Lionel Sydney, Capt. 17th
Lancers and Flight Comm. R. Flying Corps ; A. 1885;
m. 1914 Gillian Mary [who m. 2ndly 1919 Major
Charles Edgar Bryant, D.S.O. (with Bar), Capt.
7th Hussars and Major R.A.F.], dau. of Major Charles
Spencer Warwick, Devonshire Kegt., and d. (killed in
action) 1917, leaving a dau.. Cicely Noel.
Killed in Action
From CWGC:
Name: PLATT, LIONEL SYDNEY
Initials: L S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps
Unit Text: 57th Sqdn.
Secondary Regiment: 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own)
Secondary Unit Text: formerly
Age: 31
Date of Death: 13/04/1917
Additional information: Son of Sydney and Bertha Platt, of Villa Beatrix, Pau, Basses Pyrenees, France; husband of Gillian Mary Platt (nee Spencer Warwick).
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: V. F. 4.
Cemetery: BROWN'S COPSE CEMETERY, ROEUX
Letter from the Air Ministry in 1922 (in Service Record at National Archives Kew):
Captain L. S. Platt (Pilot) with 2nd Lieutenant T Margeison (observer) left the aerodrome at Fienvillers at 7am on the 13th April 1917 on offensive patrol in locality of Vincy-Beaumont-Palluel,
flying a F.E.2d machine No A 5150, engine no 4/250/89 and carrying Lewis Guns. They failed to return and were reported missing, but were subsequently reported by the Germans as killed.
I am to state that the patrol comprised six machines of number 57 squadron, two of the machines returned with engine trouble without seeing any enemy aircraft: one made a forced landing west of Arras, another lost the formation and encountered eight enemy machines which refused contact. The remaining two did not return. No general engagement of the patrol, therefore would appear to have taken place.
Letter from the International Red Cross, Geneva, September 11th 1917
Sir,
in reply to your enquiry of the 7th inst. respecting Capt. L. S. Platt and Lieut. Margerison attd. R.F.C., we regret to say that the following reports appear on lists dated 20.8.17 from Berlin.
"Platt L.S. Capt R.F.C. died 13.4.17."
"Margerison Liet. R.F.C. died 13.4.17."
In addition to the above report respecting Capt. Platt we may state that a letter from Berlin informed us that this officer died on the date mentioned at 9.30 near Vitry in Artois.
We have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servants,
(Signed) Edouard Navilly
His Excellency,
Sir Horace Rumbold,
British Legation
Letter from Edith Grand d'Hauteville (friend of L S Platt)
Vertmont,
33 Burenrichweg,
Berne
September 6th 1917
Dear Sir,
In reply to you letter of Sept 3rd re my letter of June 29th to Mr. Platt on the subject of Capt. l. platt and Lt. Margerison reported missing, I beg to say I have no further information to give you than that enclosed to mR. Platt as received by me in a letter of June the 27th from the Agence Internationale des Prisoners de Guerre, Croix rouge de Geneve.
This information was as follows.
"Une communication de Berlin nous apporte
le renseignement suivant.
"Capt. L. S. Platt of lancers ainsi que Lt. Margerison 1st Huntingdonshire Cyclists ont ete abattus mourant dans un combat aerien an Nord Est de Vitry en Artois le 13 Avril 17. a 9 h du matin.
Nour regrettons que nos enquete ont abouti a un resultat si triste."
The reference No. of my correspondence with the Red Cross was E 48061.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed.) Edith Grand d'Hauteville
Service Record:
8/9/16 Relinquished apt Adj of Denbighshire Yeomanry - 28/7/16
29/11/16 RFC - Flying officer - 2/11/16
20/3/17 RFC - Flt Cmdr - 6/3/16
Reported Missing 13/4/17
Wife Gillian Mary Spencer Platt was living at 19 Clivenden Place, London
In June-July 1905 army enrolment form was stated following:
Eton College - 1899-1904
Magdalen College, Oxford - 1904-1905
Address was Wargrave Hill, Wargrave
Address at time of WW1 was St Bruno, Sunningdale.
Furthe information:
http://www.stanwardine.com/genepic/platt_lionel_sydney_rfc.pdf War Service record Reference: WO 339/6363 National Archives, Kew.
Photo at IWM:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205387205 
