|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
b: 22 Jan 1882
r: 26 Aug 1925
d: 25 Sep 1954
CB
- 12 Jul 1920, CMG - 1 Jan 1919, DSO -
xx xxx 1915, MiD - 1 Jan 1919,
MiD
- 31 Mar 1920, R, D - xx xxx 1918.
(RMLI/RNAS):
- 2 Lt: 1 Jan 1900, Lt:
1 Jan 1901, Capt: 1 Jan 1911, (T)
Maj: 31 Dec 1912, Sqn Cdr: 1 Jul 1914, (T) Lt Col: 1
Jan 1916, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1916, Maj:
6 Jun 1917, Act Wg Capt: xx xxx 1918.
(RAF):
- Lt Col: 1
Apr 1918, (T) Col: xx xxx 1918, Wg
Cdr: 1 Aug 1919, Act Gp Capt:
25 Oct 1919, Gp Capt: 1 Nov
1919, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1925.
1 Jan 1900: Officer, Royal Marine Light Infantry
31 Jan 1900: Officer, R N College
11 Feb 1901: Officer, Plymouth Division RM
6 May 1902:
Officer, HMS Sutlej
9 May 1903: Officer, Plymouth Division RM
9 Nov 1903: Officer, HMS Pembroke,
16 Dec 1904: Officer, Plymouth Division RM
26 Apr 1905: Officer, HMS London
5 Mar 1907: Officer, HMS King Edward VII
19 Jun 1907: Officer, Plymouth Division RM
14 Dec 1907: Officer, RM Depot, Deal
4 Jun 1908: Officer, HMS Caesar
4 Aug 1908: Officer, Plymouth Division RM
8 Oct 1909: Officer, HMS Ganges (Training Establishment for Boys)
2 Oct 1911: Absorbed into establishment of RMLI
2 Jan 1912: Officer, Plymouth Division RM
xx xxx xxxx: Pilot, Fort George NAS
1912: Pilot, Temporary Seaplane Stations Carlingnose (Port Laing)/Leven
31 Dec 1912: Squadron Commander, Naval Flying School, Eastchurch NAS (HMS Actacon)
15 May 1913: Pilot, HMS Hermes
4 Aug 1914: Placed on books of HMS President
4 Aug
1914:
Officer Commanding, Naval Flying School, Eastchurch.
30 Sep 1915: Officer Commanding, Dundee NAS (graded as Sqn Cdr)
15 May 1915: Officer Commanding, RNAS East African RNAS Sqn
14 Aug 1915: Officer Commanding, RNAS Mesopotamia.
20 Nov - 24 Nov 1915: Officer Commanding, No 30 Sqn RFC (Temporary)
28 Feb 1916: Officer Commanding, RFC & RNAS units in Mesopotamia
18 Sep 1916: Divisional Commander, Air Stations under RAFC Immingham
30 Jan 1917: Officer Commanding, No 2 Wing RNAS.
1 Feb 1917: HMS Ark Royal
xx
xxx 1918: Officer Commanding, RNAS Mudros.
1 Apr 1918: Officer Commanding, Aegean Group (Mudros)
xx
xxx 1918: Officer Commanding, No 15? Group.
xx
Mar/Apr 1919: Served in Southern Russia.
1 Aug 1919: Commission in the RMLI terminated.
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant Colonel
4 Nov 1919: Arrived at Port Said from Marseilles on HT 'Caledonia'
5 Nov 1919: Officer
Commanding, 'Z' Force.
7 May 1920:
27 Sep 1920: Officer Commanding, No 3 Group.
26 Nov 1920: Placed on half pay list, scale B.
16 Aug 1921: Supernumerary, RAF Depot
1
Apr 1922: Officer Commanding, RAF Trans-Jordania.
5
May 1923: Supernumerary, RAF Depot.
xx xxx - 25 Sep 1923: Placed on half pay list, scale ?
25 Sep 1923: Attended Senior Officers' Course, RN College, Greenwich.
16 Feb 1924: Placed on half pay list, scale ?
21
Jul 1924:
Officer Commanding, No 1 Group.
2
Jan 1925:
AOC, No 3 Group.
xx
xxx 1939:
Scottish Deputy Area Commandant, Observer Corps.
He gained RAeC Certificate No 166 on 6 December 1911. On 4 October 1912, he was flying Short Tractor Biplane, '5' when the aircraft capsized resulting in it being written off. He commanded 'B' Flight of four aircraft during the Royal Flypast at Spithead on 18 July 1914.
In
East Africa he took part in air operations against the German naval vessel Konigsberg,
for which he received his DSO. He
then joined General Townshend's Force in Mesopotamia and was involved in the
relief of the Kut. In 1917, he
moved into the Aegean Sea serving there until the following year when he joined
the forces operating in support of the White Russians in South Russia until
1919. His travels did not end there
however, as in 1920 he was appointed to command what was known as 'Z' Force.
This force consisted of 12 DH9's and was tasked with bringing 'The Mad
Mullah' under control in Somaliland.
This rebel leader had been a problem to the British in East Africa for a
number of years and had cost the British taxpayer large sums of money in the
allocation of troops in attempts to quell his various uprisings.
Following Trenchard's suggestion that air power might work where ground
troops had failed and at a considerably reduced cost, prompted the experiment.
In just three weeks 'Z' Force had defeated 'The Mad Mullah' and driven
him into exile at a cost of £77,000. The
success of this operation resulted in the award of his CB and
eventually led to Air Control being used in Iraq and
Palestine with command of all forces in those areas coming under the command of
the RAF.
Citation for the award of the DSO: -
"Was in command of the Air Squadron. Was indefatigable in his work, and ran great risks in spotting and reconnoitring."
(London Gazette - 8 Dec 1915)
This entry was last updated on 13/04/25©
F Gordon
