a distinguished career

A FORMER Royal Air Force group captain who was believed present at the signing of the German capitulation, and who retired to Threlkeld, has died.

Regarded as a “perfect gentleman” by many of his family and friends, Group Captain Joscelyn Forgan Houssemayne du Boulay (“Joc”), of The Paddocks, has died aged 93 after a distinguished career in the RAF.

Born in Maymyo, Burma, on 1st January, 1913, Mr. du Boulay was the son of Major Thomas William Houssemayne du Boulay who was serving in the Border Regiment. His mother Lillian was the daughter of Canon Askew, of Greystoke.

He grew up alongside two elder brothers, Noel and Patrick, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Dorothy. Leaving Burma aged one, Mr. du Boulay also lived in Folkestone and France, as the family moved with the Border Regiment.

However, in 1922, Thomas du Boulay died and the family returned to Greystoke to live with Lillian’s mother at Bushby House, now Howard House. On her mother’s death, Lillian became matron of the then Eden Hall School.

Mr. du Boulay was educated at the prestigious Wellington College alongside his brother Patrick who later joined the Guards after Sandhurst. Mr. du Boulay’s move into the Royal Air Force was in the late 1920s, when he went to Cranwell as a cadet. An exceptional student, when he graduated in 1932 his flying log stated he had been passed to fly solo in the shortest possible time.

As a flight lieutenant Mr. du Boulay had his first posting to Afghanistan but crashed his aircraft while flying patrols through the Khyber Pass and was invalided back to England the following year.

During World War II he flew Wellington bombers and was awarded the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) by King George VI at Buckingham Palace. He was also later awarded a CBE for his service in Bomber Command.

In 1941 Mr. du Boulay was an acting wing commander and became wing commander in 1942. In 1944 he was made group captain and was based at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces, in France. He is also believed to have been present at the signing of the German capitulation at General Eisenhower’s headquarters in Reims, France.

On leaving the service, Mr. du Boulay became assistant secretary for the Royal Aero Club for a period before joining Marshalls of Cambridge as aviation sales manager. The post took him all over the world and involved much work in the Middle East while he was based at Cambridge. In 1973, aged 60, Mr. du Boulay retired to the Lake District and bought a house at Thornthwaite, near Keswick, taking him back to his roots in his beloved Cumberland.

During his retirement, Mr. du Boulay also put his hand to rearing sheep when he bought Blease Farm, before latterly living at The Paddocks, in Threlkeld. He worshipped at both Threlkeld Church and St. John’s Church, in Keswick.

Mr. du Boulay died at Keswick hospital, aged 93. The funeral was held at St. Andrew’s Church, Greystoke, where the service was conducted by the Rev. Bryan Rothwell.

At the funeral, his son David gave a tribute to his life while stood at the lectern which had been dedicated to Mr. du Boulay’s grandfather, Canon Askew.

As his coffin entered the church, the president and members of Keswick Royal British Legion saluted the former serviceman. Donations from mourners were given to both the Royal British Legion and the Red Cross. Mr. du Boulay has been buried next to the Askew tomb at St. Andrew’s Church with his two brothers, sisters and mother.

He is survived by three sons, Paul, who lives in Northern Ireland, David, of Ipswich, and Adam, of Yorkshire. He also has two daughters, Lyn, who lives in Peterborough, and Georgina, of Threlkeld. He was also a grandfather of eight and had one great-granddaughter.