John McDonald AFC

I'm trying to trace my great grand father who was an Anzac with the AFC training squadrons in Leighterton/Tetbury/Minchinhampton (probably the former). So far I've drawn a blank searching the nominal and embarkation rolls on the AWM site. Can anyone help? His name was John McDonald, born in Scotland around 1890. He wasn't a pilot and the one photo I have of him doesn't appear to show any badges of office. He died of Spanish flu in 1919 on the journey home; the AWM believe he didn't die on board so did the Kaiser I Hind drop people off on route home?
Thanks in anticipation
Lexy

[Wizard]

Lexy

This is a tough one. Your bloke doesn't appear on the list of casulaties I have of the AFC in WW1. I can't identify him on the Nominal Roll or the Embarkation Rolls either.

I think we need some more information to help identify him. Is John his only name or did he have other names he might of used? Is McDonald his name or could he have been MacDonald or McDonnell or MacDonnell? Did he join the AFC directly or was he transferred from another unit? Where did he enlist?

Without some background I'm afraid we are up against it.

I'm assuming you have tried searching for his records at the National Archives of Australia Website (www.naa.gov.au) as well?

How about posting a scan of the picture? Maybe there are some clues there?

Hello, thanks for your reply.
Unfortunately I don't know much more, as he left my great grand mother Alice Barnes unmarried and pregnant, but here goes...I am not aware that John had any other names though he may have used Mac and Mc as my grand mother was named Joan MacDonald. She was born 3 Jan 1920, so John must have been here until April 1919 at least! Alice was a nurse in the area and a friend of the matron at Tetbury cottage hospital. She collected postcards of the Leighterton and Tetbury area, which makes me think John was with either training squadron 7 or 8? She also had a lot of pictures of Wimereux in northern France, where there was a army hospital dealing with flu cases (though this may be just a coincidence...).
I have had a look through the service records that have been digitalised, but no luck so far, I've discounted any married or Australian born John Mc's plus any that RTA or KIA before Joan's conception and any from May onwards (assuming that if he knew and was about during the later part of Alice's pregnancy they would have married).
Lexy
Unfortunately the picture's file size is too big to attach. John signed it 'very sincerely,John Mc' and shows him in uniform (afc cloth badge on sleeve and rising sun badges on lapels) with an upturned boat hat.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Lexy

Unfortunately the picture's file size is too big to attach.

Lexy,

If you'll email the picture to me, I can include it in your post.

Scott

cheers! Picture's on its way

Lexy

PS: Spoke to my Mum who said my grand mother was adamant that she was born in November 1919 and that the January date was her adoption date...work that one out! Who said families were boring...

I've been trawling the NAA service records and have come across a possible match. John McDonald SERN:142, right age, born in Scotland etc. His record mentions his being based at Perham Downs, isn't this where the AFC had their training depot?
Can anyone confirm this, and/or dig up anything else about SERN 142, e.g. when he died?

Cheers

Lexy

[Wizard]

If I had to make a guess I'd say this isn't your man.

He was based at Tidworth in Wiltshire which is about 80 miles as the crow flies from the AFC Training airfields, was not in the AFC , he made it back to Australia and was discharged in 1920.

Thanks for that Wizard, back to the drawing board..!

Would the AFC Nominal rolls held in series AWM9 (46/4 and 45/5) by the NAA show anything different to the general AIF nominal roll available to view on the AWM website?

Lexy

[Wizard]

The WW1 Nominal Roll is a overview of all those who served in the AIF WW1. By its nature it only gives a cursory picture of any individual's service.

The Unit Nominal Rolls (Which, I must admit, I have never inspected) should give a slightly better picture of a soldier's service by showing his presence at various times and possibly his rank and position in the unit.

It couldn't hurt to look at them.

When you are doing your searches don't forget to look at the various units other than the flying squadrons. The following is from a list of all AIF Units in WW1. >> http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/index.html

5th (Training) Flying Squadron [1st Flying Wing]
Formed Shawbury, England 1 September 1917. Also known as 29th (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Equipped with Avro 504, Maurice Farman Shorthorn and Airco DH6. Disbanded Minchinhampton, England May 1919.
England

6th (Training) Flying Squadron [1st Flying Wing]
Formed Yatesbury, England 1 September 1917. Also known as 30th (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Equipped with Avro 504, Bristol Scout, Sopwith Camel, Sopwith Pup, SE5a and Airco DH5.
England

7th (Training) Flying Squadron [1st Flying Wing]
Formed Yatesbury, England 24 October 1917. Also known as 31st (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Equipped with Avro 504, BE2c, RE8 and Bristol Fighter.
England

8th (Training) Flying Squadron [1st Flying Wing]
Formed Yatesbury, England 25 October 1917. Also known as 33rd (Australian Training) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Equipped with Avro 504, Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Snipe.
England

Miscellaneous Flying Corps Units
1st Aeroplane Repair Section [1st Flying Wing]
Formed England 1917 for 1st Flying Wing and based at Leighterton, England.
England

1st Two Squadron Station [1st Flying Wing]
Formed England 27 June 1918 for 1st Flying Wing.
England

2nd Two Squadron Station [1st Flying Wing]
Formed England 27 June 1918 for 1st Flying Wing.
England

Australian Flying Corps Training Depot
Formed England 1917 at Perham Down, England and based at Halton Park Camp East, Wendover, England.
England

One thing seeming missing from this list is the Wing itself. I.e. 1 Wing AFC - it has its own nominal roll at AWM9 46/2.

And don't forget the training squadrons previous incarnations as 29, 30, 31 and 33 (Australian) Training Squadrons Royal Flying Corps.