1. John Capper was the older brother of Major General Thompson Capper, who was killed in action at the Battle of Loos in late 1915.
21 Facts About John Capper
1. 2.
An experienced engineer, Capper was involved in numerous building projects during his years in India and pioneered the development of airships in Britain.
3.
John Capper helped establish and command several military training establishments in Britain, was involved in large-scale military planning during 1918 and 1919 and was pivotal in establishing the tank as an important feature of the British Army.
4.
John Capper was born in Lucknow, India to civil servant William Copeland Capper and his wife Sarah in December 1861.
5.
John Capper performed well in this position, being promoted to captain in 1889.
6.
In 1897, John Capper was attached to the force dispatched to the Tirah campaign on the North-West Frontier of British India.
7.
John Capper returned to England in June 1902, following the end of hostilities the previous month, and on 22 August 1902 was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the October 1902 South Africa Honours list.
8.
At about the same time the Balloon Factory was split off and moved to a new site nearby at Farnborough and, on Templer's retirement, John Capper became its Superintendent and was given the brevet rank of full colonel.
9.
John Capper conducted fact-finding visits to the US, where he and his wife befriended the Wright brothers and became involved in protracted but ultimately futile negotiations for the War Office to buy a Wright machine.
10.
John Capper went on to modify the airship as Nulli Secundus II, parodied by Punch as "second to none the second", and a smaller experimental airship called Baby.
11.
The flight had lasted only a few seconds when the glider crashed into a wall, with John Capper sustaining a cut to the head.
12.
John Capper had to return early from Blair Atholl in order to present his evidence.
13.
John Capper argued strongly for a promising future of all forms of aeronautics and especially the aeroplane.
14.
When Dunne left Farnborough, John Capper was one of several friends who offered support for his efforts.
15.
John Capper relinquished this position in October 1910 and was placed on half-pay, and promoted to colonel.
16.
John Capper remained at Chatham until September 1914 when the lack of experienced officers forced his transfer to France to join the British Expeditionary Force in the early months of the First World War.
17.
Capper remained in command of the division for the next 18 months, including periods of heavy fighting in 1916 at the Battle of the Somme, in which his son John was killed in action serving with the Royal Artillery.
18.
In July 1918, John Capper left the War Office and commanded the 64th Division in England until May 1919, when the war was over, when he took over command of Number 1 Area in France and Flanders.
19.
In July 1920, John Capper became lieutenant Governor of Guernsey and took over command of the island's military installations, succeeding Lieutenant General Sir Launcelot Kiggell.
20.
John Capper held the post for five years and during that time was made, in July 1921, a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and colonel commandant of the Royal Tank Corps in September 1923.
21.
John Capper was widowed in 1953 and died at the age of 93 at Esperance Nursing Home in Eastbourne in May 1955, leaving a daughter.