"Everyone deserves to have their story told,” says Mike Christopher. What an incredible tale he has found. Mike’s wife Pauline didn’t know that she had a great uncle James until Mike began exploring the family tree. Not only was James a brave gunner in the early days of the air force – he also had an astonishing link to the Red Baron.
“I began researching our family history in 2009. Pauline’s family comes from Pontypool in Monmouthshire, Wales, and her maternal grandmother was called Annie Wynn. We found out by word of mouth that there was someone named Wynn on the War Memorial Gates in Pontypool. This was JH Wynn, listed under the Royal Flying Corps as a 2nd AM, or air mechanic.”
Mike began his quest at Gwent Archives, where he discovered an article published in the Pontypool Free Press in May 1917. “There was a faint reproduction of a photograph showing a young man in uniform and a notice from Mr and Mrs Henry Wynn, who were Pauline’s great grandparents. The young man was their eldest son James Henry Wynn, who died in France at the age of 23.”
Mike says, “I was astonished to read this. The notice also revealed that James had volunteered to fight in 1914, joining the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment. We were determined to find out more about this tragic young man.”
James was born in 1893 in Pontypool and in the 1911 census records was listed as a hewer – a miner who cuts coal from a seam. His Army record, like millions more, was destroyed in the War Office fire in 1940. However, a book called A History of the 2nd Battalion the Monmouthshire Regiment, written by Captain GA Brett and first published in 1933, includes chilling accounts of the regiment’s First World War service.
“James and his comrades fought in many horrific campaigns, including Ypres, St Julien and the Somme,” says Mike. “They lived in appalling conditions. The winter of 1916/17 was intensely cold, with temperatures falling to –20ºC. Even their eyelids froze.”
To escape the trenches, many volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps or the Royal Navy. “The risks were just as extreme in the RFC. James became an observer/gunner on an outdated FE2b biplane. This involved standing at the front of the aircraft, exposed to fire from the knees up so that he could operate the guns.”
On 30 April 1917, James set out with pilot Tom Whiteman, a fellow Welsh miner. They were flying as an escort for a reconnaissance mission 12 miles behind German lines when they encountered the Flying Circus, Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron’s squadron. German ace Hans Klein peeled away to target the FE2b.
James used both of his Lewis guns, but was hit in the hand and one gun jammed. Even after he had been shot, he continued to fire at Klein’s plane.
Tom was hit by his left ear, and the bullet lodged under his right eye. Despite being blinded, he managed to fly towards British lines and land the irreparably damaged plane. Sadly, James had taken a hit to the skull and died at Grévillers in Pas de Calais.
In a letter that was quoted in the Pontypool Free Press, James’ commanding officer said that he was a “very good gunner observer and had done fine work”. The CO then added, touchingly, “He is missed very much by all in his squadron as he was such a game, cheerful little fellow.”
“On 30 April 2017, Pauline and I drove to Grévillers British Cemetery to visit James’ grave exactly 100 years after his death,” Mike remembers. “It was a very moving experience for us both. We’re deeply proud of James, our flying miner, whose actions that day went beyond bravery.”