Lieutenant Thomas Scholes Creswell

Thomas was born in Wimbledon on 1 February 1887 and baptised on 3 April 1887. His father, Frank Stenhouse Creswell was a merchant, his mother’s name was Emily and they lived at Crumpsall, 17 Darlaston Road, Wimbledon. Thomas was the second son. He had an older brother Frank and young brothers George and John.

Their mother died in 1893 and six years later their father remarried. His new wife, Ethel Jerram gave birth to Thomas’s half siblings Margaret, Richard, Doris and Kathleen.

Thomas joined the Royal Marines Light Infantry and his presence is recorded in the Marine lists of 1906. At the time of the 1911 census he was stationed at the Royal Marine Barracks, Forton, Alverstoke, Gosport. By 1914 he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps having been trained on short biplanes at the Naval School, Eastchurch in 1913.

He died on 4 June 1914 after his plane crashed into the sea and he drowned. He was buried on 8 June 1914 in the Clayhall Naval Cemetery, Gosport. A full report of the accident appeared in the Oxford Weekly News on 10 June 1914.
"Seaplane Disaster
The first disaster to a British Seaplane that has yet occurred took place on Thursday in Southampton Water, when Lieutenant Creswell, a Marine Officer attached to the Royal Flying Corps, and Commander Arthur Rice were drowned in the Seaplane 128 which dropped into the sea during a flight. When the seaplane was recovered, Lieutenant Creswell was found strapped in his seat and terribly injured. The body of Commander Rice has not been found. Lieutenant Creswell who belonged to the Royal Flying Corps, stationed at Calshott, left the air station with Commander Rice as a passenger in the Seaplane 128 shortly before four o'clock in a light north westerly breeze, in glorious sunshine and a placid sea. They were accompanied by three other sea planes and were about to carry out some manoeuvres
The remains of the seaplane in which Commander Rice and Lieutenant Creswell were killed are a twisted heap of wreckage on the beach at Calshott. The planes are smashed to pieces and the floats broken. No trace of the engine or propeller has been found. Torpedo boats are still cruising in the vicinity of the accident. A farm labourer named Wheeler, who witnessed the accident, said he heard a noise like an explosion as the machine fell. It at once disappeared from view. Other eye witnesses say the machine descended nose downwards.
The Secretary of the Admiralty says the King has directed his sympathy to be conveyed to the relatives of Commander Rice and Lieutenant Creswell."

There is a brass plaque in St John’s Church, Wimbledon, erected by his father which says he “was a gallant officer and fearless aviator. A brave comrade, a true friend. He loved his country. His modest and unassuming personality gained the love and respect of all who knew him.”