Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Air Vice-Marshal J B Cole-Hamilton

John Beresford                b: 1 Dec 1894                                                                 d: 22 Aug 1945

CB - 2 Jun 1943, CBE - 1 Jan 1941, MiD - 1 Oct 1917, MiD - 1 Jan 1919.

(RN): - Mid’n: 15 Sep 1912, Act Sub-Lt: 15 Sep 1914, Flt Sub-Lt: 30 Apr 1915, Sub-Lt: 30 Jun 1915, Flt Lt: 30 Jun 1916, Act Lt: 15 Feb 1917, Flt Cdr: 30 Jun 1917. 

(RAF): - (T) Capt [Lt]: 1 Apr 1918, (T) Maj (Dir): 1 Apr 1918,  Flt Lt: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Sqn Ldr: 1 Jul 1925, Wg Cdr: 1 Jul 1933, Gp Capt: 1 Jul 1938, (T) A/Cdre: 1 Jul 1940, Act AVM: 21 Nov 1941, A/Cdre (WS): 21 Nov 1942, (T) AVM: 1 Dec 1942, A/Cdre: 1 Jun 1943, AVM: 1 Dec 1944.

15 Sep 1907:              Attended Training Establishments.

15 Sep 1912:              Midshipman, HMS Exeter

14 Nov 1912:              Midshipman, HMS Princess Royal. (Battles of Heligoland and Dogger Bank)

30 Apr 1915:               U/T Airship Pilot, Wormwood Scrubbs.

 4 Mar 1916:               Airship Pilot, Luce Bay Air Station

11 Sep 1916:               Airship Pilot, Pulham Airship Station

19 Oct 1916:               Captain, Airship C25, Kingsnorth Airship Station

25 Nov 1916:              Captain, Airship C26, Kingsnorth Airship Station

 2 Jul 1917:                  Staff of Wg Cdr Masterman, Barrow-in-Furness Airship Station for duty at Selby

17 Oct 1917:               Officer, Airship R25, Howden Airship Station

27 Feb 1918:              Supernumerary, Polegate Airship Station (HMS Daedalus)

10 Mar 1918:              Officer Commanding, Polegate Airship Station (HMS Daedalus)

 1 Apr 1918:               Officer Commanding, HQ RAF Polegate

 1 Aug 1919:               Awarded Permanent Commission in rank of Flight Lieutenant. (gazetted 26 Sep 1919)

26 Sep 1919:               Staff Officer 3rd Class, Directorate of Personnel.

22 Jan 1920:                Removed from the Navy Lists on being awarded Permanent Commission in RAF

16 Feb 1920:               Staff, No 2 School of Technical Training (Boy's)

16 Mar 1920:              Staff, Boy's Wing, RAF Cranwell.

 3 Apr 1922:                Attended RAF Staff College.

 4 Apr 1923:                U/T Pilot,  No 1 FTS.

14 Sep 1923:               Air Staff, HQ RAF India.

 8 Oct 1925:                Officer Commanding, No 20 Sqn. (Bristol F2B – Peshawar)

12 Jun 1926:               Supernumerary, RAF Depot

 1 Nov 1926:               Staff, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence.

 1 Nov 1929:               Supernumerary, No 13 Sqn. (Atlas I – Netheravon/Odiham)

18 Nov 1929:              Officer Commanding, No 13 Sqn. (Atlas I – Netheravon/Odiham)

16 Nov 1931:              Staff, School of Army Co-operation.

 1 Aug 1933:                Staff/Supernumerary?, HQ No 1 Air Defence Group.

26 Jan 1934:                Air Staff, HQ RAF India.

26 Dec 1934:               Directing Staff, Staff College, Quetta.

 1 Nov 1937:               Officer Commanding, No 1 (Indian Wing) Station, Kohat.

18 Oct 1938:               Supernumerary, No 1 RAF Depot.

15 Dec 1938:               Commandant, School of Army Co-operation.

xx Apr 1940:                AOA, Air Component, BEF.