Air Mechanic: locations in WW1

[mckha489]

It looks like “Stn” to me.

[fisherj]

Thanks for those comments Andy.

I've attached (I hope!) a screenshot of the relevant section showing JG's transfers.  It does look like 43 Stn was written deliberately though I appreciate what you say - that these are referred to as CCS.

And just for me to be clear, you're saying that Regimental Depot is more likely.  So on his return from France he was transferred to the RD but what would be the purpose of being in this section?

[Andy J2022]

OK, yes now I've seen the script it is clearly Stn. However I still don't believe that is a reference to a CCS. The events recorded are postings or attachments. A soldier (other than one in the RAMC) would not be posted or attached to a CCS, he would be admitted. Casualties were either on the strength of their parent unit, or posted the X list. 

Usually a man would only remain in a CCS for a couple of days, and was either returned to his unit if relatively fit for service, or be moved back up the casualty chain to a field or general hospital where he could undergo surgery etc if that was appropriate. The sort of casualties who tended to remain longer in a CCS were those who were sick (STDs were a common ailment and in 1918 so was flu) and were already receiving the appropriate treatment (ie drugs, bed rest etc) for their condition, or all too frequently, were about to die and for whom nothing more could be done other than making them as comfortable as possible.  CCSs frequently had large military cemeteries adjacent to them.

I don't know enough about the organisation, structure and terminology of the early RAF to offer a sensible alternative explanation for 43 Stn.

On the question RD, he went there immediately after being with 65 Sqn, which at this point in the war was an operational flying squadron based in France. So it would not be logical for him to go a Recruiting Depot, but it is entirely plausible that he staged via a Regimental Depot (which is a kind of holding location) while waiting to attend a course at 25 TS (probably a Training Squadron). However I am happy to be corrected about Regimental Depot because it really doesn't fit that well within the newly formed RAF which of course had no regiments. Again I can't offer a better explanation for RD for the same reason given above.

There are two excellent books which might throw some light on all of this, if you can find a copy of one or both:
Rawlings, John D. R. (1969). Fighter Squadrons of the R.A,F. and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd.
Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John; Halley, James J. (1997). Royal Air Force Training and Support Units. Tunbridge Wells, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-252-1.

[fisherj]

Thanks for your comprehensive reply Andy.  Much appreciate the time you've taken to put this together for me, an ignoramus in these matters!

The timescales for JG's service seem odd to me.

5 months presumably initial training before
4 months active service in France then
3 months in the Regimental depot then
2 months in the training school then
3 months in whatever 43 station was - before discharge on health grounds. 

First of all, for less than a quarter of his total time in the forces he was on active service in France!

But also, if he was suffering from myalgia from trench fever so much that he was discharged, surely he would not have been well enough for anything after returning from France.  He must have had some treatment somewhere if he was that poorly, surely??

I didn't realise that Air Mechanics would have been in the trenches.

Thanks too for the book recommendations.

[jim1]

I didn't realise that Air Mechanics would have been in the trenches.

I've followed this thread because I have scant knowledge of RAF terminology &
was interested myself.
I thought I'd just butt in to offer an explanation.
Trench fever was a lice-borne infection & easily treated & lasted just a few days.
It was given the name because men in the front line were more prone to it.
Myalgia was a muscle condition often a symptom of another condition/disease.
If it says he was discharged due to myalgia it may be the underlying disease
hadn't been identified at the time.
 

[fisherj]

Thanks Jim

That's really helpful.  I didn't realise that trench fever only lasted a relatively short time.  (I've seen images on line of service men queuing for showers!)

Joseph was awarded 20% in pension re disability and it was unclear how much in the end his myalgia was due to trench fever. 

Poor Joseph and poor all the other personnel in this dreadful war.

Many thanks

[fisherj]

I'm still trying to work out the "units" listed on Joseph Gallagher's service record (as per the image attached) - despite reading lots of info on line.

1.  Could 25 TS be "25 Training squadron"?  or "school"?  Initially I thought this was "FS" because it is quite a florid script.  And where would that be located?  Was it part of the No 1 aviation schools in Reading?? or were they for pilots only?  He must have met his wife,  Elizabeth Mabley, a Reading resident somewhere.  We don't think she was in the services and they met through being in the forces.
. 
2.  "43 Stn".  What and where could this be?  He was discharged on health grounds after being there.

And just another thought.... about the date of his enrolment and the fact that his occupation was noted as a "bar man" and that he was single.

So... he appears to have signed up in July 1917 but wasn't there conscription for British men before then?  unless of course you were exempt through certain family circumstances or occupations - and I don't think "bar man" was one of those!

If I am right about how conscription worked, then could it be that he is the RC "byre man" in Co Down, Ireland in 1911.  A farm worker therefore exempt from conscription?  But there's a problem with that I think because Ireland never sent its men to WW1.  So why would he suddenly join??

I've been told that the "3" at the start of his record number on these forms indicates that he enlisted in the North West of England.  There seem to be a lot of Gallaghers in Lancs! 

Any help would be much appreciated.


 

[haliared]

Are these any help?

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/soldiers/a-soldiers-life-1914-1918/the-evacuation-chain-for-wounded-and-sick-soldiers/

https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/hospitals/hospital.php?pid=12738

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/291798-no43-casualty-clearing-station-beaulencourt/

http://www.vlib.us/medical/CCS/ccs.htm

[haliared]

And this?

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/119372-training-squadron-locations/