agtaylor_ Posted 22 February , 2007 Share Posted 22 February , 2007 My grandfather D. R Taylor joined the RNAS in 12/5/1915 as Air Mechanic and on amalgamtion to RAF (No. 204701) was posted to the Eastern Mediteranean based we think at Mudros. We have photos of him at the HQ of 221 Squadron in Russia and also of 554 Flight which we think were based at Baku in Azerbaijan though none of this appears on any of his service records. Is ther any way of clarifying these details Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 22 February , 2007 Share Posted 22 February , 2007 (edited) Welcome to the forum, what information is on his RNAS and RAF records of service? They do tend to be patchy. Edited 23 February , 2007 by per ardua per mare per terram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 22 February , 2007 Share Posted 22 February , 2007 Ray Sturtivant & Gordon Page Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Numbers (Air Britain, Tonbridge. 1992) gives details of 221 Squadron, 554 Flight and their predecessors; as well as confirming service in Baku. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agtaylor_ Posted 23 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 23 February , 2007 what information is on his RNAS and RAF records of service? They do tend to be patchy. His naval record says he was transfered to the eatsern med 5th March '18 to 31st March '18. His RAF record states he was in the Eastern Med 12/2/18 to 23/8/19, transferred to the Reserves 14/11/19 and discharged 30/4/20. His RAF postings were E. MEDIT to 222 SQDN 21/12/18, then 222 SQDN to 15 Grp HQ Constantinople 15/7/19 and finally to Malta for dispersal 16/8/19 and we know he was back in England about November 1919. So where does Baku etc. fit in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 23 February , 2007 Share Posted 23 February , 2007 (edited) What was he doing between 1915 and 1918? Did he get the 1914/15 Star? That might not be recorded on his RAF records, if he did it would be on the Naval medal roll ADM 171/116 (Ste-Tay) Edited 23 February , 2007 by per ardua per mare per terram Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 23 February , 2007 Share Posted 23 February , 2007 Alastair No 221 Sqn RAF was formed from from D Sqn No 2 Wing RNAS at Stavros on 1 April 1918, but didn't use the squadron number very much until until September 1918, when Nos 552, 553 and 554 Flights were absorbed. September 1918 saw the last of its DH 4s being replaced with DH 9s. The squadron was absorbed into No 222 Sqn at Mudros on 15 October 1918. No 221 Sqn was re-formed as a mobile squadron with DH 9s at Lemnos in December 1918, and a flight embarked on HMS Riveria for service in South Russia on 29 December. Two other flights later embarked on HMS Empress. At least part of the unit was based at Batum by 5 January 1919 and Baku by 9 January. It moved to Petrovsk Kaskar on 12 January, with DH 9s arriving on 14 January; detachments were at Chechen and Lagar. In March 1919 the squadron joined up with Norperforce (British units in North Persia) and began evacuating in 18 August prior to disbandment on 1 September 1919. I hope this is useful. Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 23 February , 2007 Share Posted 23 February , 2007 There are several hits for South Russia in the National Archives catalogue, including a war diary, but it might not be for 221 Sqn. The General Service Medal clasp with for North West Persia was awarded for operations in 1920. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agtaylor_ Posted 27 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 27 February , 2007 Thanks for all your replies. Re: his whereabouts prior to 1915, he was at work as a sheet metal worker in Fulham, and he didn't get the 1914-15 Star. In the photo album that prompted this line of enquiry, there is a photo of HMS Riviera, 'a coaling ship' and also various shots of 'RAF' personnel in uniforms including pith helmets. he was home in Fulham by 28th September so disbandment must have been fairly rapid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 28 February , 2007 Share Posted 28 February , 2007 HMS Riviera was hired as a seaplane carrier 1914-1919 and carried seaplanes for the Cuxhaven raid in 1914. By September 1919 they had already demobilised about 200k men in the RAF alone, so they were getting into the swing of it. What was he doing between 1915 and 1918? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agtaylor_ Posted 28 February , 2007 Author Share Posted 28 February , 2007 I'll try and give you a brief outline if his movements. 12/5/1915 enlisted in RNAS for duration of hostilities as Air Mechanic and posted to HMS President II 3/6/1915 Arrived at 6.30 am to take up posting at Whitley Bay, promoted to Leading Mechanic 1/8/1916 France from 25/6/1916 to 8/9/1916 1/12/1917 posted to Daedalus (Grain Is) President II from 12/2 1918 t0 4/3/1918 but out in Savonna Italy 5/3/1918 posted to Eastern Med or from 12/2/1918 in different part of his record, to 23/8/1919. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now