Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall
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Gilbert Stuart Martin Insall VC MC (May 14, 1894-February 17, 1972) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Insall was 21 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the 11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 7 November 1915 near Achiet, France, Second Lieutenant Insall, on patrol in a Vickers F.B.5 Gunbus, engaged an enemy machine, forcing the other pilot to make a rough landing in a plowed field. Seeing the Germans scramble out preparing to fire, Insall dove to 500 ft and his gunner opened fire, whereupon the Germans fled. After dropping an incendiary bomb on the downed German aircraft, Insall flew through heavy fire at 2000 ft over enemy trenches. The Vickers' petrol tank was hit, but Insall brought the plane 500 ft back inside Allied lines for an emergency landing. After he and the gunner repaired the machine overnight, Insall flew them back to base at dawn.
Insall later achieved the rank of Group Captain.
After the War, Insall remained in the RAF and on a clear day in 1925 spotted a strange formation of pits in the ground below him. He took a photograph, and from this one photograph comes the rediscovery of the Bronze Age site now known as Woodhenge two miles from Stonehenge (Crawford, Air-Photography for Archaeologists 1929). In 1929 he similarly discovered Arminghall Henge.
Insall's headstone is in Nocton Churchyard, Lincolnshire. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Air VCs (P G Cooksley, 1999)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (South Yorkshire)
- G.S.M. Insall
- Find-A-Grave
