August 26th 1940

Gave dual to my first Polish pilot "George Sokolowski". We had an intake of 4 pilots and 4 observers in 3 Squadron. George was a dam nice fellow 33 years old, had been 5 years in the Foreign Legion, he was killed about six weeks later while night flying - for no apparent cause possibly suicide. After this we had Poles under training all of the time. Poles were very good fellows - inclined to optimism when asked about their flying hours, always said they understood when they didn't, but were very keen on flying. Pretty tiring to teach.

August 24th 1940

Flew up to Heston to see W/C. Turtle C.O> P.D.U.. We had heard that they wanted four more pilots in this and Bloggs and I went to W/C Anderson and then G.C. Dunn to ask for a posting, neither of them were in the least helpful so I went and approached W/C. Turtle about it. He said he would do what he could etc. - in fact gave hope. Subsequently nothing happened!.

July 23rd 1940

(Written up December 1940) No. 3 Squadron moved out to the dispersal area round edge of the aerodrome and worked from Nissan huts near Benson village. Seemed good fun at first during fine weather, though serviceability was still bad. "Purple" warnings introduced 26th July, got caught up at night on 27th!

July 21st 1940

Work goes on as much as usual, unserviceability of the aircraft being the chief worry; we are now getting in much more flying but it is not what it should be. These aircraft are just about finished now. Permission came through for 48 hours leave for screened flying crews and after getting several away we heard that we could now have 7 day's leave before September 1st. Most people nearly passed out at the thought of it and we started straight away. Heard that week Fowler is in P.D.U.. Getting more night flying too now - average two nights out of three. Apparently the role of the Battle aircraft is i. Defence against enemy land invasion by sea or by air. ii. Flight penetration into enemy territory for bombing probably by dawn. iii. Night trips to the N.W. coast of Germany and Holland for the planting of "W" bombs.
Have recently been learning of some pretty good sidelines on this war particularly on the French side of it. Also of some of our own ideas.
On July 19th H.M. King George VI visited this station amongst several others on a tour - much spit and polish and local formation flying! He inspected all the RN. Officers on the station (U/T on loan to RAF) and the squadron leaders - had tea with the wife and then went. That night we had quite a good party in Oxford at the Playhouse Theatre and later at the George Dorchester. We went with the Huxtables and then spent most of the following day (Day off) with them.
Bloggs had another Battle aircraft crashed on forced landing in Devon today crew unhurt. Recently one caught on fire at the aerodrome during one lunch hour after undershooting in a forced landing with a dead prop and wiping away its tail on the trees. Pilot broke a leg and was rescued in time.

July 3rd 1940

First real daylight raid warnings - two; early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Nothing happened however - they were only "yellows" anyway. Volunteered with Henderson for a posting to P.D.U on learning that some good trainees were required for recommendation for that job, put up some wangles for this posting but heard this evening that 3 trainees are going - don't know whether there any more vacancies now. Rumour now points to our re-equipping with Blenheims of course everybody hopes for "Defiants" but!

July 2nd 1940

Rumoured that some paratroopers were dropped pretty near yesterday - one was caught apparently and one or two are still at large, somewhere near Huntercombe. A few days before this there was a scare from Waddington that eight had seen to drop during the late afternoon, but no one could trace anything of them and general opinion seemed to be "just a panic by a farmer and his boy".

June 27th 1940

More raid warnings at night and some bombs dropped - stories of this conflicting. Probably two lots of stick bombing total of 17 bombs. One got pretty close - landed quite near the beacon, no damage done though. Many bombs failed to explode.Night flying lights were still on as only a "yellow" had been received.

June 26th 1940

Station duty officer - more alarms red warning prior 23:30 - 03:45. We did not actually hear any though some were reported flying very high. Not much sleep that night.

June 25th 1940

The first real air raid alarm! After night flying had finished at about 1:15am. I had lent my car to Daddy Swain and as he was still out had to walk home. At about 1:30 the siren went and shortly afterwards I heard Jerry go over - single aircraft at about 6000` with motors violently desynchronized, passed slightly south of the camp accompanied by numerous searchlights. The womenfolk at home were only awakened 2 hours later by the all clear signal!

June 20th 1940

Last day off spent at home until evening when we went into Reading with Henderson and had some food before seeing a show. Work seems to be going on much as usual - lack of aircraft through maintenance, the courses seem to be better organized now, they arrive early and we now have to finish them in 28 days. This is easy on the abbreviated syllabus as long as we do not get too many nights with bad weather. All the Battles have returned from France and so pilots from the last course are hanging about here still - nobody knows what is going to happen whether they will be transferred to another type or not. A rumor was started today that we may be moved to Morecombe Lancashire, another one that we may be re-equipped with Boulton & Paul "Defiants" (Merlin III)!! Probably all baloney.

Had rather a bust up at home between the pair of us and their nurse. However things seem to have settled down better after it! Intake of observers seem to be getting worse - dumber & dumber, the last lot are dreadful.

June 11th 1940

Had no time recently to fill in this book. After some minor trouble the house seemed to settle down quite well. About a week ago Bloggs lost two aircraft with full crews in one day. They flew into a hillside going from Exeter - Lyme Regis low level within 20 minutes of one another, one blew up right away and the other burnt. June 9th one of his flew into the ground after a light take off the pilot was badly burrnt but alive. Probably let his throttle slide back through forgetting to lock it up. June 10th No.1 Squadron had a dreadful one too, full crew killed night flying - flew into the ground for no apparent reason unless he was trying to land on the aerodrome. Aircraft completely blown to bits. Today we hear there is another somewhere near Hansels No. 1 and 2 Squadron - burnt out.

Had a day off on June 1st and after having Jana's teeth done at Reading went to Maidenhead for lunch tea and supper, very quiet pleasant day. Another day off June 10th spent at home with Henderson. Started bathing last week but after two bathes had to lay off for a while due to poisoning from a bite of some sort.

June 5th 1940
I had to go to Oldham as an aircraft had forced landed there the day before. Had lunch with the Master in Salisbury! Alexander promoted to sergeant - he called to see us on June 9th but could not find hide or hair!
Too much logging of flying hours going on with too little leave or free time out of camp I think. Great moans against favoritism by C.O. for No.1 Squadron.

L. Blom got the 1st D.F.C out of ex 62 Squadron personel.

May 28th 1940

Half day fit for flying only - Belgium surrendered to Nazis - pretty disturbing news. Heard last week that Wally Blom got a D.F.C. - first ex 63 Squadron to be awarded. Scheme brought out to use screened crews for Home Defence purposes. Looks as though we might get something to do any day now. Some people were posted to No.18 O.T.U. Hucknall for instrumental staff there to help teach the Poles. Further talk of our being re-equipped with Blenheims though nothing definite a yet.

Had to land a Battle on its belly last week for the first time. Giving advanced dual when the u/c refused to come down manually or hydraulically. Later the manual winding cable was found to be broken. Two days after mine there were three belly landings in one day !!

We are low flying everyday at Benson and are supposed to take days off individually. But we kicked against that and got a flight day off - one flight wing all the aircraft for the day - I think it will work alright.

Peter Corbishley was posted to P.D.U: Photographic Development Unit a "hush hush" high speed photography job which is done at maximum height and speed. Now hear that Martins' wangled a posting to the same job!

May 27th 1940

S.D.O. tonight had a panic because a civilian was wandering around the camp being fired at by the gaurds and was hit.

May 26th 1940

Flght day-off, Knocker also had the day off and Swain and Henderson came round to spend the day. Had drinks with the Fell. Clarkes after tea.

March 24th 1940

Got a half day off to take Jana to Reading to see dentist. Bloggs had two a/c crash complete crews killed.

May 17th 1940

Left Bucklands Hotel and moved into "Ladyholm" Winterbrook, Wallingford with the Knockers, their nurse and two children.

May 16th 1940

Heard definitely today that I am not going to Penthos as a S/Ldr armament specialist will be posted there. A.O.C. No.6 Group came over to-day to test the boys they had been doing their stuff all night. Five more pupil pilots arrived in the flights; rumour has it that the new establishment cuts down the flight to flight commander, one pilot or flying officer and one Sergeant pilot. Sgt Nancarrow had been posted on the last batch to France despite all grumbles.

May 13th 1940

P/O Watts came back to see us from No.50 Squadron at Waddington. He was flying Hampdens operationally and had been over 5 times already, said it was pretty dreadful but I think he really enjoyed it. Jana went to London to spend a couple of days with her mother.

May 11th 1940

Suddenly quantities of pupils posted away to France as action seems to be starting in earnest now. The next day more still were posted, chiefly pilots. Flew up to Sealand and had a word or two with Oliver.

Slack period at the moment one p.pilot only and observers who have slightly finished. Many rumours around of going to France, transferring to Wellingtons etc.

May 4th 1940

No.3 Squadron week-end off. Jana and I drove up to Huntingdon to collect some of our luggage from store. Spent the next day being lazy and playing tennis. Wizard weather.

Now heard a rumour that I may be derailed to go to Penthos as Peter Corbishley is posted to P.D.U. at Heston. Nothing certain as they are waiting for a new establishment.

May 1st 1940

Worst blow of all we hear that for the sake of 207 Squadron 5 other flights have to completely revise the training syllabus - this is the last straw as we only did it a fortnight ago! Only concession W/C Anderson would apparently make to S/Ldr Southwell was that we might finish the pupils we had on the old chart. We were fed up. The flight got 477 hrs. flying last month, Henderson 75 hrs. I got 40hrs.

During the last week Jana and I found a house after months' of searching - but it was too big although a delightful place with a grand garden. At the last moment when we were about to go and tell the owners we could not afford £3-17-6 (fully furnished) we heard that S/Ldr Knocker was looking for a house and wanted to share it. We went along with them and things were more or less fixed up then and there - we had neither of us met his wife or children (2) however it looks as though it will be a saving (or more spending!) of money.
On Monday the 29th Jana started to have driving lessons from Jenkins garage in Wallingford -at last.!

Henderson and I went to Farnbrough to collect a Battle and spent some time looking round particularly at the Westland Whirlwind two engined fighter, about the ugliest thing I have ever seen, and the Bristol Beaufout G.P. aircraft which is already in use in several squadrons.

April 27th 1940

More re-organisation! No flying today; had to move all equipment to a new office in "B" hangar. Still "E" flight No.3 Squadron aircraft all changed - colossal shambles. No. 207 Squadron became No.1 Squadron "A" & "B" flights. Mertas No.2 Squadron "C" & "D" flights and S/Ldr Knocker No.4 "G" & "H" flights. Got fully settled in by the end of the day and then on Monday 29th moved again! Got a little flying in that day; completely new ground personnel N.C.Os etc…

April 24th 1940

Put in an application to see the A.O.C. over the gratuity business. Rogers has got his. Had to alter this into an application to obtain the gratuity - to higher command.

April 22nd 1940

Learnt that the station commander, W/C Nixon and W/C Payne were to be posted immediately! No. 207 Squadron arrived from Cranfield to join up with us into No.12 O.T.U. They had been training on Battles with No.35 Squadron and the latter transferred to Blenheim's. Complete chaos again as no one knows how they are to be fitted in. P/O McKenzie and Foster went on navigational courses to the St. Athans or the long and short one respectively, Mackenzie will probably not return. Henderson took over the Navigation Section for No.3 Squadron. W/C Anderson ex 207 Squadron will now command training wing and G/C. Dunn the station. Got in really successful nights' flying tonight. Jana and I had at last found a house furnished but it was larger and more expensive than we wanted or could afford.

April 15th 1940

Started work as "E" flight No.3 squadron under the schedule. Flying immediately fell off due to the maintenance side of the schedule and we proceeded with a hectic week's work getting very little done. Sgt Edwards came into the flight as a screened pilot and Martin and Barr went down to "D" flight under "Daddy" Swain, the following week drove most people nearly mad.

April 12th 1940

So far a grand week's flying - exceeded all previous records last week by doing 150 hrs in a five-day week. At last some information came out about the big re-organisation. Station to be divided into 3 wings - Training, Maintenance and S.H.Q Wing. Training wing to be three squadrons of two flights each, commanded by a squadron leader with three flight lieutenants under him. So far after some argument Rogers and I stay together with practically all our screened crews in No.3 Squadron under S/Ldr. Southwell (replacement for S/Ldr. Young). Nothing absolutely definite yet - spent the afternoon "conferring" over the training syllabus, as all flights will now train pupils of each type from beginning to end, elementary and operational.

April 5th 1940

After a record week's flying we had decided to pack up on time at 16.00 hrs on Friday so that everybody could get away for the week-end as it was the squadron's week-end off. At 14.15 we hear a pupil has forced landed at St. Eval through bad weather. Hendy and I set off to bring them back. Got there at 16.25 to find the birds had flown! Got home again just before 18.00 hrs! Went to the theatre in Oxford that night to a revue, with Hendy and one of the Army Officers - Robinson. Spent the week-end off making a rabbit hutch!

April 1st 1940

A new course started today, pilots from the last course at Cramwell.

March 30th 1940

Peter Corbishley took his flight up to the Penthos in N.Wales to start up the permanent Armanent flight. Swain, Broadsmith and one Sgt. Pilot went with him. He left Bloggs and I one Battle (dual) and one Anson apiece. Jonny Martin came to 'A' Flight and Bloggs got an extra observer. We decided to continue as two flights rather than make up another'C' Flight, and to share the complete input on every course.
During the previous week we learnt that F/Sgt Brain was to be posted to Southern Rhodesia - apparently there is a new station there. He was quite pleased. Also that Sgt. Barr had got his commission starting on April 1st. He went off on nine days leave to return to the officers mess. Was rather pleased over that as that made two officers under me in the flight but still left Henderson as second in command. This news rather spoilt by the arrival of Jonny Martin in a way though he is only actually attached to 'A'
Flight for flying and is to do the Link Trainer for the whole squadron - however the snag still remains that there will be four of us in the office which will make it rather a shambles.
Finished up the month with a total of 327 hours flying for the flight which is a record since the war started, the previous best being October when we did 313 hours. Henderson did 57 himself - I did 28 hours. Henderson and Jonny Martin came round to supper that evening.

March 29th 1940

Got the C.O's permission to take three of the Canadians up for a flip. Took their O.C, Major Seymour and two others, they seemed to enjoy it a lot. That evening they were giving a farewell sherry party to which we went. Home for supper and then out to Sergeant's Mess Dance at Benson. What a day! Felt all right next morning strangely enough.

March 28th 1940

Party at the Fell-Clarkes until 2.30 am with Canadian Officers stationed at Wallingford with a detachment of R.E.s. Jolly good crowd.

March 27th 1940

Inspection of station by all the specialists of No 6 group followed by a conference of all flight and section commanders with the visitors to discuss methods and snags etc. Mostly hot air and a waste of time from our point of view. S/Ldr Simmonds posted to A.A.S.F.!!

March 24th 1940

Jana and I drove to Maidenhead and had lunch and tea with the Fowlers there. Came home for supper after collecting Jeremy who had been spending the weekend at the local kennels having a trim up.

March 23rd 1940

Jana and I went up to the town early in the morning. Called at her mother's flat for three quarters of an hour and then went to "Beaumount" Nursing Home for her appointment with Dr Loeser at 12 noon for a minor operation. Carried out satisfactorily and I took her back to the Moslyn Hotel at 4pm She rested while I met Bloggs, Mary, Henderson and Mackenzie in the Piccadilly Hotel Brasserie at 6.30pm after collecting tickets for a show that evening. We all had supper at the Moslyn and then went to the Palladium to see "The Little Dog Laughed" Absolutely wizard show very amusing, a good evening.

March 22nd 1940

Good Friday, three days break granted as Privilege Leave, started. We had had a weeks excellent flying weather on the whole. One rather bad night's flying when I was i/c. the weather was doubtful and the aerodrome really far too soft. The cross country started and we had about five soloists up when the "Chance" light went u/s , failing to give more than ½ power and started to pour with rain. All the cross country trips came back except P/O McKenzie and we managed to get them all down, he went round and we washed out after he had landed - before the flare path was completely dismantled the weather had cleared and it became a wizard moonlight night.

March 17th 1940

Brought Jana back from Salisbury after a fortnight's stay there, Jeremy came back to Bucklands too

March 13th 1940

Epic day for "A" flight P/O McArthur R.N.Z.A.F, carrying out local formation practice on P/O Henderson who was leading, brought his wing tip on the leader's tail plane, bent the elevators but fortunately not too badly and Henderson was able to lead them back to Benson all right. P/O Cameron also R.N.Z.A.F was carrying out a low level navigation trip and hit a tree - the whole of one leading edge being severely buckled he also managed to get home all right!

March 11th 1940

Weekend leave until midday Monday 11th March. I attended petty sessions in Salisbury on Monday morning having been summoned for parking - shot a big lie and got the case dismissed with costs! (4/-). Drove straight back to work afterwards. Met S.J.E Huxley in Salisbury.

Second "course" from the pool under C.G.I starts today we are a little behind on the previous bunch of pupils "Courses" seen an improvement as pupils arriving in twos and threes continually. The new course included wireless operators and we now split them into three and each flight trains pilots, observers and wireless operators.

No.52 Squadron were night flying that evening and prior to starting S/Ldr Simmonds had all their pupils up and lectured them on procedure etc. finishing up with the remark "make it go with a swing tonight"! It did, he was actually night flying himself and landed fair and square right on the "Chance" light! He was unhurt. The password into camp that night (previously arranged) was "Beacon" !!

March 8th 1940

After 5 days brilliant flying weather, we had one poor day, luckily coinciding with a station defence exercise. We represented the squadron alone in the dispersed area. A quiet day actually and little trouble from anyone we read and smoked in a "Nissen" hut warmed by a paraffin stove. Did a little flying in the afternoon. That night HO Ward and I got permission to "sabotage" 52 Squadron's aircraft! Sabotage consisted of breaking through their guard from outside the camp and attaching lorries to aircraft. We got three aircraft and a telephone wire and I also managed to pinch a rifle and bayonet belonging to one of the guards while under the aircraft into which he slumbered! Good nights fun! Went away on Saturday for week-end leave after spending dreadfully cold night in the hut by the dispersed aircraft.

March 4th 1940

Started work again, brilliant day after lunch.

February 26th 1940

Went to Folkestone and Bournemouth on Thursday and to town on Friday 1st March. Returned to Bucklands Hotel alone on Sunday 3rd March, to find the Philipsons had left rather under a cloud. The last three days of leave were absolutely glorious summer days. Prior to going on leave brought a wrecked Ford 8 from Jenkins in Wallingford for £9.10, changed the engine which was a good one with mine and took off two new tyres, then sold the remainder with my old engine to a scrap dealer for £4-10, cash!! Henderson looked after the flight while I was away.

February 25th 1940

Wing Commander W.L. Payne took over the squdron. W/C King actually left a few days later. I took six day's leave from the 25th, and went to Salisbury. Took Alexander to enlist as driver in the R.A.S.C. on Monday.

February 20th 1940

A practice game of rugger in the afternoon just about killed everyone! Aerodrome is still U/S for flying, being waterlogged. W/C. King is posted for Signals duties with a new group, his successor will be W/C. Payne from No.6 Group Headquarters.

February 16th 1940

Brought a smashed up Ford 8 with a good engine to replace mine, also 4 new tyres. Bad party in the evening with Pam Furlong at Aston Tyrrol.

February 14th 1940

More night flying I was in charge and Henderson A.C.P. A "B" flight pupil touched down the other side of the Henley - Oxford main road, about 160 yards away from the first flare! He hit the bank and completely buckled the undercarriage, the port wheel being left behind when he opened up and got off again to save himself from landing on the "Chance" light. We kept him up until all the others were down and then cleared the flare path for his landing. He did it very well and was unhurt. The group captain, Squadron Commander a blood-wagon and two fire tenders were in a attendance and quite a flap going on. Next day we learnt that his starboard wheel had drooped off in flight earlier on and had landed in a garden near Wallingford.

All flying personnel had returned from leave and flying started again. The aerodrome was again fairly hard after further frost. Night flying - did a cross country to Worcester and home.

February 3rd 1940

At last late in the afternoon the thaw started and by Sunday morning a good deal had disappeared. Aerodrome was very wet and full of pools of water. Mrs Lawrence talks of turning Bucklands Hotel into flats furnished and self-contained.

Still cold, snow thick on the ground and fog owing to the thaw so at last they decide to let us have some leave. Flying crews were allowed seven days and the men two days, one officer had to remain in each flight. Funny story of S/Ldr Simmonds came to light today. Bomber command despatch driver had been stopped by a man in mufti out of a large black car and was asked by him to come and have a drink. The dispatch driver drove on again - was passed by the large black car which stopped at the next ale-house and waved him in. He managed to evade the drinking and taking the number of the car reported it to Bloggs who was S.D.O. On arrival at Benson Bloogs warned everyone and reported it, next morning they discover from the car number that it was S/Ldr Bill Simmonds!

Leave arrangements were again altered and the station will now close down every Sunday completely; every 2nd Saturday in the month 63 Squadron had an extra day off making a long weekend and every 4th Saturday 52 Squadron did the same.

January 29th 1940

Awoke to find with great relief that it had snowed overnight 1 ½ " - 2" which just made the roads possible in the Ford 8. Had another letter from Towning Trotter - lucky dog at Pembroke Dock on Sunderlands, he had been up to Scotland for a week and had seen two E.A while on patrol but could not get to grips.

January 27th 1940

Started to freeze up again with snow and sleet. The following day we had an extraordinary example of "super cooled rain drops" It had been snowing and must have been freezing on the surface when towards the end of the day it started to rain slightly - immediately everything was covered in a thick sheet of ice, hard and firm. We could have skated on the lawn at Bucklands late that night. The car was covered about ¼ " thick with ice, the roads were pure sheet ice, I have never seen anything so phenomenal happen so quickly.

January 24th 1940

24th & 25th - Two good days flying - got in five hours flying. Sgt/Pilot R.J.Barr was posted to "A" Flight from "C" Flight as the latter now started training pilots and observers on exactly thte same lines as "A" & "B".

January 19th 1940

Three days leave started. Jana and I stayed at Bucklands Hotel. Went out to dinner with the C.O. and then to a dance at Abingdon Mess. Not a very bright show ( Got a little tiddled and apparently told the C.O. what I thought of him, according to Jana. I don't remember this!) F/O Amie Philipsen, wife and child arrived to stay at the Bucklands. The Thames was frozen over completely in places and we actually walked right across on the ice. Still freezing, snowing and generally pretty cold.

January 17th 1940

A Tiger Moth landed in a field by Huntercombe Golf Club late in the afternoon. We were duty flight and so had to guard it. I got the C.O.'s permission to try and fly it out and Henderson and I went up there, boiled the car first time and returned to fill up and have another try. We spent about half an hour trying to start it when the Station Commander arrived and strongly suggested we should push off home! Not suprising as it was dark but there was a good moon and I had a flare path teed up at Benson.

January 16th 1940

After further tests with an aircraft empty of petrol save for 30 gallons the C.O. was out and flew the aircraft out of the field successfully.

January 14th 1940

Drove out with C.O. in his car to the forced landed aircraft. Little damage done, the field was 400 paces long and the lowest hedge 15ft at the end. The C.O. could not make up his mind whether to fly it out or not. In the end we decided to have it dismantled and taken away. Directly we got back to camp we took a Battle out and while he took off I watched at 400 of his paces up wind - he did the same for me. Both of us got it about 10ft off the ground only at 400 paces - almost yards.

January 13th 1940

P/O Danson, pupil pilot forced landed near Great Missendon in the Chiltern Hills owing to oncoming darkness - we had already got a flare path laid. Max and Lorraine came over to supper. P/O Watts looked in during the day from Cottesmore flying Hampden.

January 8th 1940

Flew out and reconnoitered the aircraft near Thame. Went out by lorry with maintenance personnel, arrived there at 11am. Weather was very poor then, so we started up, moved it, and ran the engine up and then returned to Thame for lunch. Took off at 13.30 and just got out of the field without using the cut-out. Rationing of butter, sugar and fats, ham and bacon started - caused amusement in the hotel where we each had a bowl with a label on it.

January 7th 1940

Weather became bad during the afternoon and P/O Gavin (pupil) forced landed successfully near Thame. I went out to try and locate him late in the afternoon but was unable to get as far as Thame.

January 6th 1940

Late in the evening P/O Foster with a pupil in a dual Battle flew round and round with undercarriage up. Most of the squadron had a front seat to watch the landing and we got the fire tender and "blood wagon" limbered up ready for the happy event. In the end they got down all right on the undercarriage - the intercommunication (Gosport tube) had broken down midway between the two of them.

January 1st 1940

Sgt.Jernits, pupil pilot, took away the chimney of village policeman's house in Benson and landed all right with a damaged tail plane.
On January 1st we were Dick Wharbinton's guests to dinner and then on to a dance at Shillingford Bridge, most of the fellows were there and we had an excellent party.
The following notes were found to the side of the postcard:
Christmas Card sent by their Majesties to all on active service. All screened personnel at Benson received one.
The back of the card reads:
With our best wishes for Christmas 1939. May God bless you and protect you Elizabeth R George R.I.
The following names were found below the photograph:
Back row from left to right
AC.Bruckshaw. AC.Paeece. AC.Caddon. AC.Mathias. AC.Brewster. LAC.Norledge. SGT.Fletcher. AC.Dunham. AC.Samways.
Middle row from left to right
SGT.Oliver. SGT.Barr. P/O McKenzie. P/O Foster. P/O.Coventry. P/O Henderson. SGT.Nancarrow. CPL.Medway.SGT.Burden. SGT.Walters.
Front row from left to right
P/O.Lawson. P/O.Broadsmith.F/Lt.Rogers. F/Lt.James. W/C.King. F/Lt.Corbishley. F/O.Swain. P/O Herd. P/O.Martin