On the morning of the 9th July 1918, then Second Lieutenant Boole was at the central Flight School
and was flying SE 5a D8063, when he was involved in a id-air collision with SE 5a C1775, flown
by 2Lt Richard Carter Pellow. Both airmen were killed in the accident over the Brecon Beacons.
The aircraft these pioneers were flying were unstable and hard to fly, and far more pilots were
killed in training than in actual combat. By the end of the war, nine out of every ten of these early
pilots had been killed. John Otto’s father had died in 1898 and his mother received a letter of
condolence from King George V, expressing sympathy that her son had been “accidentally killed
whilst in the service of his country”.
The Penarth Times on the 11th July 1918, reported:- Penarth Officer Killed whilst flying. The many
Penarth friends of Lieut. J.O. Boole, son of Mrs Boole, Plymouth Road, Penarth will learn with
great regret f his death as the result of a flying accident on Tuesday, in this country. Lieut. Boole
was a marine engineer and was at sea when war was declared. Upon arriving home in June 1915,
he promptly enlisted in the Royal Engineers, and was promoted Sergt. a month later, and
proceeded to France in the following November. He took place in several of the big engagements in
France, including the Somme, Mametz wood, Ypres etc., until Nov 1917 when he returned to
England to take up a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. A short time ago, he gained his wings,
and was recently home on leave. His brother Lieutenant P.A.G. Boole of Bradenham Place, is
serving with the R.G.A. Another brother Mr Llewellyn Boole M.A. was a schoolmaster, and was in
Germany at the outbreak of war, and was interned at Ruhleben Camp, and is master at the Camp
School, teaching French, Latin and Greek to the Prisoners of War. They are well-known Tennis
players and members of the Penarth Lawn Tennis Club”
John Otto is buried at Penarth Cemetery, and he is also remembered in St Michael’s church,
Croydon and on the memorial in Alexandra Park, Penarth. Probate was issued to Philip Arthur
George Boole Lieutenant Royal Garrison Artillery. Effects £36 8s 4d.
JOHN OTTO BOOLE