Captain Rupert Norman Gould Atkinson MC DFC* (17 July 1896 – 7 March 1919) was a British World War I flying ace credited with five aerial victories.[1]
Rupert Atkinson was born in Shanghai, China,[1] the elder son of John Brenan Atkinson and Amelie Sophie Gould.[2] He was educated at Orley Farm School, Harrow, and at Marlborough College, Wiltshire. He was enrolled at Pembroke College, Cambridge in June 1914,[1] and joined the 16th (Public Schools) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in September.[3]
On 2 December 1914 he received his commission as a temporary Second Lieutenant[4] in the 15th Middlesex Regiment.[3] On 28 July 1915, he was sent to Cameroon,[3] where he was attached to the West African Frontier Force in the Kamerun campaign. Atkinson was eventually invalided back to England, arriving at Liverpool aboard the SS Mendi on 2 April 1916.[1]
In August 1916 Atkinson joined the Royal Flying Corps,[3] receiving Royal Aero Club Aviator's Certificate No.3646 at the military flying school at Brooklands on 28 September.[1]
He arrived at the Western Front in November 1916,[3] joining 10 Squadron RFC.[1] He was promoted to captain in July 1917, becoming a flight commander shortly afterwards.[3]
Atkinson was engaged in reconnaissance, night-bombing, and ground attacks,[3] and was awarded the Military Cross on 18 October 1917.[5] His citation reads:
Between May and October 1918 while flying an Airco DH.9 and serving with 98 Squadron RAF, and later with 206 Squadron RAF, Atkinson scored five aerial victories.[1]
On 2 November 1918 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross:
After the end of hostilities he served with the occupation forces in Cologne, Germany,[1] in 90 Squadron RAF.[8]
On 7 March 1919,[3] while at home on leave, Atkinson died from pneumonia following influenza.[1] He is buried in the cemetery of the Church of St Peter, Great Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.[8][9]
He was awarded a bar to his DFC on 30 May 1919,[10] and the Croix de guerre from Belgium on 11 July 1919,[11] both posthumously.