Stores Distribution Park 5 Edgbaston Royal Flying Corps

[winterbrun]

Hello,
Has anyone ever come across 5 SDP Edgbaston (Stores Distribution Park) . It may have been a Royal Flying Corps establishment in 1917.

Thanks
J
John

 

[Pedrocut]

Midland Daily Telegraph, January 1920

 

[brummy-lad]

Struggling to find references to Waterworks Lane perhaps a typo and should be Waterworks Road. Kelly's do not list an RAF Stores but I suspect this would be unlikely during a period of war.

 

[winterbrun]

Thanks so much. This is a great lead. An airman who served with TE Lawrence ( of Arabia) in Aqaba in 1917 was sent 5 SDP which I think is this one Edgbaston. The airman had family in Cotteridge which is perhaps why he was sent here in 1919

 

[brummy-lad]

I suspect this aerial view from 1948 probably shows the original buildings but without further information it's impossible to know for sure.

 

[brummy-lad]

Another earlier image from 1937

 

[winterbrun]

Thanks. I am beginning to think that Waterworks Lane was at the end of Waterworks Road, near the junction with Carlyle Rd. The 5 SDP could be where the Omnibus Works were constructed in the 1920s.

 

[brummy-lad]

Thanks. I am beginning to think that Waterworks Lane was at the end of Waterworks Road, near the junction with Carlyle Rd. The 5 SDP could be where the Omnibus Works were constructed in the 1920s.

I thought that could be the case too, the buildings would seem to be right for that.

 

[RFCHistory]

Thanks so much. This is a great lead. An airman who served with TE Lawrence ( of Arabia) in Aqaba in 1917 was sent 5 SDP which I think is this one Edgbaston. The airman had family in Cotteridge which is perhaps why he was sent here in 1919

Included in my database of personnel serving at Castle Bromwich and Birmingham during WWI are the names of 77 n.c.o.'s and other ranks who are listed as serving at No.5 SDP Edgbaston. I wonder if your man is among them?

 

[RFCHistory]

While i'm on the subject, reading the description in the Ministry of Munitions Disposal Board advert, I have no doubt in my mind that the warehousing in the aerial photos was No.5 SDP. At first, the extent of the site surprised me, but when you think about the role of this unit it does make sense. No.5 SDP was controlled by 25th Wing RFC, an administrative unit based at Castle Bromwich which in turn was responsible for controlling all the flying training squadrons and support units at Castle Bromwich, Lilbourne and Tern Hill. No.5 SDP was responible for supplying the daily needs of hundreds of men, and the material requirements of an extensive fleet of aircraft and mechanical transport - fuel, oil, spares etc. I have a photo of a couple of officers standing inside one of the sheds there and it's clearly a huge building.