Former RN Paymaster and Captain in the RNAS
Can any knowledgeably soul help a less knowledgeable soul to answer some questions that will enable me to tell this fine young man’s story?
He rests in Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire, his grave marked by a CWGC headstone that shows him as a Major in the R.A.F.
I didn’t think the rank of Major existed in the RAF!
He was a Captain in the RNAS – Was that a rank in the RNAS?
This research is turning into a real mystery as I cannot find (with my limited knowledge and accesses) anything about his Naval promotions and even less about how he came to transfer into the RAF and what happened in the short time between transfer and his equally unexplained death.
I have trawled through the local Aldershot and Farnborough news papers of the time but can find nothing about his death (unsurprising as it happened when he was on leave – wherever that may have been?) Or disapointlingly his funeral which I would have expected would have been with full military honours and as with other military burials of the time reported – but alas no!!
Date of appointment to RN 15 July 1909 – Unconfirmed
1910 an Assistant Clerk
1911 Clerk
1912 Assistant Paymaster
*********************************************
According to his British Royal Airforce service record (which was easy to read)
I think I have worked out a sequence of events, but I am not 100%, and there are still some questions in my mind, caused by not understanding the language used.
02 04 1918, he is shown as a Captain Admin with effect from the 01/04 1918?
But I can’t find out the 5 WH of this occurred – I believe that he was a Paymaster up until 1917?
20 / 11 / 18 Mediterranean District M R 911
20 / 11 / 18 British Royal Nany Acct Officer R.A.F
18 / 12 / 18 he was posted to HQ Mediterranean District Malta
31 /12/18 shown as Captain Acting Major Admin, W.P as Major ‘Admin = W.P?
Backdated I think to 10th of June 1918.
31 / 01 / 1919 HQ Mediterranean District, United Kingdom duty and leave – I am unsure what he duty was or if this is when he joined the R.A.F
03 / 03 / 1919 Died while on leave
There is an entry which reads I think, (regarded as transferred to R.G 7 01/04/19)
Another I could not make out but think said (drudDisg 12 3 19)
NOK shown as Mrs R G Callaway of ‘Talgarth 10 Connaught Road Folkestone
No permanent address shown – Did he did whilst visiting his mother in Folkestone? – How did he die?
In another Naval record I saw that he was shown in 1919 as having the rank P.L
I do not know what any of the abbreviations above stand for.
If anyone can shed any light at all on any of the above, I would be eternally grateful. Or directions to where I might find the missing information would be appreeciated also.
I am desperate to join the dots on this puzzle so that I can have this young man’s life story and service to country told and remembered accordingly.
Many thanks – expectantly hopeful of help.
Dean
Can any knowledgeably soul help a less knowledgeable soul to answer some questions that will enable me to tell this fine young man’s story?
He rests in Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire, his grave marked by a CWGC headstone that shows him as a Major in the R.A.F.
I didn’t think the rank of Major existed in the RAF!
He was a Captain in the RNAS – Was that a rank in the RNAS?
This research is turning into a real mystery as I cannot find (with my limited knowledge and accesses) anything about his Naval promotions and even less about how he came to transfer into the RAF and what happened in the short time between transfer and his equally unexplained death.
I have trawled through the local Aldershot and Farnborough news papers of the time but can find nothing about his death (unsurprising as it happened when he was on leave – wherever that may have been?) Or disapointlingly his funeral which I would have expected would have been with full military honours and as with other military burials of the time reported – but alas no!!
Date of appointment to RN 15 July 1909 – Unconfirmed
1910 an Assistant Clerk
1911 Clerk
1912 Assistant Paymaster
*********************************************
According to his British Royal Airforce service record (which was easy to read)
I think I have worked out a sequence of events, but I am not 100%, and there are still some questions in my mind, caused by not understanding the language used.
02 04 1918, he is shown as a Captain Admin with effect from the 01/04 1918?
But I can’t find out the 5 WH of this occurred – I believe that he was a Paymaster up until 1917?
20 / 11 / 18 Mediterranean District M R 911
20 / 11 / 18 British Royal Nany Acct Officer R.A.F
18 / 12 / 18 he was posted to HQ Mediterranean District Malta
31 /12/18 shown as Captain Acting Major Admin, W.P as Major ‘Admin = W.P?
Backdated I think to 10th of June 1918.
31 / 01 / 1919 HQ Mediterranean District, United Kingdom duty and leave – I am unsure what he duty was or if this is when he joined the R.A.F
03 / 03 / 1919 Died while on leave
There is an entry which reads I think, (regarded as transferred to R.G 7 01/04/19)
Another I could not make out but think said (drudDisg 12 3 19)
NOK shown as Mrs R G Callaway of ‘Talgarth 10 Connaught Road Folkestone
No permanent address shown – Did he did whilst visiting his mother in Folkestone? – How did he die?
In another Naval record I saw that he was shown in 1919 as having the rank P.L
I do not know what any of the abbreviations above stand for.
If anyone can shed any light at all on any of the above, I would be eternally grateful. Or directions to where I might find the missing information would be appreeciated also.
I am desperate to join the dots on this puzzle so that I can have this young man’s life story and service to country told and remembered accordingly.
Many thanks – expectantly hopeful of help.
Dean
Portrait & info here: 
