Kermit
05-09-2013, 07:15
The year is 1941.
This is the story of Sydney "Timbertoes" Carlin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Carlin_%28RAF_officer%29).
He enlisted with the 18th Royal Hussars (a cavalry regiment) in 1908, but he bought himself out and resigned in December 1909 for the sum of £18.
He re-enlisted on 8 August 1915; the army refunded half (£9) of the money he had bought himself out with in 1909. Serving in France he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 5 August 1915. He lost a leg serving at Ypres in 1915, commanding an infantry section holding a trench against repeated German counter-attacks. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross in October. Sydney was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in September 1915 and made a Lieutenant in May 1916.
Following his recovery he joined the Royal Flying Corps. Sydney was posted in May 1918 to No. 74 Squadron RFC flying S.E.5As, where he earned his nickname 'Timbertoes'. Carlin is recorded as an ace balloon buster, with 5 balloons downed; he was also an ace against aircraft, with 4 machines claimed destroyed, and one aircraft 'Down out of control'. His exploits earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 21 September 1918 Carlin was shot down over Hantay by Uzz. Siegfried Westphal of Jasta 29 and taken Prisoner of War.Sydney was returned to his unit in 1918, entered the hospital and relinquished his commission on "account of ill-health contracted on active service" in August 1919 retaining the rank of Lieutenant.
On reenlistment to the RAF he was graded as a probationary Pilot Officer on 27 July 1940. He made Pilot Officer in September 1940, flying as an air gunner in Defiant aircraft with No. 264 Squadron RAF and later No. 151 Squadron RAF. He also made several unofficial trips as an air gunner with No. 311 (Czech) Squadron, flying Wellingtons. Carlin was injured in action at RAF Wittering during an enemy bombing raid on 7/8 May 1941, and died in Peterborough on 9 May 1941. He is memorialized on the Screen Wall, Panel 1, Hull Crematorium.
*Side note: Ypres was difficult to pronounce in English so they nicknamed it "Wipers". This is also one of the first places to use chemical warfare.
This is the story of Sydney "Timbertoes" Carlin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Carlin_%28RAF_officer%29).
He enlisted with the 18th Royal Hussars (a cavalry regiment) in 1908, but he bought himself out and resigned in December 1909 for the sum of £18.
He re-enlisted on 8 August 1915; the army refunded half (£9) of the money he had bought himself out with in 1909. Serving in France he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 5 August 1915. He lost a leg serving at Ypres in 1915, commanding an infantry section holding a trench against repeated German counter-attacks. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross in October. Sydney was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in September 1915 and made a Lieutenant in May 1916.
Following his recovery he joined the Royal Flying Corps. Sydney was posted in May 1918 to No. 74 Squadron RFC flying S.E.5As, where he earned his nickname 'Timbertoes'. Carlin is recorded as an ace balloon buster, with 5 balloons downed; he was also an ace against aircraft, with 4 machines claimed destroyed, and one aircraft 'Down out of control'. His exploits earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. On 21 September 1918 Carlin was shot down over Hantay by Uzz. Siegfried Westphal of Jasta 29 and taken Prisoner of War.Sydney was returned to his unit in 1918, entered the hospital and relinquished his commission on "account of ill-health contracted on active service" in August 1919 retaining the rank of Lieutenant.
On reenlistment to the RAF he was graded as a probationary Pilot Officer on 27 July 1940. He made Pilot Officer in September 1940, flying as an air gunner in Defiant aircraft with No. 264 Squadron RAF and later No. 151 Squadron RAF. He also made several unofficial trips as an air gunner with No. 311 (Czech) Squadron, flying Wellingtons. Carlin was injured in action at RAF Wittering during an enemy bombing raid on 7/8 May 1941, and died in Peterborough on 9 May 1941. He is memorialized on the Screen Wall, Panel 1, Hull Crematorium.
*Side note: Ypres was difficult to pronounce in English so they nicknamed it "Wipers". This is also one of the first places to use chemical warfare.