Cranwell Graduations 1923

Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Cranwell Graduations 1923

The following cadets graduated from the RAF College at Cranwell on 14 August 1923. The reviewing officer at the graduation parade was Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Salmond KCMG, CB, DSO.

Personal details	College details	RAF Details	Comments
Francis Victor BEAMISH (16089) DSO and Bar, DFC, AFC	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Under Officer. He also represented the college in Cricket, Hockey and Rugby.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 18 Oct 1933 in the rank of ?. However he was recalled to service on 27 Jan 1937, but was killed in action on 28 Mar 1942 in the rank of Gp Capt.	He was killed whilst flying in Spitfire VB, W3649 FV B of No 485 Sqn, which failed to return from a Rodeo. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Basil Douglas John BROADWAY (16090)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. He also represented the college in Fencing, Hockey and Rugby. On graduating he was awarded the R M Groves Memorial Prize.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He was killed in a flying accident on 14 May 1926 in the rank of Fg Off.	He was killed in a flying accident at Upper Caterham whilst flying a Grebe of No 32 Sqn.
George Richard Melville CLIFFORD (16091)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. He also represented the college in Cricket and Hockey.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 14 Mar 1953 in the rank of Gp Capt.
Cyril Kenneth Joseph COGGLE (16092)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Fencing.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 12 Jul 1953 in the rank of Gp Capt.
Adolphus Dan DAVIES (16093) CB, CBE	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. He also represented the college in Athletics and Soccer.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 25 Aug 1954 in the rank of A/Cdre.	He was a graduate of the RAF Staff College.
Sir Francis Joseph FRESSANGES (16094) KBE, CB	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. He also represented the college in Fencing and Soccer.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 17 Oct 1957 in the rank of AM.	He was a graduate of the Imperial Defence College and the RAF Staff College.
Francis Frederick Walby HALL (16095)	He entered the RAF College in 1921 and was a member of A Sqn.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 16 Apr 1947 in the rank of Gp Capt.
Philip JONES (16096) CBE, CEng, FIEE	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. On graduating he was awarded the Hyde Thompson Memorial Prize.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 1 Apr 1958 in the rank of A/Cdre.	He transferred to the Technical Branch.
Harry Manners MELLOR (16097) MVO	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Fencing.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He was killed in action on 26 May 1940 in the rank of Wg Cdr.	He was the OC of No 22 Sqn and killed whilst flying Beaufort I, L4450, which was lost on a minelaying operation off Heligoland. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Thomas Bain PRICKMAN (16098) CB, CBE	He entered the RAF College in 1921 and was a member of B Sqn.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 4 Oct 1954 in the rank of A/Cdre.	He was a graduate of the RAF Staff College.
Norman Anthony Pelyiit PRITCHETT (16099)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 3 Oct 1951 in the rank of A/Cdre.	He was a graduate of the RAF Staff College.
Reginald Austen Poyntz ROBERTS (16100)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 25 Aug 1935 in the rank of Flt Lt.
Ronald SCOTT TAYLOR (16101)	He entered the RAF College in 1921 and was a member of A Sqn.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He resigned his permanent commission on ? in the rank of Fg Off.
Donald Leslie THOMSON (16102) DSO, DFC	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 29 Sep 1955 in the rank of A/Cdre.
Sir Geoffrey Luis WORTHINGTON (21028) KBE, CB	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Under Officer. He also represented the college in Cricket, Fencing, Rugby and Shooting. On graduating he was awarded the Sword of Honour and the Abdy Gerrard Fellows Memorial Prize.	He was commissioned on 15 Aug 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 18 Sep 1923. He retired on 12 Apr 1961 in the rank of AVM.	He resigned his commission in the GD Branch on 22 Oct 1924 but was appointed to a Permanent Commission in the Stores Branch on 6 Apr 1926. He died on 28 Apr 1992.

The following cadets graduated from the RAF College at Cranwell on 18 December 1923. The reviewing officer at the graduation parade was Air Commodore John M Steel CMG, CBE; standing in for the Chief of the Air Staff

Personal details	College details	RAF Details	Comments
Henry Richard Frederick BAXTER (16105)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He died in service on 17 Feb 1931 in the rank of Flt Lt.	He died in the RAF Hospital at Uxbridge
Francis William Lionel Collings BEAUMONT (16106/74420)	He entered the RAF College in 1921 and was a member of B Sqn.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He resigned his permanent commission on 3 Oct 1938 in the rank of Flt Lt. However he re enlisted in the RAFVR on 20 Sep 1939, and was killed in action on xx xxx xxxx in the rank of Plt Off.	He was killed on active service in RAFVR
Louis Walter DICKENS (16108) DFC, AFC	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn. He also represented the college in Cricket, Hockey, Rugby and Soccer.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 22 Aug 1947 in the rank of A/Cdre.
James Laurence Fuller FULLER- GOOD (16110) CB, CVO, CBE	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Hockey and Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 29 Mar 1959 in the rank of AVM.
John Harvey HUTCHINSON (16112)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He was killed on active service on 8 Oct 1940 in the rank of Wg Cdr.	He was killed whilst flying in Magister I, P6347 of the PRU, which flew into a barrage balloon cable at Langley, Buckinghamshire. He is buried in Pembrey (St Illtyd) Churchyard.
William John Patrick SLOAN (16119)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 20 Nov 1931 in the rank of Flt Lt.
Robert Travers CAZALET (26175)	He entered the RAF College in 1921, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. He also represented the college in Athletics. On graduating he was awarded the Abdy Gerrard Fellows Memorial Prize.	He was commissioned on 20 Dec 1930 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 20 Jan 1931. He was killed in a flying accident on 16 Feb 1939 in the rank of Sqn Ldr.	He was a member of the Experimental Section of the RAE at Farnborough and was killed in a flying accident near Martlesham Heath whilst test flying Harvard I, N7000 when it entered a spin and dived into the ground. A Senior Scientific Officer of the RAE, Mr. R. P. Alston, BA, AFRAeS was also killed in the accident.
Gerald Christopher Allan ARMSTRONG (16104)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Under Officer. He also represented the college in Rugby. On graduating he was awarded the Sword of Honour and the R M Groves Memorial Prize.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He was killed on 30 Sep 1930 in the rank of Flt Lt.
Edward Simeon Colbeck DAVIS (16107) OBE, AFC	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He was killed in action on 21 Jul 1940 in the rank of Wg Cdr.	He was the OC of No 204 Sqn and was flying Sunderland I, N9028 which is presumed to have been shot down by Bf 110s in the Trondheim area. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
Christopher Caswell EDWARDS (16109)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 5 Oct 1932 in the rank of Flt Lt. However he was recalled to service on 1 Sep 1939, reverting to the retired list on 31 Dec 1942 in the rank of Flt Lt.
Hugh Marsland GROVES (16111)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. He also represented the college in Cricket.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 1 Jun 1952 in the rank of Gp Capt.
Rolf Booth Hilton JACKSON (16113)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He was killed in action on 20 Feb 1928 in the rank of Fg Off.	He was killed in action when he was shot down near Busaiyah in Iraq, whilst flying an unidentified DH9A of No 55 Sqn. He survived the crash but was shot by tribesmen and is buried in Basra (Makina) RAF Cemetery.
Neville Walter Frederick MASON (16114)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 5 Sep 1950 in the rank of Gp Capt.
Edgar Archibald McKINLEY HAY (16115)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Fencing.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 6 May 1934 in the rank of Flt Lt.
Charles William MOSS (16116)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He was killed in a flying accident on 9 Apr 1924 in the rank of Plt Off.	He was killed whilst flying Bristol fighter, J6784 of No 4 Sqn, which spun in from 400 ft at Farnborough.
Montagu Douglas OMMANNEY (16117) CBE	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Athletics and Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 1 Jul 1954 retaining the rank of A/Cdre.
Reginald Richard REEDMAN (16118)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of A Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Cpl. He also represented the college in Rugby.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He was killed in a flying accident on 10 Sep 1926 in the rank of Fg Off.	He was killed in a flying accident at Tilshead, Wiltshire whilst flying a Bristol fighter of No 2 Sqn. His passenger, Maj Oliver Birkbeck RA, was seriously injured
John Edward Gray Hill THOMAS (16120) DFC	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Under Officer.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 19 Jan 1954 in the rank of Gp Capt.
William Charles WARD (16121)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 6 Apr 1927 in the rank of Fg Off but returned to the active list 14784 and was killed in action on 15 Sep 1941	He was killed whilst flying in Wellington II, W5526 SM J of No 305 Sqn, which crashed in the target area during a raid on Le Harve. He is buried in Ste Marie Cemetery, Le Havre.
Norman YOUNG (16122)	He entered the RAF College in 1922, was a member of B Sqn and attained the rank of Flt Cdt Sgt. On graduating he was awarded the Abdy Gerrard Fellows Memorial Prize.	He was commissioned on 19 Dec 1923 in the rank of Pilot Officer which was gazetted on 22 Jan 1924. He retired on 12 Sep 1950 in the rank of Wg Cdr.

1922 1924

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