大象传媒

The RAF Officer

The RAF Officer who gave his youngest sister away in Marriage, had proved an able student - he had received various awards for his knowledge and proficiency, along with trophies for Boxing skills gained when he represented the Boys' School in Ferndale. His educational mentors prophesised a career in teaching, but the time was the Depression, and his parents could ill afford any further studies. His Father did not want him to follow in his footsteps, and enter the coal mining industry. Instead,the 15 year old school boy brought home papers expressing his wish to join the Air Force, his Father took the news hard explaining that he would lead a very different life in the Services, it could be dangerous.

"Give me a week, I'll let you know my answer" was his Father's promise; and when the week was over his Father decided that if this was what his only son wanted to do, he would give his permission and signed the necessary papers. So, with his school friend, Hughie James, also from Ferndale, he joined the RAF on 23rd August, 1927. They trained as Apprentices for 3 years at RAF Halton. During this time, whenever a fragile aeroplane went over the valleys in the early days carrying an advert in its wake, the cry went out "It's only .... saying hello to his Mam and Dad".

At the end of their training at RAF Halton there was a big exam, in which he came top. For this remarkable achievement he appeared before a Board of Governors, but was told that they had been informed that his Father's occupation was that of a Coal Miner, if he had been the son of a professional man he would have gone straight to RAF Cranwell to be trained to become an Officer. His name was withdrawn.

He met his wife whilst stationed at RAF Odiham in Hampshire, and their Marriage on 22nd September, 1938 paved the way for a passer-by (The Best Man) to be introduced to the woman,(then a Bridesmaid with her younger sister),who was to become his wife.

When ww2 was declared, class was forgotten, and the RAF Officer quickly rose in rank. He was commissioned on 19th September,1941. By 1944, not only was he promoted to Flight Lieutenant, but he was also registered as a Referee under the RAF Imperial Services Boxing Association Rules. By 1944, he had also become the Father of two sons, with the elder son sharing the same birthdate as Adolf Hitler, which was unfortunate at that time. The RAF Officer's eldest son was born at Pembroke Dock, due to the fact that this was where his Father was based working on Seaplanes.

The RAF Officer went on to see Service in Egypt and Germany, he witnessed the horror of the Concentration Camps; and whilst stationed in Scotland, he helped set up the Oban Rescue Corps. He had the distinction of inventing a navigation system for night flying. In the New Year's Honours List of 1944, he was awarded the insignia : Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) with Oakleaf attached, stating that he had been mentioned in Despatches several times. As it was wartime, the distinctive Medal was posted to him. He went to Germany to retrieve scientific knowledge, doing it without the Allied Forces of Russia knowing about it - prior to the 'Cold War'.

When stationed in Malta, he presented his painting of Joseph and the Holy One, on behalf of the RAF to the people of the island, at a unique Service where their religious leaders blessed the painting. He would end his Service career at RAF Manby in Lincolnshire where he produced the City's Coat of Arms in gold leaf, which resulted in the RAF being honoured with the Freedom of the City of Lincoln. He retired in 1968, having given his working life to the RAF.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.