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Military School, Birmingham - Maurice Farman Biplane

I

Ian C Pearson

Guest
Hi

My Grandfather Kenneth Noble Pearson joined the Royal Engineers along with his younger brother Leonard John.

I list below all those who past their flying Certificate from June to December 1915 at the time the two brothers Learnt to fly. Why Leonard learnt to fly in Montrose Scotland I do not know. They were certainly in the right Regiment as the RFC came from the Royal Engineers.

I am looking to find out if anybody has any old photos of the flying school, It's History and where was it. The Aircraft the early learners used to fly was the Maurice Farman Biplane. This was a very early and basic model of Aircraft. A few weeks after they learnt to fly in these basic of Aircraft they were sent to the front to fly a more sophisticated and powerful Airplane.

My Grandfather flew a Martinsyde G100 and then a Martinsyde G1002 Elephant as part of 27 Squadron. Leonard was part of 13 Squadron.
June 18, 1915. FLIGHT
The following Aviators' Certificates were granted: —

1312 - 2nd Lieut. Kenelm Lyall (Norfolk Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). June 8th, 1915.


1315 - 2nd Lieut. Lionel Arthur Newbold (i/2nd Batt. Essex Regt.) (Maurice Karman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). June 10th, 1915.

June 25, 1915. FLIGHT
The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted :—
None
July 2, 1915. FLIGHT
The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted:—

1347 - 2nd Lieut. Robin Ernest Cuff (3rd Loyal North Lancashire Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). June 23rd, 1915.

1348 - Horace Gordon Dean (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). June 24th, 1915.
JULY 16, 1915. FLIGHT


1405 - Cyril Mountain Leman (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). July 3rd, 1915.


1406 - 2nd Lieut. Claude Manley Gibson (10th East Surrey Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). July 3rd, 1915.

1412 - Sergt. Harold Cecil Smith, R.F.C. (Maurice Farman Biplane,
Military School, Birmingham). July 8th, 1915.

1415 - Sergt. James Dennis Payne, R.F.C. (Maurice Farman
Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). July 10th, 1915.

JULY 23, 1915. FLIGHT

The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed


1431 - Geoffrey Hamilton Norman (Maurice Farman Biplane,
Military School, Birmingham). July 13th, 1915.

1432 - Lieut. Edward Pellew Plenty (Manchester Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Farnborough).

1442 - Lieut. Alan Howard Jackson (Sherwood Foresters) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). July 16th, 1915.

JULY 30, 1915. FLIGHT

The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted:

1456 - 2nd Lieut. Richard Spencer Lucy (2/7 Worcestershire Regt.), (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). July 21st, 1915.

AUGUST 6, 1915. FLIGHT

The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted:

1479 - Edward Roylyn Norman Hyde (Maurice Farman Biplane,
Military School, Birmingham). July 20th, 1915.

1481 - 2nd Lieut. John Sowrey (Queen's Regt.) (Maurice Farman
Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). July 29th, 1915.

1482 - Robert Barton (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School,
Birmingham). July 29th, 1915.

1483 - 2nd Lieut. George Bailey Hodgson, R.G. A. (Maurice Farman
Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). July 29th, 1915.

AUGUST 13, 1915. FLIGHT
Aviators' Certificates have been granted:

1503 - Allister M. Miller (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 4th, 1915.

1505 - 2nd Lieut. Arthur Tyrconnel Wynyard-Wright (East Surrey Regt)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 4th, 1915

1514 - 2nd Lieut. Allan Higson Smith (Lincolnshire Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 6th, 1915

1515 - 2nd Lieut. Geoffrey Chance (Royal Fusiliers) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 6th, 1915.

1516 - 2nd Lieut. Cyril Bertram Cooke, R.G.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 6th, 1915.

AUGUST 20, 1915. FLIGHT
The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted:

1524 - 2nd Lieut. Hugh Claude Wakefield ( 11th East Surrey Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School. Birmingham). July 15th, 1915.

1547 - Lieut. Dermot James Sheridan (Royal Irish Fusiliers), (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 9th, 1915.

1560 - 2nd Lieut. Philip George Scott (9th Gloucester Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 10th, 1915.

1589 - 2nd Lieut. James Theodore Rod well (12th Essex Regt.), (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug, 13th, 1915.


AUGUST 27, 1915. FLIGHT
The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed

1601 - 2nd Lieut. Eric Digby Johnson ( 11th East Surrey Regt.),
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 17th, 1915.

1604 - 2nd Lieut. Edmund Roger Tempest (King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry), (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug 18th, 1915.

1611 - 2nd Lieut. Vernon Busby, R. E. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug 18th, 1915.

1621 - 2nd Lieut. Kenneth Noble Pearson, R.E. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug 20th, 1915.

1627 - Lieut. Arthur Ramsay Stanley Clarke (1st Dorset Regt.),
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham).
Aug. 23rd, 1915.

1629 - 2nd Lieut. L. Roy Hey wood, R.E. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 23rd, 1915.

SEPTEMBER 3, 1915. FLIGHT

The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted:—


1630 - Lieut. George Dudley Gardner (2/4 Yorkshiie Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 7th, 1915.

1647 - 2nd Lieut. Hubert Constantine Smith (21st Manchester Regt.), (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Aug. 25th, 1915.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1915. FLIGHT

Following Aviators' Certificates have been granted:

1734 - 2nd Lieut. John Forster Alcock (6th Bedfordshire Regt.) (Maurice.Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 10th, 1915.

1751 - 2nd Lieut. Charles Ernest Hilton James (Border Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 14th, 1915. .

1753 - William Rowland Spottiswoode Humphreys (Maurice Farman
Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 15th, 1915.

1754 - 2nd Lieut. William Brass (Surrey Yeomanry) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 15th, 1915.

OCTOBER 1, 1915. FLIGHT

The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted :—

1768 - Capt. Harry Francis Adam Gordon (York and Lancaster Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 12th, 1915.

1771 - Lieut. Archibald Paul Dickie (5th The Black Watch)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 21st, 1915.

1772 - Lieut. Geoffrey Astelev Burney (i/3rd Scottish Horse)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 21st, 1915.

1773 - Capt. Frederick George Alleyne Arkwright (nth Hussars)
(Maurice Farman biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 21 st, 1915.

1774 - 2nd Lieut. Lord Doune (l/2nd Scottish Horse) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 21st, 1915.

1775 - 2nd Lieut. Alan Herbert Hardy (Royal East Kent Yeomanry)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 21st, 1915.

1776 - Lieut. Eric McCrae Gilmore (9th The Suffolk Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 22nd, 1915.

1778 - Lieut. Ronald Blatherwick (3rd The Royal Scots Fusiliers)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 22nd, 1915.

1779 - Lieut. William Harold Primrose (7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 22nd, 1915.

1780 - 2nd Lieut. Matthew Talbot Baines (Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Sept. 22nd, 1915

1781 - 2nd Lieut. Lawrence Arthur Wingfield (6th Royal Fusiliers)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 22nd, 1915.

1786 - Lieut. John Clisdal, S.A.M.R. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 24th, 1915.

1791 – 2nd Lieut. William Robert Douglas Shaw (2/7th The Essex Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 25th, 1915.
OCTOBER 8, 1915. FLIGHT

The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed

1816 - 2nd Lieut. Maurice Duncan Basden (London Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 4th, 1915.

1817 - 2nd Lieut. Guy Shaw (West Yorkshire Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 4th, 1915.

1819 - 2nd Lieut. Robert P. Willock (Oxfordshire and Bucks L.I.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 4th, 1915.

OCTOBER 15, 1915. FLIGHT

THE following Aviators' Certificates have been granted:


1821 - 2nd Lieut. Frank Harold Furness-Williams, R.F.A.
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Sept. 5th, 1915.

1827 - 2nd Lieut. William Henry Thorp Long (Dorsetshire Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 4th, 1915.

1837 - Lieut. Cecil Roy Leonard Falcy (4th Royal Berkshire Regt. (T.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 6th, 1915.

1843 - Stanley Seward Halse (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military
School, Birmingham). Oct. 8th, 1915.

1844 - Lieut. Earl Webster Farrow (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 8th, 1915.

1845 - Lieut. Geoffrey Foster Bone (Devonshire R.E. (T.F.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 8th, 1915.

1847 - 2nd Lieut. John Edridge Pike (13th Durham Light Infantry)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 9th, 1915.

OCTOBER 15, 1915. FLIGHT
Royal Flying Corps Reorganisation.
The re-organisation of the Royal Flying Corps foreshadowed recently by the promotion of several officers to the rank of Brigadier-General is further explained in the October Army Orders. It is announced that the corps will in future be organised in Brigades, each Brigade being composed of two or more Wings. The Administrative
Wing, Royal Flying Corps, will remain outside the Brigade organisation, and continue to be administered as a separate unit.

OCTOBER 22, 1915. FLIGHT

The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted :—

1873 - Lieut. Thomas Laurence Purdom (Scottish Borderers) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 11th, 1915.

OCTOBER 29, 1915. FLIGHT

The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed

1898 - 2nd Lieut. Albert Ball, N.M.D.C.C. (Caudron Biplane, Ruffy-Baumann School, Hendon). Oct. 15th, 1915.

1899 - Capt. Cuthbert Trelawder Maclean (7th Royal Fusiliers)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Oct. 16th, 1915.

1900 - 2nd Lieut. George Ranald Macfarlane Reid (4th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Oct. 16th, 1915.

1901 - Lieut. Cyril Herbert Gardner, R.F.A. (T.F.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Oct. 16th, 1915

1902 - 2nd Lieut. Christopher Humphrey Tancred, R.F.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Oct. 16th, 1915.

NOVEMBER 5, 1915. FLIGHT

The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted :—

1938 - 2nd Lieut. Brian Edmutd Baker (15th Rifle Brigade)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Oct. 25th, 1915.

1939 - 2nd Lieut. George Hall Gordon, R.F.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 26th, 1915.

1940 - Clive Harold liaise (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 26th, 1915.

1944 - Capt. Ralph Harold Austin-Sparks, R.F.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 27th, 1915.

1945 - Kenneth John Munro (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 27th, 1915.

1951 - Capt. Alexander Morice Wilson (l/4th Gordon Highlanders)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montiose). Oct. 17th, 1915.

1952 - Lieut. Con William Eric Cole-Hamilton (2nd The Royal Scots) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 26th, 1915.


1953 - Lieut. Herman W. von Poellnitz (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 26th, 1915.

MAY 23, 1918 Flight
Major HERMAN WALTER VON POELLNITZ, Lincolnshire Regiment and R.A.F., who was fatally injured in the motor accident abroad on May 17th, was the only chilld of Baron and Baroness Poellnitz. Blacklee, Sidcup, and grandson of the late Sir Walter Elliot, K.C.S.I., of Wolfelee, Hawick, aged 27.

1955 - Capt. Stanley Evlyn Lewis (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 27th, 1915.

1957 - 2nd Lieut. Cyril Talbot Burney Croft (Somerset Light Infantry (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 27th, 1915.

1959 - 2nd Lieut. Alfred Oscar Gilby, R.F.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Oct. 28th, 1915.

DECEMBER 3, 1915. FLIGHT


The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed

2048 - Capt. Walter Gerard Palmer (113th Infantry, Indian Army) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military Flying Park, Basra, Mesopotamia). Sept. 25th, 1915.

2074 - 2nd Lieut. Walter George Albu (Royal Irish Fusilier?)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military Shool, Birmingham). Nov. 20th, 1915.

2092 - 2nd Lieut. Edward Selwyn Moulton-Barrett (Seaforth-Highlanders) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 24th, 1915.

NOVEMBER 12, 1915. FLIGHT


The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed

1981 - 2nd Lieut. Leonard John Pearson, R.E. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Montrose). Nov. 3rd, 1915.

1983 - Lieut. Ernest Royle Mortimer Griffin, A.S.C. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 3rd, 1915

1984 - Lieut. Trafford Jones (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military
School, Birmingham). Nov. 3rd, 1915.

1985 - 2nd Lieut. Ronald Stephen Wells (9th Bedfordshire Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 3rd, 1915.

1986 - 2nd Lieut. Ralph Cyril Stoddard (10th South Lancashire
Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 4th, 1915.

1988 - Lieut. James Stanley Scott, C.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 5th, 1915.

1989 - 2nd Lieut. Thomas Roy Irons (3rd Yorks and Lancashire Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 5th, 1915.

1990 - 2nd Lieut. Reginald John Lowcock (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 5th, 1915.

NOVEMBER 26, 1915. FLIGHT


Second Lieut. Stanley Edward Adams, R.G.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov.15th, 1915.

DECEMBER 3, 1915. FLIGHT


The granting of the following Aviators' Certificates was confirmed

2048 - Capt. Walter Gerard Palmer (113th Infantry, Indian Army) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military Flying Park, Basra, Mesopotamia). Sept. 25th, 1915.

2074 - 2nd Lieut. Walter George Albu (Royal Irish Fusilier?)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military Shool, Birmingham). Nov. 20th, 1915.

2092 - 2nd Lieut. Edward Selwyn Moulton-Barrett (Seaforth-Highlanders) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 24th, 1915.
2097 - 2nd Lieut. James Edward Hutton Freeman (7th Battn., Royal West Surrey Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 26th, 1915.

2098 - 2nd Lieut. Douglas Huon Gray (14th King's Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 26th, 1915.

2099 - 2nd Lieut. George Henry Nicholson (9th Batt. Royal West Surrey Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Nov. 26th, 1915.

DECEMBER 17, 1915. FLIGHT
The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted :—

2143 - Capt. Henry Stewart Walker (Cheshire Regt.) (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Dec. 9th, 1915.

DECEMBER 24, 1915. FLIGHT
The following Aviators' Certificates have been granted

2151 - Lieut. Patrick Alexander Ogilvie Leask (2nd Royal Irish Rifles)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Dec. 13th, 1915.

2152 - Second Lieut. Gerald Howard Wilkinson (9th Buffs)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Dec. 13th, 1915.

2154 - Second Lieut. John Kenneth Summers (Royal Warwickshire Regt.)
(Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Dec. 13th, 1915.

2157 - Second Lieut. Allan Maxwell Lowery, R.F.A. (Maurice Farman Biplane, Military School, Birmingham). Dec. 13th, 1915.


I hope this little bit of research helps. It's nice that you can now obtain a photo of the pilots together with their Certificate Card.

It would be nice to see some photos of the flying School and if their are any group photos

Regards

Ian C Pearson
 
Hi Terry

I will copy it onto the WW1 Forum. I am Corporal Bigs cause most of my mates know me as Biggles. The laugh is my Grandfather is the real Biggles.
Captain KN Pearson RFC.

I have been speaking with Kevan Darby re my Grandfathers youngest Brother Alfred Pearson was in the 9th Bt R War R.

Regards

Ian
 
Hi Ian,

Joining this forum thread very late in the day I know, but I am a relative of Herman Von Poellnitz. I have just started to do some research on some of my relatives who were involved in WW1.

In terms of Herman I have read the excellent document "From the First to the Last" by Guy Warner which has lots of information and a few photos.

I would be interested in any other information you have gathered as part of your research that includes Herman
Many thanks.
Nick
 
Nick,

Welcome to the Forum. As you say, a bit late in the day! The original poster is no longer a member, Lencops has sadly passed away, and the server demon.co.uk link no longer exists. You could, however, try the link that Terry Carter gave as there may be a response there. Good hunting!

Maurice :cool:
 
Hi, can anyone give me any info about the family of CAPT. WALTER GERARD PALMER 113TH INFANTRY, INDIAN ARMY, ATTD. ROYAL FLYING CORPS AS STAFF OBSERVER.
 
Possibly born 1884 Devon, the son of the superbly named Cadwallader Edwards Palmer and Florence Loveband maybe.
 
He's definitely the son of the above, his death is mentioned in several articles. No wife is mentioned.

He appears to have had 4 siblings, Cadwallader Edwards, Florence Theophila, Arthur Cecil (all born in India) and Leonard Edgcombe.
 
Last edited:
Missed a brother out - Lawrence Reynolds.

All 6 siblings had a military connection - Cadwallader, Arthur & Leonard army, Lawrence navy and Florence married a soldier.

Cadwallader married in Ireland and Arthur in India.
 
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