4th Sqn RFC

[jonseagrave]

Hi Pals;

Been researching my great-grandad (Henry Onslow) who got his 1914 star as a driver in the ASC, attatched- according to the medal rolls- to 4 Sqn RFC. He went to France 13/8/14 and was transferred home 25/4/15. I've been able to find out little about 4 Sqn; they went to france same day as he did (13/8/14) and ended up based around St Omer, but that's about it!

Can anyone fill me in on what 4 sqn did, and where they went, in this period? Or point me in the direction of a suitable book?

And what would an ASC motor driver get up to with them?

Here's hoping!

Jon

[Malcolm]

My Grandfather was with 4 Squadron RFC and I attach a photo of him in a 4 Squadron tender. He got moved into the Argylls when they lost a lot of men - no questions or volunteering just you you and you.

Aye

Malcolm

[Dolphin]

Can anyone fill me in on what 4 sqn did, and where they went, in this period? Or point me in the direction of a suitable book?

Jon

No 4 Sqn RFC was equipped with a variety of aircraft (BE 2, BE 2a, BE 2c, and Maurice Farman Shorthorn) when it went to France to carry out reconnaissance duties for the BEF on 13 August 1914. Initially based at Amiens, it moved around as the Retreat from Mons took place:

16 Aug to Maubeuge

24 Aug to Le Cateau

25 Aug to St-Quentin

26 Aug to La Fère

28 Aug to Compiégne

30 Aug to Senlis

31 Aug to Juilly

2 Sep to Serris

3 Sep to Touquin

4 Sep to Melun

7 Sep to Touquin

9 Sep to Coulommiers

12 Sep to Fère-en-Tardenois

6 Oct to Amiens

8 Oct to Abbeville

9 Oct to Moyenneville

12 Oct to St-Omer

1915

21 April to Bailleul (Town Ground).

With all that moving about, an ASC driver would have been involved in moving equipment and stores by vehicle.

You might like to look for a copy of Volumes I and II of The War in the Air by Sir Walter Raleigh and H A Jones, respectively. This is the air services' Official History, and covers the period very well. All six volumes were recently re-published by Naval & Military Press.

I hope that this helps

Gareth

[jonseagrave]

Many thanks to both of you! Will try to track down the books, Gareth.

Moving a whole squadron and its stores every few days must have been fun. Presumably they just used any available suitably-sized grass field as a base, right?

Check the lack of windscreens on the truck photo- great-grandad (who carried on as a driver long after the war) ended up with permanent facial paralysis after years of lashing winter winds driving those things!

Jon