies in Peter Bradshaw’s book, including letters and photographs, “Gainsborough’s War Story – Book 4 – 1917”
