Background
The second son of Sir Horatio Shephard, a judge, and Lady Shephard, of 58 Montagu Square, London, Shephard attended Eton from 1898 to 1903, then the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
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Gordon Shephard
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Eton College; Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
Career
He was the highest-ranking officer of the flying services to be killed in action in the First World War. He belonged to the Royal Cruising Club, where his skills as a yachtsman would prove useful later in life. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant to a Regular Army battalion of the Royal Fusiliers on 28 January 1905.
He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (Reconstruction Finance Corporation) in 1912, the year of its formation.
His covert operations came to an abrupt halt when he and a companion were briefly detained by the German authorities at Emden, after they were seen taking photographs in a sensitive area. On 22 August 1914, Shephard landed near Maubeuge for petrol, where he was given first-hand accounts of the fighting from French cavalry falling back from the Sambre canal.
On 24 August 1914, he and Lieutenant I. M. Bonham-Carter reported to the Staff that General von Kluck"s right wing would swamp the British Army unless the retreat was continued. On 4 November 1914, Shephard narrowly escaped after the longeron of his BE2b, "487", was shot through.
At the start of 1915 Shephard took up command of the newly formed Number.
10 Squadron which was then assigned to a training role at Farnborough. In 1917 Shephard was promoted to command I Brigade, Royal Flying Corps and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, which gave him greater opportunity to further the careers of able pilots. On 19 January 1918, aged 32, Shephard decided to visit the aerodrome at Auchel, where three of his squadrons were stationed.
His Nieuport Scout "B3610" spun into the ground.
He was lifted from the wreckage but died several hours later in hospital. He was the highest-ranking officer of the flying services to be killed in a theatre of war in the First World War.
Mentioned in despatches at least six times during the Great War, most notably on 13 November 1916. The Gordon Shephard Memorial Essay Prize was established as a memorial to Shephard.
Shepard"s father, Sir Horatio, left a sum of money in trust to award annual prizes for essays on reconnaissance and related subjects submitted by Royal Air Force officers and airmen.
The Memoirs of Gordon Shephard (edited by Shane Leslie). Privately published (1924).
Achievements
Connections
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Born
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Died
January 19, 1918 (aged 32) -
Nationality
British