Life Stories

Making a Difference

Brian Edmondson (1946-51), Autumn 2013

Sometimes, it is quite amazing how much the impact of one person's actions, without them ever knowing it, can change the course of another person's life - especially if that person happens to be at an impressionable stage in their development.  As a teenage pupil at Ealing County Grammar School for Boys, who travelled in daily by 607 trolleybus from far-off Hayes, I was totally unaware that the School premises were regularly used by another Youth Organisation, during some evenings and at the week-ends.  Now, more than 60 years later and with hindsight, I realise that my chance attendance at an extra-curricular activity meeting at the School changed the course of my whole life, and its many consequences still remain with me even today.

The main speaker at this unusual meeting was himself a senior pupil at the School - a person unknown to me at the time and unrecognisable as a fellow Ealonian because he was immaculately dressed in his blue Air Cadet uniform, complete with forage cap.  It transpired that in some of his spare time this smart young man, named Moffat, was also a Senior N.C.O. in No. 1413 (Ealing) Squadron, Air Training Corps, and he had been given the Headmaster's permission to arrange a meeting so that he might speak to any pupils who might be interested in hearing about his Squadron's activities.  This recruitment initiative formed an important part of the Unit's deliberate attempt to recruit more pupils from the School, and then try to establish a dedicated Grammar School Flight within the Squadron. My family's only previous connection with the Royal Air Force had been through a cousin of mine, named Harold Edmondson, who had trained as a Navigator towards the end of the Second World War.  Coincidentally, cousin Harold had also been an Ealonian; it was due to this sole family link with the School, and a tradition that I was completely unaware of, that I was placed in Nelson House with Mr. Ben Brooker as my Housemaster.

Although I have always been interested in aeroplanes, like most other young boys who had grown up in Ealing during the Second World War and lived through the London Blitz, slept nightly under the staircase or in an Air Raid Shelter of some kind etc., etc., my early aviation knowledge was mainly limited to the recognition of various types of warplane, assembling balsa wood model aeroplane kits, reading lots of Boys' Annuals and almost every one of the series of Biggles books by W.E. Johns!  Later on, undoubtedly, another positive aviation influence on me at the School was our young English Master, Mr. Vaughan-Jones, who had been an R.A.F. fighter pilot and walked with a slight limp.  Sometimes, his charisma would be further enhanced when admiring pupils caught sight of him driving to School in his magnificent, green, open-top, vintage Bentley.  As schoolboys we regarded him as our own local war hero figure.  Everyone respected him and he was well-liked as a teacher.  Very occasionally we were able to persuade him to tell us about some of his exploits flying Spitfires in the Middle East; then we would all listen to him spellbound and, of course, it was always much more exciting than even his best English lesson!

Exactly what Cadet Flight Sergeant Moffat said to us during that particular meeting in the School has long since faded from my memory, but his enthusiastic A.T.C. sales pitch was sufficiently convincing that several of us - including Jim Wisden and Gerry Hitchens - took up his invitation and were recruited almost immediately.  Having first obtained our parents' consent, we attended a Squadron Parade one Sunday morning and were shown around the premises by a Senior N.C.O., given an introductory talk by one of the Officers and then invited to sign on the dotted line - which of course we all did without the slightest hesitation.

It was a real surprise for us when we found out that the Squadron Headquarters was almost next door to the School, but completely hidden from Public view because it was situated underground in the Basement of Ealing Public Library.  These basement rooms were the only permanent Squadron accommodation, and while they safely housed its Administration Offices, Armoury, Stores etc., there was precious little space left for training lectures, etc.; this was the main reason for having to use parts of the Grammar School next-door for some of its activities.  The only access to this secret underground H.Q. was down a very narrow flight of stone steps, well-hidden at one end of the old Reference Library.  Surely, it was no coincidence that the Officer Commanding No. 1413 Squadron, A.T.C., Squadron Leader Cecil Hope, who was a decorated veteran of the Great War and also the Ealing Borough Librarian, just happened to have his Squadron H.Q. conveniently located beneath his daily workplace?

The Squadron normally paraded for training on Tuesday and Friday evenings and Sunday mornings.  There were also free, weekly 22 Rifle Shooting practices on Wednesday evenings at the Police Indoor Rifle Range in Bramley Road, near Northfields Station.  From the outset my involvement in these cadet activities was mainly limited by three things: (i) School Homework demands, (ii) travelling considerations and (iii) Friday evening employment to supplement my pocket money.  At first, I only attended the Squadron's Training sessions on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings, when I could travel by trolleybus, wear my civilian clothes and remain inconspicuous.  Top priority always had to be given to my fairly lucrative Friday evening paper-round, selling The Hayes News door-to-door, because it funded most of my interests and activities.  Later on, as my involvement gradually increased, I managed to find ways of spreading the Homework load and, depending on the weather conditions and whether I needed to wear my cadet uniform, I varied my means of transport by making good use of the excellent Raleigh Sports bicycle which my parents had given to me as a reward for passing the 11 plus examination and getting to Ealing Grammar School.

For any young person, there were several important and attractive differences between A.T.C. Training and the learning process in a Secondary School.  Obviously the subjects and skills - both academic (e.g. Navigation) and practical (e.g. Rifle shooting) - were totally different, but in the A.T.C. the time required to complete a Course of Study in a subject was usually measured in weeks or months and not years like those in both Lower and Upper School!  Furthermore the A.T.C. Course objectives were clearly defined, easily understood and recognised as being achievable by all of us.

Apart from the appeal of a wide range of the new aviation related subjects offered by the A.T.C., all of them so refreshingly different from those at School, I soon discovered that the whole Training Scheme had been thoughtfully structured so that every progression from one level to the next brought with it some form of recognition (i.e. Certificate or Training Status Badge) and more importantly, often the entitlement to some sort of reward.  These tangible rewards might range from, at least, a passenger flight in an R.A.F. aeroplane or glider to the possible selection for an Overseas Exchange Visit or even a Flying Scholarship - worth more than a thousand pounds in those days.  Initially, all new Recruits followed the same pattern of Basic Training, by taking a series of short Courses which included such things as Foot Drill, Map Reading, First Aid, Aircraft Knowledge, Morse Code, Service History and Organisation, including Ranks and Badges, etc.  Different Instructors were responsible for the delivery of these Courses and also conducting the Final Tests at their conclusion; this gave continuity and ensured that help was readily available for every cadet to achieve the required standard.  In order to complete their Basic Training, a cadet must have reached the minimum Pass standard in every one of these elementary subjects.  Successful cadets were presented with their First Class, star-shaped, badge during a special Parade, and the award was certificated in their personal Record of Service Books (RAF Form 3822).

It was a requirement that a Cadet should achieve at least this First Class standard of training, before attending a weeks Annual Camp with the Squadron at an RAF Station.  This practice made very good sense because by this time every cadet would have knowledge, skills, experience and confidence to benefit from seeing, and, sometimes, assisting serving personnel as they performed their daily tasks.  In addition to being a valuable bonding exercise for everyone in the Squadron, these Annual Camps provided a unique opportunity for all the A.T.C. Cadets to make their own individual assessments of everyday life in the R.A.F.  Moreover, at a time when National Service was compulsory for all young men at the age of 18 years, this insight was useful in helping cadets to think about their future options, and invaluable for anyone who might be considering a career in the R.A.F.  Once Basic Training had been successfully completed, all cadets were expected to develop their own particular field of interest and opt for one of several specialist Courses to study during the Proficiency and Advanced stages of their Training.  Related subjects were grouped together under such Course headings as Flying, Signals, Engines, and Airframes, etc. and all of these demanding Courses were taught by specialist adult Instructors and periodically examined, externally, by the R.A.F.  Although there were no guaranteed rewards directly linked to passing these higher level examinations, there were many learning incentives because selection for the previously mentioned top awards in the Corps, and/or promotion to Cadet N.C.O. ranks within the Squadron, usually depended upon gaining success in one or more of these different specialised Courses.

In addition to all of this formal training, all cadets were encouraged to take an interest and compete in many other Squadron activities, ranging from Aircraft Recognition to Swimming and most Sports.  The Squadron regularly entered individual cadets and teams for both Local and Area competitions.  From time to time, special weekend Courses were arranged within the Squadron to train promising Senior Cadets in leadership skills, and teach them instructional techniques before they became Junior N.C.O.'s.

For most cadets, with experience came a willingness to volunteer for various tasks and accept increasing amounts of responsibility.  Almost without realising it, as their commitment to the Squadron gradually increased so did their self-confidence.  Most cadets found the thought of Parading before the General Public a somewhat daunting prospect, but their involvement often resulted in an unexpected boost to their self-confidence from having taken part in such ceremonial occasions as the special Sunday Parades which were held to commemorate Battle of Britain Day and Remembrance Day.  On these moving, Annual, Ceremonial occasions the whole Squadron would march behind a Military Band, in a long procession with other Service Units and local Organisations, from Ealing Common, along The Mall, through Ealing Broadway and down the High Street for a Service at the War Memorial, close to our School . The preparations for and the participation in these Ceremonial Events gave an added sense of purpose and pride in the Squadron - especially for those cadets who formed the Guard of Honour in front of the War Memorial because their personal appearance and standard of rifle drill came under the closest scrutiny of various Civic Dignitaries, Veterans and other onlookers.

Unfortunately No. 1413 Squadron, A.T.C., never did get the chance to form its intended Grammar School Flight because, in about 1950, the Squadron was amalgamated with the other Ealing A.T.C. Unit: No. 342 Squadron which was based in Drayton Manor School, Hanwell.  Despite our existing Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Hope, remaining in charge of the new formation, with the other C.O., Flight Lieutenant J. Dicks, D.F.C. as his Second-in-Command, sadly our previous Squadron identity was lost in the merger, since the Unit adopted the lower and hence more senior Squadron number: 342.

Although at first there were some mixed feelings about this new forced arrangement, because both Squadrons had previously existed as lodgers on two different School Sites, the huge advantages of being based in a spacious, purpose-built Headquarters, set in its own secure grounds, far out-weighed all other considerations.

The Squadron's new location in Milton Road was conveniently situated near Hanwell Railway Station and close to several Bus Routes.  It was less than 2 miles West of our previous Headquarters beneath Ealing Library - and fortunately for me this meant that it was 2 miles nearer my home!  This brand-new Headquarters consisted of 3 large, prefabricated buildings built parallel to one another and sensibly subdivided internally to give adequate designated space for almost everything one could possibly want including an Assembly Hall, Classrooms, Offices , Armoury, Stores, Canteen and a special room already equipped with a Link Trainer (aeroplane simulator).

Amalgamating the two Squadrons proved to be a great success once the personnel from both Units had been allowed a short time to integrate and settle into these wonderful new facilities.  Soon, the introduction of a range of additional and different activities on Site, including our own Squadron Band, Radio Station, Motor Vehicles and Assault Course, together with the Squadron's involvement in a wide variety of local events including the Hanwell Carnival, all helped to bring us favourable publicity and many new recruits joined the Squadron.  With this fairly rapid expansion came new opportunities for established cadets like myself and, for once, I found that I was in the right place at the right time!

Within a year or so, success in a series of Air Cadet Proficiency Examinations - doubtlessly to the unintentional but serious detriment of some of my studies at the Grammar School - brought promotions to the rank of Sergeant and then this small, and once rather timid, Ealonian was delighted to be informed that he had been awarded a Flying Scholarship.  Successful completion of this residential training course, flying Tiger Moths at Cambridge Aero Club, resulted in the award of a Private Pilots' Licence, followed almost immediately by acceptance for Pilot Training in the Royal Air Force, with a very public announcement of these achievements - complete with a photograph, in cadet uniform - on the front page of The Middlesex County Times!

As I bade farewell to my cadet friends and thanked the Staff of 342 Squadron for their efforts on my behalf, I never dreamed that Fate would have me return to the Unit in later years and play a leading part in the Squadron's development.  For, following my National Service and three years study at a College of Education, I returned to 342 Squadron and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F.V.R. (T).  It was whilst serving in that capacity that I became involved in another successful amalgamation, this time with No. 2036 (Brentford) Squadron, A.T.C., and a forced move of Headquarters from Milton Road to part of a Territorial Army Site in Windmill Road, Ealing, the same Site, but not the same premises, which it still occupies today!

After this amalgamation, the Squadron retained its previous identification number and Flight Lieutenant J. Dicks, D.F.C., was appointed Commanding Officer with me as and his Second-in-Command.  At that time, I was also serving as a Supplementary Officer and Instructor at No. 613 Gliding School at R.A.F. Halton and teaching Technical Studies at Hayes County Grammar School.

It was whilst gliding from R.A.F. Halton that I met and took a very attractive Nursing Officer from the Princess Mary's RAF Hospital on a passenger flight.  Later this same young Lady, named Jacqueline, became my wife and mother of our two sons: David and Martin.  Our two boys have both served in different local A.T.C. Squadrons, become Senior Cadet N.C.O.'s and trained as pilots whilst serving in the Air Cadets.  David flew Motor Gliders and has two medals for successfully completing two Nijmegen Endurance Marches and Martin, our youngest son, achieved the distinction of gaining both a Flying Scholarship and a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

At home on the wall above my desk, the presentation inscription on a small Middlesex Wing Heraldic Shield is a reminder that I left No. 342 Squadron, A.T.C., in April 1976, after sixteen years service, to take up an appointment as Chief Flying Instructor of No. 613 Gliding School's Detached Flight at R.A.F. White Waltham.  Sometimes, this small plaque and my occasional visits, as an Old Ealonian Committee Member, to the old School premises, now The Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College Campus, I reflect on the huge and lifelong debt of gratitude which I owe to both Ealing Grammar School for Boys and the Air Cadet Organisation for really MAKING A DIFFERENCE to my life!