Mexborough and Swinton Times December 8, 1917

Mexborough Flying Officer
Wounded in Aerial Combat

Lieut. C. P. Tiptaft, M.C.,

Lieut. Cyril Paxman Tiptaft, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Tiptaft, ”Braunston,” Parkgate, formerly of Mexboro’, was wounded on Nov. 23, and is now in hospital ‘in France.

The official intimation indicates’ that he is badly wounded, but he has been able to write reassuring messages home.

He was engaged in patrolling over the enemy lines, and had brought one German machine down, when, on his homeward journey, he was intercepted and encountered by a group of enemy airmen. During the fight one of his assailants flew directly ‘behind him and wounded him badly. He was able, however, to land in his own lines. He is suffering from fracture of the torsal bones and other injuries to the lower limbs.

Lieut. Tiptaft is only 21 years of age. He obtained a commission early in the war in the Connaught Rangers, and won the Military Cross while serving with that regiment on the Somme last year. In November, 1916, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, and for some time flew at the Front as an observer. He then came to England and qualified as a pilot, returning to France some months ago.

An elder brother, Lieut. W. R. Tiptaft, was killed in action in Flanders in ‘September.