Former Cranwell - Sleaford Railway Line

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  Tim Brown (guest)

  I suppose considering the RAF wasn't formed until April 1918, it might be too much to expect Cranwell is given its correct contemporary name... i.e. RNAS Central Training School Cranwell... it is also, I believe, a common myth that Cranwell was named HMS Daedalus. In 1916 Daedalus was the name given to the former floating battery, HMS Thunderbolt, the ship was moored in Chatham and being used as a floating jetty... it was common practice then that naval personnel assigned to shore stations would be put on the pooks of a ship for administration purposes (and to render them subject to the Naval Disciplne Act. HMS Daedalus served that purpose for most RNAS personnel... the confusion came when the draft was put on services records as HMS Daedalus (Cranwell)... indicating where there would be emplyed, but leading people to think Cranwell had a ship's name. Daedalus covered several other RNAS training bases incl Kingsnorth, Eastchurch, Grain, Port Victoria, Manston, Cateswater, Mullion, Tresco and Newlyn.

  7 years ago | reply | hide comment