Jump to content
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Recommended Posts

Posted

I have asked this question on another forum in the past with no luck, perhaps one of the PALS may be able to help.

I was wondering if any of you know where Air Marshal Sir John Tremayne Babington (change surname to Tremayne after WW1) was born.

An account at the following website recognises him as an Australian.

http://www.207squadron.rafinfo.org.uk/ww1/persacc.htm

Thanks in advance,

Regards,

Andrew.

Posted

Thanks RT,

That clears up the birth detail, now all I need to know is if he grew up in Australia. It seems strange the bloke in the article refers to Babington as an Aussie, he may have been confused with an earlier CO who was definately an Aussie.

Regards,

Andrew.

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

John Tremayne (Babington) was my grandfather. He grew up in Surrey and in Cornwall, though he was sent away early to board at Osborne as a naval cadet.- His route into the air was via the navy, and he always claimed he took to the skies because he couldn't stand being seasick. He was very fond of Aussies, though, many of whom he made friends with when posted to Singapore.

Antonia

Guest Pete Wood
Posted

An especially warm welcome to the forum, Antonia.

As I'm sure you are aware, and can still see here, your Grandfather was held with high regard.

If you would care to post any pictures, or share any personal memories, there are many of us who would love to see/hear them.

Pete

Posted

Thank you Pete for that kind message. I can't do photos till some genius comes to fix my scanner next week, but I've got lots & it may be the early aircraft ones that would most interest your forum.

I was born in '61 so only knew him when he was well retired. He came down to Cornwall to run our neglected agricultural land and to start a camp site on a coastal strip. He took the view that combat experience was pretty useful for almost any line of work, so for a while we had, as far as I know, the only campsite in England managed by a V.C. holder, Wilfred Malleson (Gallipoli 1915). My mother says she had the greatest difficulty in stopping grandfather and Wilfred inspecting the campers.

His last spin in the air was a couple of years before he died in 1979. He had been banned from driving after a crash, so he rang Westland's and asked for a helicopter without telling their rep how old he was. Alas, it didn't work; up he went, and came down saying he didn't realise how much the controls had changed since his day. So that was that.

If there's anyone out there who remembers him, I'd love to hear. I still miss him.

Antonia

Guest Pete Wood
Posted

Wonderful, stirring stuff. I can just picture the scene at the campsite. Those two men must have had some fine after-dinner chats about a changing world.

Roll on next week, when your scanner is fixed.

Antonia, did you ever find a good 'home' for your grandfather's diary? I know it was a few months ago, and I wanted to write to you at the time about it, but I felt sure that the RAF would pounce on it.....

I've been waiting to read it, so I'd love to know which archive it is in.

Be prepared for a load of other questions, especially from the Aussies and aviations nuts when they discover you are here :D

Posted

No I didn't find another home for the diary - I went quiet on it while various family members discussed it (they are still discussing it). Can I squirt it to you off this forum perhaps? It has God knows how many megabytes and last time I did this to a cousin it took 2 gos at 30 minutes a go. I wouldn't dare clutter up this forum with it.

Antonia

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

G'day Antonia,

Thank you for the extra information on your Grand father. While researching Australians in the RNAS I have read a few first hand reports regarding your Grand Father and he was indeed held in high regard by those that served with him.

Sorry about the delay in replying to you, but I have had no internet access for a month.

Regards,

Andrew.

  • 12 years later...
Posted

I was hoping to contact 'antoniaw' regarding her grandfather John Tremayne Babington, in response to her (very) old post of 2004. A long shot, but who knows!

 

Peter 

Posted

Babington had a Brother in the RFC , CO of 46 Sqn .

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Many Thanks, I have now tracked down the lady concerned.

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...