fetubi Posted 1 September , 2008 Share Posted 1 September , 2008 I am looking for information on this Scot - I have photos of him with his Observer Wing, late 1918, and reference to service in France. Unusual first name, but it hasn't helped to locate info on this occasion. I know I could track him at Kew, but does anyone have information? The photos I have are in four albums which belonged to his sister Marjorie Colvill - very interesting in her own right as she served in the Women's Royal Air Force right from the outset. She was a motor cycle rider/dispatch rider based at the training school at Shoreham and she photographed a good number of individuals and aircraft passing through there. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 3 September , 2008 Share Posted 3 September , 2008 (edited) His RAF service records are probably in AIR 76/99 Collins, W C - Colyer, L J. The only army match I have made is WO 339/117486 COLVILLE E, I realise this is probably not the chap because of the e at the end, but there could have been the usual data entry errors. Edited 3 September , 2008 by per ardua per mare per terram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetubi Posted 3 September , 2008 Author Share Posted 3 September , 2008 Thanks for this - looks like it's another crawl around the North Circular sometime.. Thanks for your PM as well. Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerthy sticks Posted 31 August , 2017 Share Posted 31 August , 2017 hello, I just happened to do a google search the other day on my grandfather and came across your post. It is quite possible that the person you are looking for information is my grandfather. its also likely that you have and know more information about his career in the observation wing than myself.My grandfather died when I was young and I don't ever remember much talk about of any part of his life, least of all WW1. If you have specific questions you'd like answers for I could make attempts through other family members to gather answers. Also if you could offer any advice as to where I could gather more information myself I'd very much appreciate it. kind regards Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetubi Posted 31 August , 2017 Author Share Posted 31 August , 2017 Hi Jim, It's great to make contact. Let me just get to the end of the week (bit mad at work just now!) and then I will dig out the albums, and of course I'd be happy to pass some of the images on to you. I never got back to researching him, as I had bigger fish to fry, so speak, several years ago (my book, below!). I see he was born 18th March 1897. Does that coincide with what you know? If you could give me any ideas on 1) whether you all believe he served in France, or somewhere, and 2) perhaps how his sister's albums finished up under a dusty pile of books in a basement in Brighton 20 years ago, that would be most interesting. No problem if you're not sure, though. I'm glad we're in touch. Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nieuport11 Posted 31 August , 2017 Share Posted 31 August , 2017 The file you want is AIR 76/99/134 Eoin Colvill DOB 18.3.1897 http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8248229 The scrambled version you can view online mentions Russia and Archangel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetubi Posted 1 September , 2017 Author Share Posted 1 September , 2017 Good effort. I should go and take a look. Fascinating to see his home was in Hove - just a few miles from where his sister's albums waited for me. I remain kind of surprised that there is so little about him in wider documents - he was a trained Observer. Thanks again. Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 2 September , 2017 Share Posted 2 September , 2017 As I had half an hour to spare here goes Eoin is miss transcribed from the 1901 Scottish census as Evin 1901 Scottish census transcription Name: Evin Colvill Age 4 Estimated birth year: abt 1897 Father's name: Robert Colvill Mother's name: James S Colvill Where born: Huntly, Aberdeenshire Registration Number: 507 Registration district: Campbeltown Civil Parish: Campbeltown Town: Campbeltown County: Argyll Address: High Street Springfield Place Household Members: Name Age Robert Colvill 39 James S Colvill 36 Maggie Colvill 7 Robert McKellan Colvill 6 Evin Colvill 4 E I L Colvill 1 Maggie Mclean 20 Mary Kane 19 Briefly born 18th March 1897 Eoin was a career soldier he joined the Lovalts Scouts early in the war entered the theatre of war on the 26/09/1915 Commissioned into the Scottish Rifles - transferred to RAF 1918 Snippets 14136 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 29 NOVEMBER, 1918. 6th June 1918. Eric Reginald Airey (2nd Lt., W. Rid. R., T.F.). R. J. Baddeley (Lt., Manch. R., T.P..), and to be Hon. Lt. Eoin Colvill (2nd Lt., Sco. Rif., T.F His BWM + VM medal roll shows Pte 125735 Pte Colvill Eoin 3645 Lovats Scouts Discharged to commission 31st /18.17 6th Scottish Rifles (BWM + VM to be admin by air ministry Star roll shows entitled to 15 star HIS MIC ANCESTRY LINK Marriage NAME: Eoin Colvill SPOUSE: Joy Ruby Chirgwin MARRIAGE: Jun 1940 - Brighton, Sussex OTHER: Feb-Apr-May-Jun qtr 1940 1939 age 42 Residence 29 Sep 1939 • 12 Rock Street, Brighton Commercial Traveller (electrical apparatus) R.A.F. emergency reserve Death Sep 1981 • Crawley, West Sussex, England Mentions Flight Global Dec 5th 1918 flight Global Archives ( 2nd Lieut) The following are granted temp, commns. as Sec. Lieuts. (Obs. Officers) :— J. E. Kendrick, D.F.C. (Temp. Sec. Lieut., New Armies, Gen. List) ; April 7th. G. A. Hunter (Sec. Lieut., Dorset R., T.F.) ; April 18th. F. H. V. Wood (Temp. Sec. Lieut., attd. Middl'x. R.); May 4th. W. L. Kendrick (Temp. Lieut., A.O.D.), and to be Hon. Lieut. ; May 8th. H. A. Deakin (Lieut., S. Staff. R.), and to be Hon. Lieut.; May 12th. R. S. Hellier, D.F.C. (Temp. Capt., S. Lan, R.), and to be Hon. Capt. ; May 26th. R. Boyle (Sec Lieut., R.F.A., S.R.) ; May 27th. A. Smith (Temp. Lieut., Line. R.), and to be Hon. Lieut., F. Ibbotson (Temp. Sec. Lieut., Notts, and Derby R.) : June 1st. E. R. Airey (Sec. Lieut., W. Rid. R., T.F.), R. J. Baddeley (Lieut., Manch. R., T.F.), and to be Hon. Lieut., E. Colvill (Sec. Lieut., Sco. Rif., T.F.) ; A. E. Chadwick (Sec. Lieut., Durh. L.I., T.F.), E. H. Clarke (Temp. Lieut., Brit. W.I.R.), and to be Hon. Lieut., E. E. Richardson, to.M. (Temp. September 25th 1919 flight Global Archives (Lieut) Flying Branch Maj. (Hon. Lieut.-Col.) A. W. H. James, M.C., to be actg. Lieut.-Col. whilst employed as Lieut.-Col. (A.) ; July 19, 1918, to March 20. Maj. W. B. Hargrave, O.B.E., is graded for purposes of pay and allowances as Lieut.-col. whilst employed as Lieut.-Col. (A.); May 1 to June 30. Capts. to be actg. Majs. whilst employed as Majs. (A.) :—C. M. Leman, M.C.; D.F.C.; June 10. R. M. Drummond, D.S.O., M.C.; from May 1 to July 31. The following Capts. are graded for purposes of pay and allowances as Majs. whilst employed as Majs. (A.) :—C. J. Q. Brand, D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C. ; to June 30. H. S. Lees-Smith, L. G. S. Payne, M.C., A.F.C. ; to May 30. C. A. Ridley, D.S.O., M.C. ; to June 30. E. Selby, O.B.E. ; to June 30. G. A. Turton ; to May 28 (May 1). Lieuts. to be actg. Capts. whilst employed as Capts. (A.) :—J. A. Craig, D.F.C., D. F. Lapraik, D.F.C., M. M. Freehill, D.F.C. (June 10 to July 31) ; May 1. The following Lieuts. are graded for purposes of pav and allowances as Capts. whilst employed as Capts. (A.) :—F. J. Cunninghame, A. F. Hordern, H. J. Hunter, A. W. Vigers, M.C., D.F.C. (to May n) , (Hon. Capt.) L. W. Jarvis (to July 31), K. B. Lloyd, A.F.C. (to July 31), J. J. Williamson, A.F.C. (to July 31) ; May 1. Lieut. P. L. Stephens to be Lieut. (A.) from (Ad.) ; April 19, 1018. Lieut. (Hon. Capt.) G. M. Smyth to be Lieut. (Hon. Capt.) (A.) from (S.O.) May 18 (substituted for the notification in the Gazette of July 15). Sec. Lieuts. to be Lieuts. :—I. B. Hyslop ; July 18, 1918. R. Clark ; March 26. E.Colvill; May 1 . A.Russell; July 10. L. F. Homer ; July 30. Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetubi Posted 2 September , 2017 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2017 Dear Ray, Thank you so much for all this. To take that time is very generous. It's really been helpful. Best Regards, Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 2 September , 2017 Share Posted 2 September , 2017 More than happy to assist Eoin aged 14 can also be found on the 1911 Scottish census on Scotlands people unfortunately I have no credits to access it Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerthy sticks Posted 27 March , 2019 Share Posted 27 March , 2019 Hello All, Im sorry for the delay in responding Trevor. My goodness, I turn my back for what seems 5 minutes and lots more information arrives.. It’s amazing to discover what information you’ve all been able to access on the web. Sadly at the time of my earlier conversation with you Trevor, I was unable take the matter further at my end. Due to one reason or another and it will be difficult for me to answer any questions about his life. With the extra information which is now available upon this thread I can confirm that Eoin Colvill was indeed my Grandfather, my Grandmother was indeed Joy. As stated earlier I know very little about my grandfathers life. It’s often difficult for me to now if what I do recall was make believe or true now. I was only just 11 when my grandfather died and it’s fair to say I hadn’t spent a great deal of time in his presence. A tale of him being shot down or having to crash land in WW1, having to bail out, without parachute and landing on his head. Is the only story from the war I Believe I heard as a child. He was however in his younger years a fairly talented sportsman and I believe represented his country at either rugby or athletics or possibly both. He enjoyed a game of golf and to my knowledge was a member of a golf club near the devils dyke (close to Brighton). I hope some of what I've written is useful or a little interesting to some of you. Thank you all for the input you’ve all made on this thread. Trevor if you are still in possession of some family photo albums, if you are interested in passing them on, would it be possible to do that? again many thanks kind regards Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetubi Posted 27 March , 2019 Author Share Posted 27 March , 2019 Evening Jim, I can take a look at what I've got in the next couple of weeks, and take it from there. How's that sound? Best regards, Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fetubi Posted 4 April , 2019 Author Share Posted 4 April , 2019 On 27/03/2019 at 08:30, jimerthy sticks said: Hello All, Im sorry for the delay in responding Trevor. My goodness, I turn my back for what seems 5 minutes and lots more information arrives.. It’s amazing to discover what information you’ve all been able to access on the web. Sadly at the time of my earlier conversation with you Trevor, I was unable take the matter further at my end. Due to one reason or another and it will be difficult for me to answer any questions about his life. With the extra information which is now available upon this thread I can confirm that Eoin Colvill was indeed my Grandfather, my Grandmother was indeed Joy. As stated earlier I know very little about my grandfathers life. It’s often difficult for me to now if what I do recall was make believe or true now. I was only just 11 when my grandfather died and it’s fair to say I hadn’t spent a great deal of time in his presence. A tale of him being shot down or having to crash land in WW1, having to bail out, without parachute and landing on his head. Is the only story from the war I Believe I heard as a child. He was however in his younger years a fairly talented sportsman and I believe represented his country at either rugby or athletics or possibly both. He enjoyed a game of golf and to my knowledge was a member of a golf club near the devils dyke (close to Brighton). I hope some of what I've written is useful or a little interesting to some of you. Thank you all for the input you’ve all made on this thread. Trevor if you are still in possession of some family photo albums, if you are interested in passing them on, would it be possible to do that? again many thanks kind regards Jim I'm on the case. 6 or 7 albums retrieved from storage! Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerthy sticks Posted 30 April , 2019 Share Posted 30 April , 2019 Hi Trevor that at all sounds great thank you. kind regards jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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