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Description: | A selection of papers regarding his service in the early Royal Naval Air Service during 1914 - 1919, including an ms biographical account written by his son in 2004 (8pp) recording his wartime activities, commenting on joining the St John's Ambulance as a boy, volunteering for the Royal Naval Sick Berth Reserve, the introduction of the Kite Balloon and ways in which it was used, being commissioned into the Royal Naval Air Service, training with the army, carrying out anti-submarine work in Malta, the merging of the RNAS with the RFC to form the Royal Air Force and his subsequent change in title from Lieutenant RNAS, to Flight Lieutenant RAF, clearing minefields in the Dardanelles after the armistice had been signed, his attachment to the battleship HMS MARLBOROUGH engaged in the Kerch Strait Operation near Crimea and being in charge of a Turkish demolition force until his return home in 1919; 5 photographs with written information showing the inflated Kite balloon and various members of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps; a ts menu (November 1918, 1pp) for a celebration meal marking the armistice, including the music to accompany the food; an oiled silk map (October 1918, 1pp) relating to the defence of the Dardanelles, showing numerous minefields, the number of mines laid, 58 gun positions and various searchlights; ts list (April 1919, 3pp) of the 58 guns shown on the silk map along with details of their calibre; a ts photocopy of an article (December 1914, 1pp) taken from his school journal, the Eagle (Volume XII No VI) printing his letter describing his service in the St John's Ambulance Corps and commenting on his experiences in SS ST PETERSBURG, a Hospital Carrier ship transporting the wounded from Calais to Dover, his role as an interpreter (being the only one on board who could speak French), assisting the surgeons to dress wounds, long hours on duty with little sleep, his feelings of pity for a wounded German soldier and his satisfaction at doing his duty. Also included is his National Registration ID Card (1943, 2pp).
Cataloguer VB
Catalogue date 2004-03-25 | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Knight, W C | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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