Bourne*, Richard Balfour

BOURNE,

RICHARD BALFOUR

BORN 5 OCTOBER 1897

Richard Balfour Bourne was

born on 5 October 1897 in Stechford Worcestershire. He was the son of Henry Hutton Bourne, a silversmith (b 1866 in Birmingham) and Clara Lucas Bourne (née Balfour, b 1869 in Red Hill, Surrey).

Henry (Harry) and Clara were married on 3 September 1889 in Kingsbury, Warwickshire.

Census records show a large family living in Yardley, Warwickshire in 1911. Henry and Clara had five children: three daughters: Cecile Balfour, (b 1892 in Stechford), Edith Mary, (b 1896 in Stechford) and Christine Mabel (b 1910 in Yardley) and a second son John Henry, (b 1904 in Yardley).

Richard was educated at King Edward’s High School, New Street, Birmingham from 1909 to 1912.

The school records of Bristol Grammar School show he entered form Lower III on 20 January 1913, aged 15.

His brother John Henry entered the Prep School, form Upper I at the same time. The family were living at 19 Cornwallis Crescent, Clifton, Bristol. Richard left on 28 March 1914, aged 16 whilst John left on 31 March 1915.

By 29 July 1916 he was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps and by 1 April 1918 he had risen to the rank of Captain. He was granted a permanent commission in the RAF on 1 August 1919. Richard lost his life at Baldonell Aerodrome, Dublin, due to an aero accident on 6 November 1919, aged 22. He is buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin. He left his mother and father at 82 Addison Way, Golders Green, Middlesex.

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