William Slade Vincent

Appendix 4.0
Royal Flying Corp 1918 - 1919

Around early 1918, William joining the Royal Flying Corp (R.F.C.) was being considered by the War Office. Maybe, as he was not seen to be able to return to the trenches, they thought there was another role more suitable for him.

A minute was written on him by a Major (maybe of the R.F.C.):

Minute written on William by R.F.C as “Artillery Pilot” [172]

Transcript:

“This Officer served 18 mth in France and was wounded. He has had flying experience and has been passed fit for the above duties.”

A search as to what was meant by “Artillery Pilot” was unsuccessful, but it could only mean an aerial observer to allow the most effective use of one’s own artillery or to spot the enemies artillery and give co-ordinates of their battery positions. Whether he was the pilot or the observer in the two-seater plane is unknown. There is no evidence that William ever had flying experience.

There is more about Artillery Reconnaissance in Appendix 4.1.

On 16th February 1918, he was sent a telegram ordering him to present to the R.F.C. base at Reading, Berkshire.

Transfer to Reading R.F.C. [173]

Transcript:

“Join at Reading forthwith for instruction in aviation (artillery). Railway warrant herewith attached. Camp Kit should be taken”

William duly reported to Reading and commenced his short career with the R.F.C.

William’s Record Sheet at R.F.C. Reading [174]

On 31st August 1918, William was transferred to Eastchurch R.F.C., on the Isle of Sheppey, about 100km east of London. Eastchurch was a base for the School of Aviation Marine Observers.

William’s Record of Service at Eastchurch [175]

William spent some time at Eastchurch, but his health deteriorated, and on 8th May 1918 he was declared unit for any service for 4 months, unfit for general service for 2 months and possibly fit after that.

William unfit at Eastchurch R.F.C. base [176]

He was seen at the Royal Naval Hospital Chatham on 21st November 1918, which was only a few kilometres from the base but was not kept in hospital.

On 4th January 1919, the Air Council formally notified the Army Council that William was unfit for further flying and his services were no longer needed by the Royal Air Force (by this time, the Royal Flying Corps had changed its name to the Royal Air Force or R.A.F).

William’s Service with RAF to Cease [177]

Two similar letters are both sent on 20th January 1919, to the Commanding Officer of the 3rd (Depot) Bn. of the K.O.R.L.R. and William. The first, to the 3rd Bn., advising that William’s employment with the R.A.F. has ceased, and he has been ordered to report to the 3rd Bn, located then at Dovercourt, near Harwich, Essex. The second letter advised William that the Air Ministry had been advised that he is to join the 3rd Bn.

In both letters are comments that William made in an interview at the War Office, stating that due to his lack of fitness, he would like to resign his commission and return to Australia. He was asked to take this matter up with the 3rd Bn.

Letter to Commanding Officer 3rd Bn. K.O.R.L.R. [178]

Letter to William advising him to report to 3rd Bn. [179]

Another reference to his last days with the R.A.F. was from the Air Ministry to the War Office.

Struck off strength of RAF [180]

It is interesting to note that in the obituary for William, published on 30th November 1934, mention was made of him being “severely injured when his plane crashed, and he never completely recovered”. No record of this crash was found in the records at hand. (More about the content of William’s obituary will be discussed later).

Mention of Plane Crash in William’s Obituary 30th November 1934 [181]

William’s career with the R.F.C. and R.A.F. was at an end and he now sought repatriation to Australia.

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[172] - [173] National Archive of UK – Service Record William Slade Vincent
[174] - [176] The National Archives of UK reference AIR 76/522/119
[177] - [180] National Archive of UK – Service Record William Slade Vincent
[181] Midlands Advocate (Perth, WA : 1930 - 1954), Friday 30 November 1934, page 1