Name
John Augustus Harman
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/11/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Flying Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GAINSBOROUGH GENERAL CEMETERY
C. N.C. 112.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Private Memorial
UK & Other Memorials
Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window, Northchurch, Rosslyn Park RFC Roll of Honour 1914-19, Gainsborough First World War Roll of Honour
Pre War
John Augustus Harman was born in 1893 in Kensington, London. the eldest son of a London barrister, John Eustice Harman and Ethel Frances (nee Birch). He was baptised at St Mary's, Northchurch on 30 Jul 1893.
He was educated at Uppingham School, where like many patriotic school boys he joined the Officer Training Corps. John later studied law at the Inns of Court and, having excelled at rugby at school, he joined the Rosslyn Park Rugby Club in London.
He was working on a tea plantation in Ceylon when war broke out and soon returned to England to enlist in the army.
Wartime Service
John was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant , Army Servic Corps on 12 Aug 1915.
He served in the Gallipoli campaign and then volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps in 1917.
John Harman was assigned to Number 33 (Home Defence) Squadron, which had its headquarters and workshops in Gainsborough and aerodromes at Elsham Wolds, Kirton-in-Lindsey and Brattleby (later re-named Scampton). On the evening of 17th November 1917 Harman took off on a night patrol in a FE2b, but at around 6.30pm his aircraft crashed near Hibaldstow and he sustained fatal injuries. An investigation into the accident was held nine days later and it was found that, as both the engine and airframe were in "satisfactory condition", the crash was probably caused by pilot error. John Harman was buried in Gainsborough Cemetery with full military honours, a contingent from the North Staffordshire Regiment firing the customary three volleys over his grave. The funeral expenses were added to John Harman's mess bill and his bereaved father was requested to ensure that "all outstanding debts incurred by the deceased would be paid in full”.
Additional Information
His memorial in Gainsborough was restored by Friends of the General Cemetery. Brother Charles served in Middx. Regiment and was a POW.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/ first-world-war-database, www.lincstothepast.com
