| Name |
HALSTEAD, George William |
| Birth |
3 Sep 1890 |
Midhurst, Sussex, England  [1, 2] |
- father George HALSTEAD, a Journeyman Plumber - mother Kate Elizabeth HALSTEAD formerly HUNT - registered on 18 October 1890 by K E HALSTEAD, mother
|
| Gender |
Male |
| Ω Census Son |
5 Apr 1891 |
Station Road, Midhurst, Sussex, England |
| Ω Census Son |
5 Apr 1891 |
Station Road, Midhurst, Sussex, England [3] |
- a Plumber, living with his wife Kate E, son George W, cousin Harriet HUNT
Witness Role: Principal: George HALSTEAD
|
| Ω Census Son |
31 Mar 1901 |
Headley Road, Grayshott, Hampshire, England |
| Ω Census Son |
31 Mar 1901 |
Headley Road, Grayshott, Hampshire, England [4] |
- a Plumber & Hydraulics Engineer, living with his wife Kate E, son George W, Bertie and Ernest A, mothin-in-law Hannah HUNT
Witness Role: Principal: George HALSTEAD
|
| Ω Census Son |
2 Apr 1911 |
Headley Road, Grayshott, Hampshire, England |
| Ω Census Son |
2 Apr 1911 |
Headley Road, Grayshott, Hampshire, England [5] |
- a Hydraulic Engineer and Plumber, livnig with his wife Kate Elizabeth and sons George William, Bertie and Ernest Arthur (married 23 years - 4 children - 4 living)
Witness Role: Principal: George HALSTEAD
|
| Newspaper Article |
21 Dec 1916 |
Sussex, England |
| West Sussex Gazette |
| Newspaper Article |
21 Dec 1916 |
Sussex, England [6] |
| West Sussex Gazette |
- AIRMAN'S FINE ACHIEVEMENT
The village of Grayshott, near Haslemere, has received with pride the news of a brilliant exploit by Flight Sergt. George Halstead, of The Royal Flying Corps, who is well-known in the parish, where he was brought up from his earliest years. Flight Sergt. Halstead, the son of a local plumber, is a motor engineer by trade, and joined the Royal Flying Corps. on its formation. He flew over to France on the first day of war, but did not begin regular observation work until September last. The news of his fine achievement is contained in the following letter received from Capt. A. A. Walger, R.F.C.: "I am sorry to have to write and tell you that your son, Flight Sergt. Halstead, was yesterday wounded in an aerial combat. According to our information this is what actually occurred. Flight Sergt. Halstead's pilot, Lieut. H. Crompton, was observing for one of our batteries over the German lines when they were suddenly attacked by a fast hostile scout. Flight Sergt. Halstead knelt back in his seat and fired at the enemy, but was shot through the chest and lost consciousness. When he came round he saw his pilot apparently dead in his seat, and so in spite of his severe wound, and in spite of the fact that he could not fly, he managed to get hold of the controls and land the machine in out own lines. This was an extraordinarily fine effort, and could only have been carried out by a brave man." Capt. Walgar adds: "Your son has been my flight sergeant for some time, and at his request I trained him as my observer. He was my right hand man in the flight, and always carried out his work in an exemplary manner. He need not have gone up in the air at all, but he volunteered simply out of keenness and I used to take him up myself generally. We have been on many flights together, and I have always found him a good, reliable observer, and very good in a scrap. Some time ago when I was asked to send in names for decorations, I recommended Flight Sergt. Halstead for good all-round work, and his name will certainly go forward for his very fine achievement yesterday. I shall be very sorry to lose him. and he will be a great loss to the squadron." Flight Sergt. Halstead is well-known in Haslemere and Grayshott, as an all-round sportsman. At Grayshott he was prominently associated with the Men's Club, where he became known as a skilful billiard player, and he frequently played for the cricket club, and did good work as a bowler. The latest news of him is that he is going on spendidly, and was expected at the end of last week to be removed to the Base Hospital. The Chaplain, in writing to the parents, said that he had a marvellous escape from death, as the wound as within an ace of a vital part. Mr. and Mrs. Halstead, who formerly resided at Fernhurst Villa, Grayshott, and have lately moved to Beacon Hill, Hindhead, have two other sons serving in the army. Pte. Albert Halstead is in the Royal Engineers, and Pte. Ernest Halstead is serving with the 6th Hants (Territorials) in Mesopotamia.
|
| Death |
31 Jan 1919 |
the Aerodrome, Munworth, Warwickshire, England [7, 8, 9] |
- Sex - Male / Aged - 27 Years / Occupation - Airman Lieut in Royal Air Force / Cause of death - general mutilation and burning of the body caused by his flying machine striking the earth accidental / Informant - certificate received from Charles Webb ILIFFE coroner for North Warwickshire, Coventry - Inquest held 4 February 1919 / Registered - 4 February 1919
|
| Burial |
6 Feb 1919 |
St Luke, Grayshott, Hampshire, England [9] |
| Newspaper Article |
8 Feb 1919 |
Coventry, Warwickshire, England |
| Coventry Herald |
| Newspaper Article |
8 Feb 1919 |
Coventry, Warwickshire, England [10] |
| Coventry Herald |
- A TEST PILOT KILLED.
THE INQUEST
An lnquest was held at Curdworth. on Tuesday, by Dr. C. W. Bide, Coroner for North Warwickshire, relative to the death of Lieut. George William Halstead (25), of the R.A.F., whose home is at Beacon Hill, Hindhead, Surrey. Lieut. Halstead came to the ground with a spinning nose-dive at Castle Bromwich aerodrome on Friday with fatal consequences.
Major Hunter, Commanding Officer, said Lieut. Halstead was a test pilot and had his " wings." At the time of the accident he was lying in a machine to which he was accustomed.
Captain Lamplugh, also a test pilot, stated that at about 12.15 on Friday last he had been flying, and landed at the aerodrome. Lieut. Halstead got on to the same machine, which was in perfect order at the time. Lieut. Halstead looped the loop at a lower altitude than witness had ever seen it done before, namely, about 300 feet from the ground. He gained about 50 feet on the loop. Then he came over the middle of the aerodrome and put the machine into a spin, coming straight to the ground without apparently making any effort to recover. The machine burst into flames, the violent compact with the ground breaking the petrol tank.
The Coroner: The engine was right, the machine was right, but at 200 to 300 feet from the ground ought he to have looped the loop? —No.
The Coroner: Do you think he lost his head? —No
The Coroner: Do you think he misjudged the distance?—No.
Witness added that Lieut. Halstead had two body wounds, received in an encounter with a German airman, but be must have recovered from these or the Medical Board would not have passed him as fit for flying again. He could not produce the lieutenants medical record.
The Coroner|: It might have been that a piece of shrapnel within the body moved and caused syncope. If there was any internal trouble I should not like to return a verdict that the accident was due to indiscretion.
Sergt: Pilot Wright said Lieut. Halstead did not appear to be more than 500 feet high, when he started a spinning dive. Witness was of opinion the aviator spun to get out of the mist, and not realising he was so low struck the ground before be could recover.
Captain Wilson, R.A.M.C.. said there were compound fractures of the left thigh, both knees, and the left ankle, and this body was burned all user. Death must have been instantaneous.
A verdict of " Accidental death " was returned.
|
| Person ID |
I6433 |
HalstedMaster |
| Last Modified |
13 Nov 2025 |
1890 - 1919 (28 years)