CAPPER, Edward Walter
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | No. 19 Squadron (RAF) |
| Born: | West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, 17 September 1889 |
| Home Town: | Maitland, Maitland Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Barker College and Hawkesbury Agricultural College, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Flying Battle, France, 14 April 1917, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Arras Flying Services Memorial, France |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Jul 1916: | Involvement British Forces (All Conflicts), Lieutenant, No. 19 Squadron (RAF), AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1917: | Involvement British Forces (All Conflicts), Lieutenant, No. 19 Squadron (RAF), AFC / RFC operations Western Front / Middle East | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Lieutenant, Unspecified British Units |
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Edward Walter Capper was born in West Maitland, New South Wales in 1889, the second youngest of Harry Hyne and Lydia Gregson Capper’s five children. Ted Capper was educated at West Maitland Superior Public School and Barker College, Hornsby before attending Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC) from 1907 to 1909.
He gained the Ambulance Class Certificate and Piggery certificate in 1907, finishing top of the class with honours before going on to graduate with a Diploma and Burdekin Medal (as one of its outstanding students) in 1909. Involved in many aspects of HAC life, he played competitively in the cricket and rugby teams (1st and 2nd XV), rifle club and athletics.
Leaving college, Ted Capper had a small property at Miriam Vale near Bundaberg, Queensland from 1909, before returning to the Maitland district and taking up grazing land at Dagwood around 1913.
Travelling to Britain, he had enlisted with the British Forces by April 1915, initially serving with the
Montgomeryshire Yeomanry and from 1916 with the 19th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
Capper wrote from France to HAC Principal, Mr. Potts in January 1917: "Many thanks for the parcel which I received about a week ago. It was very acceptable, especially the Lucy Hinton tobacco. I have been out with No. 19 squadron for five months. We have been
recently reequipped with the latest type of fast scout which is a great relief after the old machines we had. I have been flying single-seater machines all the time out here and have had a good many scraps"
Lieutenant E.W. Capper was reported missing on 14 April 1917, with articles published in the Maitland and
Sydney newspapers.
Lieutenant Morgan of the Royal Flying Corps advised the family, "There is no hope of Lieutenant Capper being a prisoner of war. He was seen to be brought down east of the lines (that is, over German territory) from about 2600 feet, and fell in such a mannuer that be could not have reached the ground allve. Lieutenant Capper attacked foor hostile machines single-handed and dispersed them, and was apparently attacked by a fifth which he had not seen. Lieutenant Capper is a very. great loss to the squadron. Besides being a very good pilot and capable officer (he had been, recommended for another promotion), he was an awfully good fellow, and we all feel his loss very much."
Lieutenant Edward Walter Capper is recorded as having died on 14 April 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
References:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127119770
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134872414
https://westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1408807/CAPPER,_Edward_Walter2.PDF
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