Saint Cyprian Tayler

Captain Saint Cyprian Churchill Tayler MC (26 February 1896 – 17 March 1918) was an English World War I flying ace credited with nine aerial victories. He scored those victories while flying for two different squadrons, using three types of aircraft.[1]

Saint Cyprian Churchill Tayler
Born(1896-02-26)26 February 1896
Winchester, Hampshire, England
Died17 March 1918(1918-03-17) (aged 22)
South of Cambrai, France †
Commemorated at
Arras Flying Services Memorial
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1916–1918
RankCaptain
UnitRoyal Sussex Regiment
No. 32 Squadron RFC
No. 80 Squadron RFC
Battles/warsWorld War I
 • Western Front
AwardsMilitary Cross

Early life

Saint Cyprian Churchill Tayler was born in Winchester, England, on 26 February 1896 to John Frederic Jenner and Minnie Ruth Tayler. By the time of his death his widowed mother was living at "The Haven" on Boshoffs Road, Natal, South Africa.[2]

World War I

Tayler attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst as a cadet, before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment on 16 August 1916.[3] He was soon seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, and after completing his flying training he was appointed a flying officer on 6 February 1917.[4]

Posted to No. 32 Squadron, he scored his first aerial victory on 14 May 1917 while flying an Airco DH.2 single-seat fighter in Arthur Coningham's flight.[5] His squadron was re-equipped with the Airco DH.5, in which he scored twice more in early July, before he was appointed a flight commander on 13 July 1917, with the acting rank of captain.[6] He shared in three more victories before a report of his being wounded in action on 31 July[5] was published on 16 August 1917.[7]

Tayler's exploits earned him the Military Cross, awarded on 26 September 1917.[8] The award was gazetted on 9 January 1918, his citation reading:

Second Lieutenant St. Cyprian Churchill Tayler, Royal Sussex Regiment and Royal Flying Corps.
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading offensive patrols against enemy aircraft. On five occasions at least he and his patrol have attacked and brought down hostile machines. These successes were almost entirely due to his very skilful piloting."[9]

In late 1917 Tayler was posted to the newly formed No. 80 Squadron, to fly the Sopwith Camel single-seat fighter. He returned to combat in France with them in January 1918,[5] serving as commander of "C" Flight.[10] He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 February 1918.[11] Tayler gained his last three victories on 10 and 11 March.[5]

On 17 March 1918 he was shot down and killed in combat by Heinrich Kroll of Jasta 24.[12] Originally reported as missing, his death was not officially confirmed until 12 November 1919.[13] Having no known grave he is commemorated at the Arras Flying Services Memorial.[2]

List of aerial victories
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I
Combat record[1][5]
No. Date/Time Aircraft/
Serial No.		 Opponent Result Location Notes
No. 32 Squadron RFC
1 14 May 1917
@ 1030		 Airco DH.2
(A4800)		 Albatros D.III Destroyed Southeast of Baralle
2 11 July 1917
@ 0915		 Airco DH.5
(A9385)		 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control Hooge, Belgium
3 12 July 1917
@ 0955		 Airco DH.5
(A9185)		 Albatros D.III Driven down out of control Polygon Wood
4 27 July 1917
@ 1445		 Airco DH.5
(A9213)		 German reconnaissance aircraft Destroyed Gheluvelt Shared with Lieutenant William Pearson and Second Lieutenants E. Pownall & R. G. Ottey.
5 28 July 1917
@ 0530		 Airco DH.5
(A9213)		 Albatros reconnaissance aircraft Destroyed Pilkem Shared with Captain R. M. Williams, Lieutenant William Pearson, and Second Lieutenant T. E. Salt.
6 29 July 1917
@ 0800		 Airco DH.5
(A9213)		 AGO C.II Captured Langemarck Shared with Captain R. M. Williams (A9398), Lieutenant William Pearson, and Second Lieutenant C. Turner.
No. 80 Squadron RFC
7 10 March 1918 Sopwith Camel Albatros D.V Destroyed Bohain-en-Vermandois—Ribemont
8 Albatros D.V Driven down out of control
9 13 March 1918 Sopwith Camel Albatros D.V Destroyed

References
Notes
  1. "St. Cyprian Churchill Tayler". The Aerodrome. 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  2. "Casualty Details: Tayler, St Cyprian Churchill". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  3. "No. 29708". The London Gazette. 15 August 1916. p. 8029.
  4. "No. 29956". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 1917. pp. 1847–1848.
  5. Shores, Franks & Guest (1990), p. 358.
  6. "No. 30203". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 July 1917. p. 7594.
  7. "The Roll of Honour: Wounded". Flight. IX (451): 835. 16 August 1917. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  8. "No. 30308". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 9979.
  9. "No. 30466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1918. p. 647.
  10. "80 Squadron RFC/RAF Personnel". No. 80 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force 1917–18. 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  11. "No. 30692". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 May 1918. p. 5966.
  12. "Arras Flying Services Memorial". Delville Wood. 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  13. "The Roll of Honour". Flight. XI (569): 1516. 20 November 1919. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
Bibliography
  • Shores, Christopher F.; Franks, Norman & Guest, Russell F. (1990). Above the Trenches: a Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915–1920. London, UK: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.
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