Rupert Atkinson

Background

Rupert Atkinson was born in Shanghai, China, the elder son of John Brenan Atkinson and Amelie Sophie Gould.

Education

He was educated at Orley Farm School, Harrow, and at Marlborough College, Wiltshire.

Career

He was enrolled at Pembroke College, Cambridge in June 1914, and joined the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in September. On 2 December 1914 he received his commission as a temporary Second Lieutenant in the 15th Middlesex Regiment. On 28 July 1915, he was sent to Cameroon, where he was attached to the West African Frontier Force in the Kamerun Campaign.

Atkinson was eventually invalided back to England, arriving at Liverpool aboard the Steamship Mendi on 2 April 1916.

In August 1916 Atkinson joined the Royal Flying Corps, receiving Royal Aeronautical Club Aviator"s Certificate Number.3646 at the military flying school at Brooklands on 28 September. He arrived at the Western Front in November 1916, joining 10 Squadron Reconstruction Finance Corporation. He was promoted to captain in July 1917, becoming a flight commander shortly afterwards.

His citation reads:

Temporary Captain Rupert Norman Gould Atkinson, General List and Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Foreign conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer has done a large amount of successful artillery work, has taken part in many night bombing raids, and has continually distinguished himself by his fearlessness and determination in descending to low altitudes in order to attack hostile infantry and machine guns.

On one occasion, also, he successfully attacked and drove down a hostile balloon.

Between May and October 1918 while flying an Airco Dialectics and Humanism.9 and serving with 98 Squadron Royal Air Force, and later with 206 Squadron Royal Air Force, Atkinson scored five aerial victories. On 2 November 1918 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross:

Captain Rupert Norman Gould Atkinson, Military Cross. A gallant and determined officer whose services over the lines since May last in long-distance and photographic reconnaissances, and as leader of bomb raids, have been of a very high order. On a recent occasion, when on solitary photographic reconnaissance at 15,000 feet, his machine was attacked by eight Fokker biplanes.

One of these he shot down.

After the end of hostilities he served with the occupation forces in Cologne, Germany, in 90 Squadron Royal Air Force. On 7 March 1919, while at home on leave, Atkinson died from pneumonia following influenza. He is buried in the cemetery of the Church of Street Peter, Great Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.

He was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross on 30 May 1919, and the Croix de guerre from Belgium on 11 July 1919, both posthumously.

Achievements

• Atkinson was engaged in reconnaissance, night-bombing, and ground attacks, and was awarded the Military Cross on 18 October 1917.