First Boy Scout to fly remembered

THE story of a the first Scout to fly will be told at the next Southwick Heritage Talk.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jan 2016, 12:15 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 06:57 BST

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1st Shoreham Scout Group in 1911, when Digby Cleaver made his first flight1st Shoreham Scout Group in 1911, when Digby Cleaver made his first flight
1st Shoreham Scout Group in 1911, when Digby Cleaver made his first flight

Digby Cleaver was one of the first members of 1st Shoreham Scout Troop and he had links going back to the earliest days of flying.

He died at the age of 17 in a flying incident shortly after Christmas, 1915. He was a 2nd Lieutenant and Royal Flying Corps pilot in No. 1 Squadron and died near Hazebrouck in northern France, where he is buried in the town’s cemetery.

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Southwick Society secretary Nigel Divers will give the illustrated talk at Southwick Community Centre on Monday at 7.30pm.

Digby Cleaver in 1915Digby Cleaver in 1915
Digby Cleaver in 1915

He said: “Digby lived with his family in a bungalow on Shoreham Beach. His father was a successful joinery manufacturer and inventor and had links with the pioneer fliers, particularly Oscar Morison, at Shoreham’s new airfield.

“It was Morison who gave Digby his first flight in 1911. An adventurous boy, Digby had also joined the recently-formed 1st Shoreham Scout Troop, one of the first ever in the country. On that day in 1911, he became the first Scout to fly.”

The talks programme is part of the outreach of the Manor Cottage Heritage Centre, operated by the Southwick Society.

Admission is £4, or £2 for society members.

A Morane parasol, the type of aircraft Digby Cleaver flew in the Great WarA Morane parasol, the type of aircraft Digby Cleaver flew in the Great War
A Morane parasol, the type of aircraft Digby Cleaver flew in the Great War
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Related topics:FranceSquadronShoreham Beach