Description
Object description
British private served as bugler with 1st Rhodesian Regt in South West Africa, 1914-1915; officer served as pilot with Royal Flying Corps in GB and with 45 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1915-1918; commanded 31 Sqdn, RAF in India, 1920-1922 and 45 Sqdn in Iraq, 1922-1924; commanded 58 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1925-1928; student at Staff College, British Army, Camberley, GB, 1928-1930; served as staff officer with Headquarters, Royal Air Force Middle East, Cairo, Egypt, 1930-1933; commanded 210 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1933; served as staff officer with Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, Air Ministry in London, GB, 1934-1937; commanded No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF in GB, 1937-1938; led aircraft procurement trip to United States of America, 1938; served as Air Officer Commanding Palestine in Palestine, 1938-1939
Content description
REEL 1 Background in India, GB and Southern Rhodesia, 1892-1914: family; education; reasons for going to Southern Rhodesia. Memories of service as bugler with 1st Rhodesian Regt in South West Africa, 1914-1915. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Flying Corps in GB and Western Front, 1915-1918: attempts to enlist at War Office; start of flying training; night time anti-Zeppelin patrols; posting to 45 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Western Front; postings on return to GB; acceptance of permanent commission in RAF. Aspects of period commanding 31 Sqdn, RAF in British India, 1920-1922: posting to squadron, 1920; shortage of spares; living conditions; story of besieging of Fort Wana on North West Frontier.
REEL 2 Continues: air action to relieve Fort Wana. Aspects of period commanding 45 Sqdn, RAF in Iraq, 1922-1924: conversion of Vickers Vernon aircraft to bombers; air evacuation of dysentery cases; role countering Turkish expansionism in Mosul area; question of accuracy and purpose of bombing; character of night flying; living conditions. Aspects of commanding 58 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1925-1928: posting to squadron at RAF Worthy Down, 1925; night flying; problems with limitations on bombing practise; service conditions; problems with unreliable electrical equipment; impressions of Lord Trenchard. Aspects of period as student at Staff College, British Army, Camberley, GB, 1928-1930: impressions of course; inter-service relationships.
REEL 3 Continues: incidents illustrating Royal Navy's attitude towards airpower; attitude to being at staff college; opinion of Bernard Montgomery; belief in bombing. Aspects of period as staff officer with Headquarters, Royal Air Force Middle East, Cairo, Egypt, 1930-1933: posting to headquarters; report on internal security situation in Cyprus. Aspects of period commanding 210 Sqdn in GB, 1933: background to posting; attitude towards posting. Aspects of period as staff officer with Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, Air Ministry in London, GB, 1934-1937: attitude to posting to Air Ministry, 1934; question of feasibility of German 'knock-out blow'; question of inadequacy of German bomber for operations against GB; financial restrictions on expansion.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period leading aircraft procurement trip to Untied States of America, 1938: visit to United States of America after commanding No 4 Group, Bomber Command, RAF; selection of aircraft; viewing prototype Lockheed Hudson; aircraft design suggestions. Aspects of period as Air Officer Commanding Palestine in Palestine, 1938-1939: reasons for rejection of staff post at Headquarters, Fighter Command, Bentley Priory; use of 'air pin' technique; co-operation with Brigadier Bernard Montgomery; attitude to policing role. Aspects of Royal Air Force preparations for war: development of Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane; importance of introduction of bomber turrets; initial posting to take command of No 5 Group; opinion of Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939.
