The War Service of

Thomas Tennant Taylor, 1892-1944

On the 24th August 1917 Thomas Tennant Taylor reported to St Leonards and thus began his flying career with the Royal Flying Corps (established April 1912).

Thomas Taylor was 25 when he embarked on his military career. I am intrigued as to why someone who was clearly eligible for service during WW1 had not been called up earlier perhaps it was because he was a married man. He had married Eva Maude Wilson in December of 1915 or was it because he was a dentist and that was a reserved occupation?

On the 25^th August he was posted to Denham for officer training and commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant (ground) effective 17^th November 1917. Flying training followed with a posting to 51 Training Squadron at Waddington on the 28^th November 1917.

51 Squadron had been formed at Thetford, Norfolk on 15^th May 1916 as a home defence squadron, eventually specialising in night flying duties. The unit also provided flying training for newly qualified aircrew who were destined to join other squadrons in France. 51 Training Squadron was based at Waddington from 1^st June 1917 until 4^th October 1918.

Basic flying training was completed by March 1918, and T T Taylor was appointed 2^nd Lieutenant Flying Officer on the 9^th March 1918 (gazetted 11^th April 1918).

The Air Force Bill which created the Royal Air Force had been given royal assent on the 28^th November 1917 and the Royal Air Force came into being on the 1^st April 1918. This exactly coincides with the training period of T. T. Taylor, he would have therefore have held a commission first in the army and then in the air force. His name appears in the first Air Force List (May 1918, entry 446, 453).

Upon appointment to a flying rank T. T. Taylor was posted to 51 Training Squadron based at Waddington. This was presumably for further training, perhaps "night flying" since this was a speciality of 51 Squadron. At some point during the next couple of months T. T. Taylor was posted to 13 Training Depot Squadron and then on the 13^th June to 44 Training Squadron from here a posting followed to 48 Squadron, all based at Waddington.

Whilst with 48 Training Depot Squadron on 8^th November 1918, he was promoted Lieutenant in the National Reserve (No 384). Hostilities ceased 11^th November 1918.

The RAF did not forget T.T. Taylor, an entry in his record dated 12^th June 1941 shows his address as "Helenslea" New Cumnock, Ayrshire, clearly they were checking his whereabouts should he be needed for service during WW2.

T. T. Taylor's active flying career came to an end on the 30^th January 1919, but it was not until the 6^th March that he was posted to Georgetown for dispersal and to the unemployed list on the 8^th March 1919, 18 months after he had first reported at St Leonard's.

Census 339, which I assume was taken at the formation of the RAF, shows T. T. Taylor as being in A1 medical condition. This meant that from both a medical and training stand point he was considered suitable for combat duties.

Extracts from the RAF Service Record of Thomas Tennant Taylor

Number P J 21041

Notes:

In margin, "British, RFC, R.A.F (National Reserve (384) 8/11/18)"

Under Special Qualifications

Knowledge of French

Since joining RFC: Types Flown, DH6, BE2E, Small, Armstrong-Whitworth FK3, and RE8.

T. T. Taylor Chronology of Squadrons with whom he served at Waddington

A History of 51 Squadron

Motto "SWIFT AND SURE"

No 51 Sqn was formed at Thetford on 15 May 1916 as a Home Defence Squadron. Initially the Squadron flew a mixed group of BE 2c, BE 2d, and BE 12s before specialising in night fighter duties with the first FE 2b, and later the Avro 504K, which was converted to a single seat night fighter. In addition, the Squadron used the DH4 and the Avro 504K to give night flying training to newly qualified aircrew destined to join other squadrons in France.

The Squadron disbanded in June 1919, at Sutton's Farm, Hornchurch.

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Copyright Grahame J Taylor June 2002