[Ian Burns]

I have found several examples of RAF personnel from Egypt being granted Colonial Leave during 1918. The leave period apparently excluded travel time – which could be several weeks to and from Canada and/or Australia, New Zealand.

Reference to ‘Air Ministry Orders No.70, Paragraph 6’ appears to detail the leave.

Any information especially a copy of the AMO would be most welcome.

[Errol Martyn]

Ian,

I am aware of at least four Kiwi?? who were granted about six months leave to travel home to New Zealand. The six months included travel time of about 6-8 weeks each way.

They were Eliot King, Maurice Buckley, Phil Fowler and Les Brake.

The interesting thing is that all were granted their leave in 1918, all were RAF ex-RNAS and all were, or were recently serving in the Mediterranean theatre. This may be a reflection of the particularly debilitating climatatic environment their service was being carried out in?

Errol

[Ian Burns]

Thanks Errol,
To your list I should add Guy Duncan Smith (leave to Canada > California) and Henry Vernon Worrall to Melbourne – he travelled with King. Again both ex-RNAS in Egypt.

There is certainly a pattern here… so far.

It would be helpful if anyone else can add names and theatre to this list.

I will ask my ‘hired gun’ at TNA to see if she can located the AMO.

Ian

[Nick Forder]

George William Bulmer, the 22 Squadron Flight Commander, who was American (enlisted as Canadian in RNAS), had ‘home leave’ in 1918 also; being posted from HE and not 22 Squadron.

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