G'day All,

I need information on the RNAS armoured car division. In particular the service of the following Aussies:

Petty Officer John William Pincott DSM

Pincott served in Russia and Turkish Armenia and was awarded his DSM for work in the Galician retreat.

LtCdr Francis Walter Belt DSO

Belt served in Russia and at one stage was acting Commander of the RNAS Armoured Cars in Russia. Returned to England Dec 1917. Served in the Boer War as a trooper in the 2nd South Australian Mounted Rifles contingent.

Thanks in Advance,

Andrew.

Andrew,
I can't help on details of the RNAS armoured car units, but hopefully someone could also come up with details on the Canadian Lieut.T.D.Hallam, who apparently earned his first DSC at Gallipoli with this type of unit. His two bars to the DSC he won as a flyer

Gor' blimey! Look up RNAS ARMOURED CARS in the search engine why don't you? Heaps! Or start with RNAS, get a link to Armoured Cars, It is there.

Steady on, Neville. We try to maintain decorum and reserve on this forum, hadn't you noticed ? No intemperate language here.


Vins

I think y'all are gonna like this; it's from Joseph Phelan's HEROES AND AEROPLANES OF THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918:
"On 27 August 1914, the [Naval Air Unit] went to Ostend under Squadron Commander... Charles Rumney Samson... The force remained at Ostend for a few days only, then was ordered to return to England. Because of a haze over the Channel, they landed at Dunkirk instead of flying hime, and were subsequently ordered to remain there and operate against the Zeppelins. They didn't see any Zeppelins, but while they were there, they wrote a fantastic chapter in the history of the Royal Naval Air Service with their forays in armored cars. Using automobiles that had been armored by boiler plate at the Dunkirk shipyards, the pilots, armed with rifles and one Maxim gun, drove out to reconnoitre as far as Cassel Bruges. On some occasions they were escorted by one of their number in an aeroplane who swooped low and fired Very lights to signal the presence of enemy troops. Once "Samson's Aeroplane Party" fought a pitched battle in the streets of Douai, holding off German troops who were occupying the town, providing a distraction which enabled 2,500 French troops to escape an encirclement.
"On 12 September the aeroplane party was put out of action by a squall which smashed the aeroplanes, sending them cartwheeling across the beach where they had been staked down.
"With new aeroplanes and a new name--No. 3 Naval Squadron--Samson took his flying-infantry-armored car-sailors to the Dardanelles to join the Gallipoli expedition in March 1915."
TALLY HO !

Sorry, Vin. No intemperance intended. Just that I ,for one, only ask things here that I cannot find elsewhere. Sort of a last stop, not first.
I must have had an attack of the grouches.

And, just to make up for it, I found no ref to Pincott, except a Private W J Pincott 17th Btn, requesting passage for his wife,Nat Archs series number, A2489, Control No. 1920/2531.
[ Two Pincotts enlisted, on Nominal Roll (AWM, 42-035)but not ours. John Daniel, and John William).]
For Belt, sameNAA site but AWM43, A66, biographical notes etc, for a BELT, FW.[See www,naa.gov.au/ the collection/ recordsearch]
This series governs Aussies in UK service. No full name though.
From previous exp. this wil be handwritten notes listing birth, school, prev service, squadron postings, injuries as applicable, address in Oz and postwar occupation, refs to British pension if any.

Neville,

Thank you for the information in your second reply.

Unfortunately you assume quite a bit. I have the information from the NAA and AWM, that is how I found out about DSM's and Boer War records. If you are having a bad day I suggest you not reply at all.

Next time I read the local Richmond papers and see your name asking for help on airmen who attended Richmond, should I reply in the same manner?

The following site may be of assistance to you.

http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carneg...in-friends.html

Andrew

whistle whistle whistle WHISTLE BOOOOM

Boy, Gerry sure is sending 'em over tonight!!!!!!!!

;) ;) ;) ;)

Andrew, do you want the sections out of War in the Air for background? Drop me a line.

regards

Darryl

There's a couple of page (a few photos, a drawing and some sketchy text) on pages 6 and 7 of the 10th October 1914 issue of The War Illustrated. Here's the 'temporary' address of that particular issue:

http://www.warillustrated.com/wi/101014/

Have fun
Finn