RNAS man attaching himself to the Coldstreams

[freddy1918]

Hi Guys,

I've got one pilot who claims he was told before he joined the RFC as a trainee pilot that he had to go and get himself comissioned as an officer in a regiment. Is this normal form as I think it may apply to one of the RNAS pilots I am looking at (my little avatar man).

He leaves Eton in July 1915, and a few days before the end of term he has already taken his certificate and qualified to fly. He is however, connected to the Coldstream Guards although there is no time frame for him to have ever done anything with them or to join the Guards then apply for the navy as he is sent immediately to Chingford with the RNAS.

Folllowing a mental breakdown later in the warhe was briefly sent "back" to the Coldstreams before being invalided out so I just wondered if there was another solution. It seemed pretty cut and dried ot me as if he had been told to attach himself to a regiment he could have walked up to Windsor in minutes from the school and it would explain the Coldstream connection. I just wondered if I was missing another obvious explanation before I start stating it as a reasonable assumption? \\

Any thoughts appreciated

Freddy

[delta]

Who's the flyer - it may allow us to find a connection to the Coldstream

[freddy1918]

The Hon. Richard Sebastian Willoughby Dickinson, son of the MP Sir Willoughby Hyett Dickinson. I've never seen him alluded to anywhere in Coldstream material other than in a letter he writes detailing how he has been sent back to the Coldstreams because of his mental state and now, as it isn't any better he requests to leave the country and go to Rhodesia (where he stayed for quite a few years, dying just after his return in 1937)...

[Coldstreamer]

Hello

From the Coldstream Guards history 1914-18 by Ross of Bladensburg

From RNAS 5.2.17 2 Lt

Att RFC 6.3.18 to 6.3.19

DSO desp 1 french Croix de Guerre

Retired ill health 15.3.19 Lt

[Coldstreamer]

From Debretts

[michaeldr]

from the London Gazette 14 Jan 1916

Royal Naval Air Service.

The undermentioned Probationary Flight

Sub-Lieutenants have been confirmed in the

rank of Flight Sub-Lieutenant : —

Richard Sebastian Willoughby Dickinson.

Dated 12th July, 1915.

from the London Gazette 5 Feb 1917

FOOT GUARDS.

C. Gds.—Richard Sebastian Willoughby Dickinson,

D.S.O., from Flight Sub-Lieut.,

Royal Navy, to be 2nd Lt. 5th Feb. 1917,

with seniority from 12th July 1915.

[michaeldr]

from the Naval Who's Who 1917

"awarded the DSO in recognition of his services on the night of 14th-15th April 1916, when Flight-Lieutenant K. S. Savory and he carried out a flight to Constantinople and dropped bombs upon points of military importance, returning safely to their base after a long flight in rough and stormy weather (London Gazette, 22 June 1916)"

[freddy1918]

Thanks guys,

He actually did a really good write-up of his famous flight over Constantinople... it was claimed that in the conditions he only knew where he was going thanks to his history specialisation at Eton where he had studied old maps of the city!

This is one of my pictures of him... I have one of Savory too but I think it's too big to be put into a post and blown if I can figure out how to make it smaller...

[stiletto_33853]

DICKINSON, Hon. Richard Sebastian Willoughby, D.S.O. 1916; Assistant Secretary to the Government of Northern Rhodesia; b. 15 Jan. 1897; s. of 1st Baron Dickinson, and Minnie, d. of General Sir Richard Meade, K.C.S.I., etc.; m. 1924, Nancy, e.d. of C.H. Lovemore of Schoombie, South Africa; four s.

Educated: Summerfields, Oxford: Eton College. Royal Naval Air Service. July 1915 - Feb. 1917 (Croix de Guerre, D.S.O., French and English Despatches); Coldstream Guards, 1917-19; Assistant Master, Eton College, 1920; Trinity College, Oxford, Jan - June 1921; Colonial Political Service since 1922; Private Secretary to the Governor of Nigeria, Sir Hugh Clifford, G.C.M.G., 1922-23; Private Secretary to the Governor of Northern Rhodesia, Sir H.J. Stanley, K.C.M.G., 1925-26.

Recreations: Tennis, golf and sailing. Adress: Washwell House, Painswick, Glos. (Died 27 July 1935.)

Source: Who Was Who 1929-1940

Andy

[per ardua per mare per terram]

Were his Mentions in Despatches from the RNAS, RFC, RAF or army?

[MikeW]

He was listed as "sick" on the 1st January 1917, but was carrying out ground duties at Chingford by the 5th February 1917.

May have more if the Laptop can be persuaded to boot up

Mike

[mhifle]

He is listed with the Naval Wing (Royal Naval Air Service) on the Nov 1916 Army list.

Regards Mark

[freddy1918]

I'd be surprised if all his MiD etc. were not RNAs. his "Sickness" was his nerves going, after which when they decided he wouldn't be able to fly he went"back" to the Coldstreams (his words) and then when that proved too much for him he was sent on extended leave which transpired to be permanent...

[Guest fredv]

I am researching this guy's family in connection with a book I am writing. I am also interested in his sisters, Desiree and Joan, who served as VADs in WW1. Desiree served in France and I am trying to establish where else she might have served in Europe. The Eton connection is interesting as Desiree married Cyril Butterwick who was a renowned Eton housemaster - and later became a director of Sotheby's. Any info about any of these people would be greatly appreciated. I would also appreciate the reference for the write-up of his flight, and the other pictures you mention.

Thanks guys,

He actually did a really good write-up of his famous flight over Constantinople... it was claimed that in the conditions he only knew where he was going thanks to his history specialisation at Eton where he had studied old maps of the city!

This is one of my pictures of him... I have one of Savory too but I think it's too big to be put into a post and blown if I can figure out how to make it smaller...