Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Sydney Edward b: 10 Jan 1895 r: 8 Mar 1948 d: 22 Mar 1954
CB - 13 Jun 1946, CBE - 1 Jan 1945, DFC - 3 Jun 1919, MiD - 22 Sep 1915, MiD - 17 Mar 1941.
(Army):- 2 Lt (P): 9 Aug 1915, 2 Lt: 16 Oct 1916, Lt: 1 Aug 1917.
(RAF):- Lt: 1 Apr 1918, Act Capt 1 May 1919, Act Maj: 1 May 1919, Fg Off: 1 Aug 1919 [1 Apr 1918], Flt Lt: 1 Jan 1922, Sqn Ldr: 9 Jul 1930, Wg Cdr: 1 Jan 1937, (T) Gp Capt: 1 Jan 1940, (T) A/Cdre: 15 Jul 1941, Gp Capt: 14 Apr 1942 [1 Jan 1940], Act AVM: 2 Sep 1943, A/Cdre (WS): 2 Sep 1944, (T) AVM: 1 Jan 1946, A/Cdre: 1 Jan 1946, AVM: 7 Mar 1948.
xx xxx xxxx: Gunner, Highland (Mountain) Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery (4901)
9 Aug 1915: Officer, Royal Garrison Artillery Special Reserve.
13 Feb 1917: Observer, No ? Sqn RFC, .
30 May 1917: Flying Officer (Observer)
28 Dec 1917: U/T Pilot, RFC
xx xxx 1918: Flight Commander, No 8 Sqn. (FK8)
xx Nov 1918: Acting Officer Commanding, No 8 Sqn.
1 May 1918: Officer Commanding, No 8 Sqn.
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Lieutenant
9 Sep 1919: Pilot, No 12 Sqn.
1 Dec 1920: Supernumerary (Non-Effective Sick), RAF Depot.
8 Feb 1921: Staff, Inspector of Recruiting.
12 Jul 1921: Staff, Midland Recruiting Area, Birmingham.
19 Apr 1922: Flight Commander, No 4 Sqn.
4 May 1925: Attended RAF Staff College.
12 Apr 1926: Attended School of Oriental Studies.
20 Oct 1926: Air Staff - Intelligence, HQ Iraq Command.
15 Dec 1929: Flight Commander, No 4 Sqn.
23 Sep 1930: Supernumerary, No 2 Sqn. (Atlas I)
29 Sep 1930: Officer Commanding, No 2 Sqn. (Atlas I)
29 Oct 1931: Supernumerary - non effective (sick), RAF Depot.
18 Dec 1931: Officer Commanding, No 2 Sqn.
21 Jan 1933: Attended Army Staff College, Camberley.
12 Jan 1935: Staff, Directorate of Staff Duties.
29 Aug 1936: Seconded to RAAF.
11 Nov 1938: Officer Commanding, RAF Boscombe Down.
xx xxx 1939: Directing Staff, Army Staff College, Camberley.
12 Sep 1939: Air Staff, HQ No 1 Group.
11 Dec 1939 Officer Commanding, RAF Leconfield
20 Jan 1940: Group Captain - Operations, HQ No 13 (Fighter) Group.
18 Dec 1940: Group Captain - ?, HQ Fighter Command.
17 May 1942: Duty Air Commodore, HQ Fighter Command
xx Nov 1942: Director of Fighter Operations.
1 Sep 1943: SASO, HQ Middle East Command.
xx xxx 1944: AOC, No 205 Group.
5 May 1945: AOC, Eastern Mediterranean.
21 Mar 1946: AOC, No 219 Group.
1 Dec 1946: AOC, No 205 Group
1 Apr 1947: AOA, HQ Technical Training Command.
Originally a member of the Royal Garrison Artillery, he served at Gallipoli and in France before transferring to the RFC in 1917 as an observer. No 8 Squadron became something of a specialist unit in co-operating with tanks and as such he found himself involved in these operations against enemy anti-tank guns.
This page was last updated on 08/12/23