Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Hijinks and running amok at School of Military Aeronautics


Grid

Recommended Posts

I'm hoping someone might have information about trainees at Christ College, Oxford, or Reading School of Military Aeronautics. In volume of VIII of the History of the University of Oxford the WWI section talks about monetary claims made by Oxford to the War Office because of the 'high spirits' of airmen. It appears that men periodically got bored and ran amok and damaged university property.

 

Any stories welcome or references to memoirs etc that discuss this.

 

Adam

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Grid,

 I suspect these would be the American Oxford attachments. I seem to remember that there were articles about these in the journals  of the old American Cross and Cockade society. I believe these are  still available through the present American Society: Over the Front. Their website will give you details.

The people in these attachments  were officially USAS officers, but were trained by us and sent to serve in British squadrons.  Paul Winslow and Tommy Herbert are two pilots that spring to mind. Elliott White Springs et al -  who were in 85 Squadron - were part of one of the attachments. War Birds, Diary of an Unknown Aviator by Elliott White Springs is full of anecdotes of wild parties etc. I'm fairly sure its been  republished lately.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, alex revell said:

 War Birds, Diary of an Unknown Aviator by Elliott White Springs is full of anecdotes of wild parties etc. I'm fairly sure its been  republished lately.  

 Available online

War Birds : Diary of an Unknown Aviator Illustrated by Clayton Knight. 1926 Archive.org.

 

Cheers

Maureen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mate,

 

Can I say that I have many members of the AIF who passed throw Reading and ot Oxford on Flight training or the hosp, so with our rep then we could have been the cause, if you follow steryo typing?

 

These from Reading many others show Oxford not listed?

 

ASTRIDGE    Eric Sydney    2    Cpl    4 LH Bde     Ammo Res att A/QMS Sig Sect/Comp LHR 12-15 to 5 Div Sig Co 3-16 prom 2/Lt 12 Pltn CCo/54Bn 4-16 (one of few officers to survive Fromelles - Fleurbaix 20-7-16) to 11 Pltn CCo to cadet 1 SMA Reading UK 1-18 to (pilot) 6 Trg Sqn AFC UK 5-18 later WWII
BOYLE    John Cecil    34    Sgt    APayC    tos AIF HQ Egypt 3-15 to Sgt 3-15 to S/Sgt 5-15 T/att Wo2 ICC 8-16 to AIF HQ UK 11-16 to cadet 1 SMA Reading UK 8-17 to 25 Trg Sqn RFC Thoxford UK 17 to 83 Trg Sqn RFC 10-17 to 85 Trg Sqn RFC Colmay UK 11-17 prom 2/Lt (pilot) 5-18 to 1 Sqn AFC 9-18 WIA 18-10-18 both shins reported accident crashed with 2/AM Kempton when they hit a camel prom Lt 8-19 rtn 12-18 to Pay duties AIF HQ 1-19 
HICK    Basil Bridgeford    54    Pte    10 LHR    MG Sect evac to hosp UK (enteric & typoid) 9-15 (G) to ABD Weymouth UK 3-16 to MT Dvr 2 Con depot AMTS chelsea UK 9-16 to 2/AM cadet 2 SMA Reading 9-17 to 29 Trg Sqn RFC Shawbury 11-17 att 30 Trg Sqn RFC Tern hill 11-17 prom 2/Lt (pilot) 28 Trg Sqn Castle Bromwich 1-18 to 1 Airplane supply depot 9-18 to B Flight 68 Sqn (2 Sqn) AFC 10-18 F&B to NME UK airplane construction (D Troop ASqn/25 LH CMF 6 months) 
BURRETT    Carlton Lewis    67    L/Cpl    6 LHR    A Sqn C Troop to Cpl 12-14 to T/Orderly Room Sgt RHQ 8-15 evac to Floriana hosp Malta (dysentry) 10-15 (G) rtn 12-15 prom 2/Lt DCo/3Bn 3-16 att school of Instruction (unknown course) 4-16 to hosp (piles) 7-16 rtn 9-16 to 3rd Ech AIF HQ UK 3-17 rtn 3Bn 5-17 MID - reason not stated possibly at Bullecourt to staff training British HQ/32nd Div 2-18 att 206 FCE RE 3-18 rtn 3Bn 7-18 t/att staff training 1 Div HQ 7-18 F&B to ATU AFC Windover UK 9-18 to cadet No1 SMA Reading 10-18 to pilot training 6 Trg Sqn AFC UK 2-19 AKA Carlton Louis Burrett to 1914 leave in UK 4-19 (CMF)
HOLROYDE    George Ernest    135    Pte    6 LHR    A Sqn C Troop (925) (G) prom 2/Lt 12Bn 17-3-16 to 46Bn 3-16 to 12 MG Co 3-16 WIA 18-8-16 shown possibly wounded? not reported in war dairy in camp at Herissart rtn 3-17 shown (OC Capt Sawer 2ic Lt Crouch A sect Lt Fox B sect Lt Upton C sect Lt Tonkin & Taylor D sect Lt Holroyde & Hamilton + Lt Grieveson & Hatcher) mentioned in 12 Bde attack at Bresle Wood 17-3-17 shown (OC Maj Radford 2ic Capt Martin A Sect Lt Holroyde B Sect Lt Hatcher & Trimble + Lt Hamilton KIA Capt Crouch WIA) at Messines 7-6-17 to cadet 1 SMA Reading UK 12-17 to A Flight 6 Trg Sqn AFC UK 4-18 qual Lewis MG 4-18 qual Vickers MG 5-18 to No 1 Aero supply depot 5-18 to (pilot) C Flight 68 Sqn (2 Sqn) AFC 7-18 (1 victory) F&B later WWII
FARRELL    Stanley Longhurst    136    Pte    03 LHR    A Sqn disch 2-11-14 MU at Albany WA relist 1R (633) Tos 2-15 att 13 LHR 2-15 remain Egypt to MT Dvr AMTS 10-15 att AMC Sect AIF HQ 5-16 to AMTS London UK 8-16 to AASC MT Dvr AMTS Chelsea UK 8-16 to cadet 1 SMA Reading 10-17 att RAF Armament School Uxbridge UK 4-18 to 6 Sqn AFC Trg UK 5-18 to Cpl 10Bn 10-18 rtn MT Dvr AMTS Chelsea UK 11-18 to Sgt 4 MTCo 12-18 to 3 MTCo (15) 6-19 F&B to NME UK Engineering to A/CSM 10-19
CATO    Alexander    154    Pte    13 LHR    C Sqn (G) to 5 Div Cav 3-16 to CSqn/1 Anzac LHR to AFC Dtls UK 9-17 to cadet SMA Reading UK 10-17 to 5 Trg Sqn AFC 1-18 prom 2/Lt (pilot) 4-18 to 4 Sqn AFC 7-18 F&B AKA Edward Alexander Cato related Edwin MC Capt AAMC
DUNSTAN    Horace John    255    Pte    8Bn    BCo to DCo 1-15 WIA 25-4-15 R/arm shot at the Landing (G) to AIF HQ London 7-15 to Cpl APayC pay records 5-16 to No 1 SMA Reading to 25 Trg Sqn RFC 9-17 to 34 Trg Sqn RFC Storeham 3-18 prom 2/Lt (pilot) 5-18 to 1 Sqn AFC 10-18 later WWII Lt Area Staff
FULLERTON    Percy Rutherglen    259    Cpl    04 LHR    B Sqn to Sgt 6-15 prom 2/Lt possibly B Sqn 2 Troop (from Pollard) 3-11-15 (G) to BSqn/2 Anzac LHR 7-16 att AA Sect 9-16 rtn 10-16 T/att NZ Div 4-17 T/att AA Sect 5-17 T/att Salvage Party 25 Div 6-17 to XXII Corps MR 1-18 to AFC Depot UK 3-18 to 1 SMA Reading UK 5-18 qual (obsver) 8-18 to C Flight 3 Sqn AFC 24-9-18 first sortie with Lt Tait RE8 (B4048) patrol to front lines 28-9-18 F&B RTA 1914 leave (Rutherglen 3Sqn/8 LH VMR CMF)
CULLAM    Douglas William    291    Pte    12 LHR    B Sqn att DSqn/7 LHR 8-15 to MG Sect 10-15 evac to (21 BGH) hosp (influ) 12-15 (G) RTA MU enteric disch 26-7-16 relist prom 2/Lt Special draft AFCR Tos AFC depot UK 1-18 to cadet 1 SMA Reading 3-18 to 5 Trg Sqn AFC 5-18 to (pilot) C Flight 4 Sqn AFC (camel) 11-18 F&B (RANR CMF 2 years later WWII 8 Garr Bn) AKA Douglas William Percival Cullam
ENGLAND    Vivian Theophilus    414    Pte/Sig    12 LHR    B Sqn to RHQ att DSqn/01 LHR 8-15 (G) rtn RHQ 2-16 to L/Cpl RHQ (from long) 1-17 to C Sqn 3-17 to T/Sig/Cpl A Sqn (from baker) 3-17 to Sig/Cpl 6-17 to B Sqn? (B) to AFC depot UK 6-18 to 1 SMA Reading 7-18 prom 2/Lt ATU UK AFC (obsver) 10-18 (SUS CMF to Capt 33Bn 18-5-28 to Maj 29-6-29 to 55Bn 8-1-32 to LtCol 55Bn 1-7-35 Later WWII LtCol 2/3 Bn DSO MID - at Bardia to Brig Gen VDC 1942 NSW died 19-9-51 - District Engineer Water Conservation & Irrigation Commission NSW & Hydrographic Engineer 
BARBAT    Vincent Pierce    501    Pte    2 LHFA    (G) to 3 FCE 1-16 prom 2/Lt 2 FCE 8-16 to cadet (obsver) 1 SMA Reading UK 4-17 att 25 Sqn RFC 6-17 to (obsver) B Flight 69 Sqn (3 Sqn) AFC 11-17 F&B to Pilot training 1 SMA Reding UK 1-18 to 6 Trg Sqn AFC 4-18 qual (pilot) 7-18 moved to Malaya later WWII Singapore Searchlight Bty Vol RA PoW 14-2-42 brothers Arthur 26Bn KIA and Leslie 1 Pnr Bn related Felix 4Bn
HOPKINSON    Frank Kenneth    524    Pte    02 LHR    C Sqn D Troop evac to (17 BGH) hosp (measles) 5-15 rtn 8-15 possibly WIA 21-8-15 shell shock from shell passing over evac to (war hosp) hosp Reading UK 9-15 (G) RTA MU shell shock (mental) & asthma disch 9-8-16 (1Sqn/1 LH NSWL CMF 3 years)
HOLLOWAY    Bernard Lowden    568    Pte    6 LHR    MG Sect to Cpl 8-15 WIA 6-8-15 face/eye shrapnel reported 6 wounded in trenches Southern Sect No 1 at Ryries Post evac to (1 AGH) hosp Cairo 8-15 to (Reading War) hosp London UK 9-15 (G) to AB Weymouth UK 10-15 disch to British Army prom 2/Lt 2/1st Queen's Own Worcestershire (Hussars) Yeomanry att Armd car sect WFF rtn 51Bn 12-16 to 13 MG Co 12-16 WIA 2-4-17 R/foot shot reported 3 killed with Lt Holloway and 7 men wounded in attack on Noreuit (OC Capt Dachatel 2ic Lt Cowley 1 Sect Lt Douglas 2 sect Lt Holloway WIA & Lt Ross 3 sect Lt's Doole & Tooth 4 sect Lt Cameron & Sgt Neal) att AIF depots (1 com) UK 6-17 rtn 8-17 shown WIA 29-9-17 head, back, arms & chest shrapnel at Polygon Wood (war dairy reports him wounded on WIA 27-9-17) F&B RTA wounded disch 9-11-18 (British Honourable Artillery Company TF 2 years)
ELLIS    David    617    Pte    04 LHR    1R Tos RHQ 2-15 (G) to D Sqn 3-16 to Sig RHQ 3-16 to 2 Anzac LHR 7-16 att CRE Armentieres 9-16 to obsver training 1 SMA Reading UK 4-17 to Wls school 69 Sqn AFC 7-17 & Aerial Gun school Sth Carlton UK 7-17 prom 2/Lt 8-17 to (obsver) 69 Sqn (3 Sqn) AFC 11-17 to 30 Trg Sqn RFC Fern Hill UK 12-17 to 33 Trg Sqn RFC Cirencester 1-18 to 8 Trg Sqn AFC Leighterton UK 1-18 rtn 3 Sqn AFC 7-18 F&B (MUR CMF) 
HARPER    Stanley Harold    625    2/AM    2 Sqn AFC    A Flight Fitter to 48 Res Sqn RFC 2-17 to cadet 1 SMA Reading UK 3-17 to 68 Sqn AFC 5-17 to 45 Trg Sqn RFC 6-17 to 54 Trg Sqn RFC 7-17 prom 2/Lt (pilot) 5-17 to 69 Sqn (3 Sqn) AFC 8-17 to instructor A Flight 5 Trg Sqn AFC Shawbury UK 3-18 to 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC 10-18 (2 victories) reported Died as passenger air mail a/c accident WA post war 1921
KERR    Harold Norman    627    Pte    02 LHR    1R tos A Sqn? 2-15 WIA 7-8-15 L/shoulder bomb at Quinns Post (G) to S/Sgt AIF HQ London UK 3-16 att CIB 10-16 MID - reason not stated possibly for work at CIB & brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for war for Valuable Services Feb 1917 to ER SQMS 4-17 to cadet 1 SMA Reading UK 1-18 to 5 Trg Sqn AFC Shawbury UK 1-18 prom 2/Lt 6-18 to 4 Sqn AFC 9-18 (pilot) Sopwith Snipe (1 victory) WIA 9-10-18 head, L/arm & thigh & injuried in landing after combat with a DFW near Nieppe which forced it down and captured F&B
FOSTER    George Reginald    641    Pte    9 LHR    B Sqn WIA 27-8-15 face & R/eye shot in attack on Hill 60 evac to (19 BGH) hosp 9-15 to (Reading War) hosp UK 10-15 (G) RTA wounded disch 2-12-16 
ANDERSON    Charles    779    Pte    9 LHR    2R tos C Sqn 4-15 WIA 13-8-15 L/knee shrapnel at Walkers Ridge evac to (17 BGH) hosp 8-15 to (Reading War) hosp UK 9-15 (G) to 3 LHTR 3-16 rtn 3-16 to hosp (old wound) 7-16 RTA MU old wound disch 2-7-16 (ACo/81 IR Wakefield CMF 9 months) 
FIELD    Cornelius    973    Pte    9 LHR    6R ToS C Sqn 8-15 evac to St Davids hosp Malta 9-15 to (Reading War) hosp London UK 10-15 (G) to AB Weymouth UK 1-16 qual MG course 1-16 to AB Egypt 3-16 to 3 LHTR 4-16 to Dvr 13 BAC 4-16 to AATD UK 6-16 to Gnr 113Bty/13 FAB 3-17 F&B to AIF depot (4 com) UK 1-19 relist AN&MEF (1474) to Rabaul 11-20 disch 2-2-21 SNLR Ex 4R/8 LHR (819) DNE (British South Irish Horse 1 year) later WWII 
GRAHAM    Henry    999    Pte    9 LHR    6R tos A Sqn D Troop 8-15 evac to St Davids hosp Malta 9-15 to (Reading War) hosp UK 10-15 (G) to AB Weymouth UK 1-16 to AB Abbey Wood UK 5-16 to LH Dtls UK 7-16 to 3 Trg Bn (10Bn) UK 9-16 tos BCo/32Bn 10-16 to hosp (trench fever/feet & myalgia) 11-16 to 70Bn Wareham UK 4-17 F&B to 60Bn UK 9-17 to AIF depot (2 com) UK 3-18 RTA MU cardiac disch 5-12-18 AKA stated to be Henry Wilson or alais James Wilks Wilson
 

DEAMER    Sydney Harold    1287    Pte    2 ASH    HQ to A/Cpl Mudros 8-15 (G) revert 2-16 to L/Cpl 4-16 to QMG branch AIF HQ 5-16 to Cpl War Chest Club AIF HQ London 9-16 to Sgt 1-17 to ER Sgt AFC depot 10-17 to 1 SMA Reading UK 10-17 to cadet 5 Trg Sqn AFC Shawbury UK 1-18 prom 2/Lt (pilot) 2-5-18 to 7 Trg Sqn AFC Leighterton UK 6-18 to 3 Sqn AFC 9-18 WIA 29-9-18 R/Leg reported shot by ground fire on patrol in RE8 (C2610) with Lt Fullerton to find our Troops on the Hindenberg Line near Bellicourt F&B RTA 1914 leave later WWII ABC reporter

 

FENWICKE    Christopher Rupert    1306    Pte    05 LHR    10R Tos 1-16 to trade test 67 Sqn AFC 11-16 to Dvr MT 2/AM C Flight 68 Sqn (2 Sqn) AFC 11-16 to cadet 1 SMA Reading UK 5-18 prom 2/Lt (obsver) 8-18 to C Flight 3 Sqn AFC 9-18 (sorties in RE8 (C2746) with Lt's Pengilley and Dreamer) F&B later WWII
CHERRY    Arthur Don    1566    Spr    3 LH Sig Trp    10R Tos 1-16 to BPO Port Tamping 4-16 to APostC 9-16 to APO London UK 10-16 to L/Cpl 10-17 to ER Cpl 11-17 to 1 SMA Reading UK 4-18 prom 2/Lt (obsver) 3 Sqn AFC 8-18 F&B married Isabella McGolrick at Lambeth UK 23-11-18 


BROWN    Allan Runcieman     1961    Bdr    3 FAB    9Bty WIA 22-5-15 L/leg at McCays's Hill (G) to Sgt 4-16 to AFC Flying school 11-16 to 1 SMA Reading UK 12-16 prom 2/Lt (pilot) 4-17 to 69 Sqn (3 Sqn) AFC UK 5-17 to 52 Sqn RFC 8-17 F&B prom Capt OC A Flight 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC 3-18 (5 victories) DFC - for his actions between May to Aug 1918 including a fight with a AVG with ObLt Sakovski and Moser of Jasta 301 which was brought down near Ramleh 22-8-18 (40Bty CMF later WWII WingCdr RAAF)
BARROW    Alfred Victor    3008    Pte    18Bn    7R to CTU ICC 1-16 tos BCo/3Bn 2-16 WIA 18-8-16 shell shock at Pozieres att batman 1 Anzac Corps HQ 8-16 to Admin HQ London UK 4-17 to RFC Trg Reading 4-17 prom 2/Lt (obvser) 6-17 to B Flight 69 Sqn (3 Sqn) AFC 7-17 F&B to pilot training 1 SMA Reading UK 1-18 (shown obsver with Lt Garrett 3 Sqn AFC made a claim during action near Hamel - Richthofen’s death 21-4-18) to 7 Trg Sqn AFC 10-18 to NME UK aeroplane construction (NZ CDC) 
JOHNSON    George Frederick Acland    5183    Dvr    3 LH Bde Trn    12Co AASC to MG sect/8 LHR 1-16 disch 27-4-16 MU relist Pte to prom 2/Lt 25-1-18 AFC R Special Draft to AFC Dtls UK 4-18 to 1 SMA Reading UK 5-18 to 5 Trg Sqn AFC UK 6-18 Qual (pilot) 7-18 tos 4 Sqn AFC 9-18 F&B (MUR CMF 18 months) AKA GF Acland-Johnson
EDSON    Charles Robert    6653    Dvr    4 LH Bde Trn    1R (14Co AASC) relist (8854) to Cpl 20Co 2 Div Trn 3-16 to clerk 1 Anzac Corps HQ 5-16 to L/Sgt 9-16 to Sgt 9-16 to OCS Cambridge UK 9-16 prom 2/Lt 12-16 tos 27Bn 1-17 to obsver trg No1 SMA Reading UK 4-17 to (obsver) 22 Sqn RFC 6-17 WIA 17-8-17 back reported killed with pilot Lt MW Turner wounded in a Bristol F2b on a 5 plane patrol when attacked by 6 German planes of whom two were brought down by the Germans of Jasta 11 (Lt Osten) and Jasta 26 (Lt Dannhuber) around Staden near Passchendaele F&B died at 4 CCS buried Dozinghem Military Cemetery Westvleteren Belgium (CMF 8 months)
 

 

Just to name a few

 

S.B

Edited by stevebecker
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 27/05/2019 at 05:58, Grid said:

Christ College, Oxford

Christ Church, Oxford. You could try asking their archivist:  judith dot curthoys at chch.ox.ac.uk (insert . and @ as indicated).

sJ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi sJ, I've been in contact with Judith, who was very helpful, but no stories just yet. thanks.

Edited by Grid
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Righto :) I must reintroduce myself to her at some point...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...