Damer Leslie Allen

Damer Leslie Allen (30 January 1878 – disappeared 18 April 1912) was an Irish-born British aviator.[5] He disappeared in April 1912 while attempting to fly from Holyhead, Wales, to Ireland in a Blériot monoplane, and was presumed dead shortly after.[6]

Damer Leslie Allen
Damer Leslie Allen in his aircraft
Portrait in Flight magazine, 27 April 1912[1]
Born30 January 1878[2]
Limerick, Ireland
Died18 April 1912(1912-04-18) (aged 34)
Irish Sea
Cause of deathAir accident
NationalityBritish[2]
Known forDisappeared on 18 April 1912 while attempting to fly from Wales to Ireland[1][3]
Aviation career
Flight license20 February 1912[4]
London

Allen had initially set off from Hendon Aerodrome together with his friend and fellow pilot Denys Corbett Wilson who successfully completed his flight to Ireland, the first complete flight between Great Britain and Ireland, on 22 April.[1] Although it was reported that their flights were the result of a wager between the two men,[7] this was subsequently denied.[1]

The following week, on 26 April, Vivian Hewitt successfully completed a flight between Holyhead and Dublin, landing in the Phoenix Park. Interviewed by the press, he expressed the view that Allen had been insufficiently experienced as an aviator for a flight of such difficulty.[8]

Disappearance and aftermath

On 24 June 1912, the High Court in London made an order that Allen should be presumed to have died on or after 18 April 1912.[9] A consulting engineer by profession,[5] Allen left an estate valued at £6,923 15s 8d.[10] At the time of his death, Allen was being sued in the English courts for the recovery of a portrait of Lady Anne Ponsonby by Thomas Gainsborough,[11] which he had sold at Christie's for 8,300 guineas (£8,715). On 11 February 1913, after a seven-day trial, the jury returned a verdict for the defendants, including the executors of Allen's will.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Flying the Irish Channel". Flight Magazine. London: Reed Business Information. IV (17): 379. 27 April 1912. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  2. Great Britain, Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificates, 1910-1950
  3. "Irish Aviator's Feat: St. George's Channel Crossed". Irish Times. Dublin. 27 April 1912. p. 23.
  4. Flight 23 Feb. 1912
  5. A Correspondent (1 May 1912). "Obituary: Damer Leslie Allen". Irish Times. Dublin. p. 9.
  6. "Aviator's Death Presumed". The Times. 25 June 1912. p. 3.
  7. "Missing Aviator: Not Heard of for Five Days" (JPG). Slough Chronicle. Slough (17): 10. 26 April 1912. Retrieved 18 June 2011.
  8. "Aviation: Flight from Holyhead to Dublin – Mr Hewitt descends in the Phoenix Park". Irish Times. Dublin. 27 April 1912. p. 7.
  9. "Missing Aviator's Death Presumed: Allen's Attempt to Cross Irish Sea". Irish Times. Dublin. 25 June 1912. p. 8.
  10. "Aviator's Estate and Bequests". Irish Times. Dublin. 19 October 1912. p. 5.
  11. "Action to Recover a Gainsborough: Missing Irish Family Portrait: Interesting Case from County Carlow – Air Tragedy Recalled". Irish Times. Dublin. 4 February 1913. p. 5.
  12. "Gainsborough Picture Case – Mr Burton's Claim Fails – Verdict for Defendants". Irish Times. Dublin. 15 February 1913. p. 11.
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