Show on mapThis remote cross is a memorial to Probationary Flight Officer Francis Holt Yates Titcomb of the Royal Naval Air Service.
Flying a Maurice Farman Longhorn, he took off from the RNAS training airfield at Redcar on his first solo flight on 15 April 1917. He crashed after encountered snow clouds over the moors and died aged 19.
He is buried in Brompton Cemetery in London
The cross was erected by Mr J K Foster JP of Egton Manor in 1929 and sculpted by Mr J.W. Hill of Whitby.
Based on the design of a wayside cross near Vittel in the Vosges designed by Sir E L Lutyens
Is this beside the Egton to Goathland road (Moss Brow) at NZ 80888 03247? I seem to recognise it. Swinsty (Reservoir) is southwest of Harrogate.
Yes, there should be a “Show on Map” button at the top of the post to give the exact location.
Is there any story why the cross was erected 12 years after the crash and what the relationship was of the person arranging the monument, or why the body was taken all the way down to London to be finally buried?
I’ve had a look around but I can’t find a reason for the delay.
His family seem to be linked to Bristol so the London burial is also a mystery.
The mystery will no doubt have been taken to the grave but thank you for at least investigating that and reporting back.
Listed , see https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1453942
The Historic England link above confims my location south of Egton Bridge… I came past there last Saturday, and thought I recognisd it.
Hi Chris
Do you have the grid reference of the cross ?
Regards
Al
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