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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: nicoglad on Monday 14 January 08 19:14 GMT (UK)
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Hello all
My grandfather was in the Navy Air Service in the 1st World War. He worked on the 1st deHavalland flying boats as a mechanic and my mum says he took them to Australia and NewZealand ! His name is Frederick Laidler born 20/8/1898 can any one tell me how I can find out more about this amazing story.
many thanks in advance
Nicola
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The service record of Frederick Laidler born 20 August 1898 in Streatham is in DocumentsOnline at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7045208&queryType=1&resultcount=1 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7045208&queryType=1&resultcount=1)
Might this be him? You can download it for £3.50, or if you don't mind waiting till tomorrow, I can have a look at it for you then
Mean_genie
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Hi Nicola !
De Havilland was not founded until 1920. Two years after the end of WW1 :-\
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland
Could it be that he was in WW1 in the Royal Naval Air Service and later went to work for De Havilland?
You could check out TNA for him!!!
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
Does the family have a photo of him in uniform?
Wendi :)
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De Havillands were involved with the famous airman Alan Cobham who made several pioneering flights around the Empire in the 1920s. Google for further info on Cobham. There are various books about his exploits which your local library could obtain for you. However, just to point out that many hundreds of De Havilland aircraft (eg DH9A) served in the British flying services during WW1.
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Nicola
It's tomorrow now, and I have looked at the service record for Frederick Laidler, which definitely looks like your man.He joined on 7 Aug 1917, and his occupation at the time was fitter and turner. He was 5ft 5 1/2" tall with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. It also says he was knock-kneed!
His conduct was 'very good' and the form is stamped to show that he transferred to the RAF.
That is a summary of the main points anyway
Hope it helps
Mean_genie
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Hi Mean Genie
I'm sure its him but will check with my mum. I tried to look for him and got no where how do you do it ?!!
How can I find out about his RAF career ?
Thanks a million
Nicola
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PS i had missed the message about Frederick Laidler and yes it definately is him !
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Nicola
It's easy when you know how! Service records of men who were in the Navy, including the RNAS, have been digitized and indexed on DocumentsOnline. We'll draw a veil over my grandfather's rather undistinguished naval career that you can also find there!
So that's why I looked him up in the index, and found this very likely candidate. Although it costs to download the images, access is free onsite at TNA, and at the FRC while it's still there, two months to go and counting down...
So there you have it. I'm afraid I don't know much about RAF records, but there is a research guide that might help you
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=60 (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=60)
Good luck with him
Mean_genie
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PS Odd coincidence, my ex-husband used to work in the building that had once been the de Haviland factory, in de Haviland Road, would you believe.
Mean_genie
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Thanks alot Mean genie I will read the leaflet and persevere !
Nicola
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My Dad used to work at the De Haviland plant in Christchurch - first job I remember him doing.
Our garage had boxes of bits and bobs from altimeters to old phones etc.
I used to have loadsof fun playing with them as a kid.
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Hi Nicoglad
Are you still interested in Frederick Laidler? If so I can point you at some of his doings in Australia in 1920/21. I am researching early aviation in our local region and came across his name in relation to an event in 1921, which led me to this forum and your queries about him.
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Mean-Genie has identified Frederick's Royal Navy record which covers his RNAS service from March 1917 to March 1918 during which he served in England. The 31 March 1918 is significant in that the next day, 1 April 1918, was the day the Royal Air Force was founded, taking men from the army Royal Flying Corps and also from the RNAS. His RAF record covers 1 Apr 1918 to 14 Nov 1919 when he was discharged. The National Archives reference for the RAF record is AIR 79/2038. The RNAS record is on Ancestry also and the RAF one on FindMyPast.
maxD
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Hi Nicoglad
Are you still interested in Frederick Laidler? If so I can point you at some of his doings in Australia in 1920/21. I am researching early aviation in our local region and came across his name in relation to an event in 1921, which led me to this forum and your queries about him.
yes I am, my mother his daughter is still alive and would love to know more about it and how after all his adventures he ended up working in a scrap yard !