Civilian Subordinates

[petet]

I note that Civilian Subordinates were taken on strength of No 35 Squadron as it worked up to operational readiness in 1916.  Am I right to assume that these personnel would not have mobilised to France with the squadron in 1917?

[KizmeRD]

In 1916 there were certainly a number of Women Civilian Subordinates employed in such duties as typists, clerks, telephone exchange operators etc., and possibly (I don't know) there might also have been locally employed men too (men who were either too old or not medically fit for military conscription).

I believe that that Admiralty were more active in the employment of civilian subordinates than the War Office was, and in 1917 many female civilian subordinates formed an initial cadre of entry into the newly established WRNS.

Michael

 

[petet]

Thanks for the feedback; I think my assumption that they would not have mobilised to France with the squadron is probably correct ... but I will keep an open mind

 

Regards

 

Pete

[KizmeRD]

Civilian subordinates were locally employed, so wouldn't ordinarily have served abroad in a war zone.