| Royal Air Force Administrative Apprentice Association |
RAFAAA
| Multam A Parvo |
When Lord Trenchard, the first Chief of the Air Staff, envisaged an apprenticeship scheme for the Royal Air Force, the main focus was to
be on providing skilled engineers. However, Squadron Leader J W Cordingly, Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force Record Office at
Flowerdown prior to its re-location to RAF Ruislip, suggested that skilled administration too would be required and that there should also
be apprentice training for clerks in the Royal Air Force. Training began at RAF Ruislip but later training was undertaken at three other RAF
units, St Athan, Hereford and Bircham Newton. With the commencement of World War II, many apprentices applied and were accepted
for - aircrew duties - although one famous Commander-in-Chief was against this source of recruitment stating "We can get as many
aircrew as we like, and train them quicker than we can get good, trained clerks'! Indeed, as proof of the C-in-C's perception, many ex-
apprentices were 'poached' by Diplomatic, Consular and other Government Departments, and one ex-apprentice retired as a
Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police. With the outbreak of war, the demand for experienced clerks increased, and promotion could
be quite rapid, indeed one Warrant Officer known to the writer, proudly boasted that he had never done duty as Orderly Sergeant!During
their service over the years, many ex-apprentice clerks received state and bravery awards, with Flight Lieutenant Norman Baugh, MC, a
pilot and a former member of the 21st Entry, being especially worthy of mention. Taken prisoner by the Japanese in Hong Kong in
December, 1941, he escaped on a makeshift raft into the Bay, and then overland, and, despite many encounters with dissidents and
illness, he eventually reached Bombay and was flown back to the UK. On recovering from his privations, Flight Lieutenant Baugh returned
to flying duties in Burma where, sadly, he was killed in action in January 1943. To appreciate fully what was involved in this escape,
check your Atlas and note the ~ distance from Hong Kong to Bombay.
It would be inappropriate not to mention Air Vice-Marshal W Carter of the l7th Entry, the only ex-Apprentice Clerk to reach this rank. On
pass-out, the Warrant Officer Discip told him 'Boy, you have given me more trouble than most. You'll end up smashed into a hillside, or
with an Air Marshal's baton,' what prescience! 'Nick' Carter qualified as a pilot and was awarded the DFC. Later for his work in CENTO, he
was made a Companion of the Bath. On retirement from the RAF he moved to Australia, selling property in Western Australia, but was
quickly selected to be Commandant of the Civil Defence School in South Australia. He next became the first Director of the Australian
Counter- Disaster College. On retirement at age 65, he set up his own consultancy, advising South Asian and Pacific countries, as well as
the UN, and produced A Disaster Manager 's Handbook, still the basic guide. He remained active throughout his life, and died in - Australia
aged 87.Coincidentally, or is it, of the 11 Commanding Officers of the later Administrative Apprentice Training Schools, no fewer than 4 of
them were ex-Ruislipians, however, it must be noted that the very first Commanding Officer, Wing Commander D A Reddick, OBE, DFC,
was an ex-Halton Aircraft Apprentice. This 'quality checking process' continued when two ex-Ruislip Apprentice Clerks, Air Commodore
A P Vicary (then AOC RAF Record Office), and Air Commodore M C M V au, were Reviewing Officers at the Administrative Apprentice
Pass-Out Parades of the 318th and 322th Entries respectively. To summarise the efficacy of apprentice training, the following statistics
are offered: 3% of apprentice clerks were commissioned, four reaching air rank; 16 reaching Group Captain; 51% reached WO/SNCO
rank; 21% were selected for aircrew duties; and 15% received honours and awards.
Following the success of the RAF Ruislip Apprentice Clerk Scheme that operated between 1925 and 1942, it was deemed logical to
commence a similar scheme post- war. Accordingly the training of the newly-titled RAF Administrative Apprentices began in 1947 at
Royal Air Force St Athan. With the increase in the school leaving-age, and following a review of the training that future apprentices would
require, the syllabi were considerably revised and the Course length reduced to 12 months. Another change was in the numbering of
Entries which had previously had run from Nos. 1 - 46. Now the revised Entry numbers started at No. 301 and continued consecutively up
to No. 320. Then followed Entries numbered 322, 324, 326, with the final Entry being No. 330. Individual Entries in the '300' block had more
apprentices than in any of the previous 46 Entries, with the 330th, the final Entry, peaking at 165 apprentices.
However, the most significant change at this time was for some administrative apprentices in Entries Nos. 301 - 309 to be trained as
Nursing Attendants. A total of 190 were trained between September, 1964 and April, 1968, when Nursing Attendant Training ceased.
Entries 301-309 were trained at MTE (Medical Training Establishment) RAF Halton, with the nursing element undertaken at PMRAF
Hospital Halton. Then with Entry Nos. 310 - 314, from September, 1967 to December1969, 100 administrative apprentices were trained
for Medical Secretarial duties and were trained as Med Secs. They too were medically trained at MTE but for other elements of their
training they were part of No 1 School of Technical Training RAF Halton.
Webmaster Note November 2009: Following information received from a member of the 330th entry, we are pleased to show below,
accurate information relating to service numbers issued to Apprentice Clerks and Admin Apprentices:
The block of numbers allocated for Apprentice Clerks in 1925 was 590001 to 594261, which seemingly provided for the Ruislip
apprentices (up to 592080) and for the entries from 1947 until the allocation was exhausted. The next batch of Administrative
Apprentice numbers allocated (in Oct 64) was from 594301 to 599999; the last number actually issued was 596003. With the next batch
of numbers starting at 600000 it would appear that the only individuals with 596XXX numbers were admin apprentices and there were
only ever 4 of them. The list confirms that numbers 594262 to 594300 were never allocated to any elements of the RAF. Turning to the
311 to 330 entry era the list shows that a block from 8000005 to 8002157 was used rather than being allocated from the male recruit
block as the web-site suggests. As a result it should be relatively easy to identify anyone from this era, with the exception of those who
came to us via Halton, Cosford or Locking.
With the passing-out in August. 1973 of the 330th Entry, administrative apprentice training in the RAF ceased. Over the period May, 1947 -
August. 1973, it had trained some 4,500 apprentices, and indeed a number of them are thought to be still serving. A snapshot of ex-
administrative apprentice achievements, shows that others worthy of note are John Williamson of the 9th Entry who was awarded the
RVM for his service on the Queen's Flight. Bob Danes of the 33rd Entry was awarded two AFC's for his bravery in two air/sea rescues. Bill
Beedie of the 30 I st Entry was adjudged as being the most outstanding RAF apprentice of the year from the various training schools, and
was awarded a Gold Medal bearing the insignia of the Argentine Air Force, and presented by the Argentine Ambassador; at this
presentation incidentally, and representing the AOC-in-C, Bomber Command, was Air Vice Marshal VM Carter the ex-Ruislip Apprentice
Clerk mentioned earlier. Although information is sketchy, there were doubtless a number of other ex-admin apprentices who achieved
high rank, including Air Cdre John Pack of the 5th Entry. A list of those who reached Group Captain Rank including their entry numbers is
shown in our General Archive Pages . In a general resume of the performance of ex-administrative apprentices, many of whom have
been awarded honours, and with their varied achievements whilst serving and subsequent to their leaving the RAF, it is without doubt
that their contribution to the Royal Air Force, and indeed the nation as a whole, has been as significant as that made in the past by their
forebears, the RAF Ruislip Apprentice Clerks. At a reunion dinner of the 29th Entry in 1986, Reg Drinkwater an ex-drill instructor who
served training Administrative Apprentices at RAF Hereford in the mid 50's, spoke eloquently when he said ‘ My job was to turn boys into
men. Looking at you now and at your outstanding achievements both in and out of the Service, I rest my case’.
be on providing skilled engineers. However, Squadron Leader J W Cordingly, Commanding Officer of the Royal Air Force Record Office at
Flowerdown prior to its re-location to RAF Ruislip, suggested that skilled administration too would be required and that there should also
be apprentice training for clerks in the Royal Air Force. Training began at RAF Ruislip but later training was undertaken at three other RAF
units, St Athan, Hereford and Bircham Newton. With the commencement of World War II, many apprentices applied and were accepted
for - aircrew duties - although one famous Commander-in-Chief was against this source of recruitment stating "We can get as many
aircrew as we like, and train them quicker than we can get good, trained clerks'! Indeed, as proof of the C-in-C's perception, many ex-
apprentices were 'poached' by Diplomatic, Consular and other Government Departments, and one ex-apprentice retired as a
Superintendent in the Metropolitan Police. With the outbreak of war, the demand for experienced clerks increased, and promotion could
be quite rapid, indeed one Warrant Officer known to the writer, proudly boasted that he had never done duty as Orderly Sergeant!During
their service over the years, many ex-apprentice clerks received state and bravery awards, with Flight Lieutenant Norman Baugh, MC, a
pilot and a former member of the 21st Entry, being especially worthy of mention. Taken prisoner by the Japanese in Hong Kong in
December, 1941, he escaped on a makeshift raft into the Bay, and then overland, and, despite many encounters with dissidents and
illness, he eventually reached Bombay and was flown back to the UK. On recovering from his privations, Flight Lieutenant Baugh returned
to flying duties in Burma where, sadly, he was killed in action in January 1943. To appreciate fully what was involved in this escape,
check your Atlas and note the ~ distance from Hong Kong to Bombay.
It would be inappropriate not to mention Air Vice-Marshal W Carter of the l7th Entry, the only ex-Apprentice Clerk to reach this rank. On
pass-out, the Warrant Officer Discip told him 'Boy, you have given me more trouble than most. You'll end up smashed into a hillside, or
with an Air Marshal's baton,' what prescience! 'Nick' Carter qualified as a pilot and was awarded the DFC. Later for his work in CENTO, he
was made a Companion of the Bath. On retirement from the RAF he moved to Australia, selling property in Western Australia, but was
quickly selected to be Commandant of the Civil Defence School in South Australia. He next became the first Director of the Australian
Counter- Disaster College. On retirement at age 65, he set up his own consultancy, advising South Asian and Pacific countries, as well as
the UN, and produced A Disaster Manager 's Handbook, still the basic guide. He remained active throughout his life, and died in - Australia
aged 87.Coincidentally, or is it, of the 11 Commanding Officers of the later Administrative Apprentice Training Schools, no fewer than 4 of
them were ex-Ruislipians, however, it must be noted that the very first Commanding Officer, Wing Commander D A Reddick, OBE, DFC,
was an ex-Halton Aircraft Apprentice. This 'quality checking process' continued when two ex-Ruislip Apprentice Clerks, Air Commodore
A P Vicary (then AOC RAF Record Office), and Air Commodore M C M V au, were Reviewing Officers at the Administrative Apprentice
Pass-Out Parades of the 318th and 322th Entries respectively. To summarise the efficacy of apprentice training, the following statistics
are offered: 3% of apprentice clerks were commissioned, four reaching air rank; 16 reaching Group Captain; 51% reached WO/SNCO
rank; 21% were selected for aircrew duties; and 15% received honours and awards.
Following the success of the RAF Ruislip Apprentice Clerk Scheme that operated between 1925 and 1942, it was deemed logical to
commence a similar scheme post- war. Accordingly the training of the newly-titled RAF Administrative Apprentices began in 1947 at
Royal Air Force St Athan. With the increase in the school leaving-age, and following a review of the training that future apprentices would
require, the syllabi were considerably revised and the Course length reduced to 12 months. Another change was in the numbering of
Entries which had previously had run from Nos. 1 - 46. Now the revised Entry numbers started at No. 301 and continued consecutively up
to No. 320. Then followed Entries numbered 322, 324, 326, with the final Entry being No. 330. Individual Entries in the '300' block had more
apprentices than in any of the previous 46 Entries, with the 330th, the final Entry, peaking at 165 apprentices.
However, the most significant change at this time was for some administrative apprentices in Entries Nos. 301 - 309 to be trained as
Nursing Attendants. A total of 190 were trained between September, 1964 and April, 1968, when Nursing Attendant Training ceased.
Entries 301-309 were trained at MTE (Medical Training Establishment) RAF Halton, with the nursing element undertaken at PMRAF
Hospital Halton. Then with Entry Nos. 310 - 314, from September, 1967 to December1969, 100 administrative apprentices were trained
for Medical Secretarial duties and were trained as Med Secs. They too were medically trained at MTE but for other elements of their
training they were part of No 1 School of Technical Training RAF Halton.
Webmaster Note November 2009: Following information received from a member of the 330th entry, we are pleased to show below,
accurate information relating to service numbers issued to Apprentice Clerks and Admin Apprentices:
The block of numbers allocated for Apprentice Clerks in 1925 was 590001 to 594261, which seemingly provided for the Ruislip
apprentices (up to 592080) and for the entries from 1947 until the allocation was exhausted. The next batch of Administrative
Apprentice numbers allocated (in Oct 64) was from 594301 to 599999; the last number actually issued was 596003. With the next batch
of numbers starting at 600000 it would appear that the only individuals with 596XXX numbers were admin apprentices and there were
only ever 4 of them. The list confirms that numbers 594262 to 594300 were never allocated to any elements of the RAF. Turning to the
311 to 330 entry era the list shows that a block from 8000005 to 8002157 was used rather than being allocated from the male recruit
block as the web-site suggests. As a result it should be relatively easy to identify anyone from this era, with the exception of those who
came to us via Halton, Cosford or Locking.
With the passing-out in August. 1973 of the 330th Entry, administrative apprentice training in the RAF ceased. Over the period May, 1947 -
August. 1973, it had trained some 4,500 apprentices, and indeed a number of them are thought to be still serving. A snapshot of ex-
administrative apprentice achievements, shows that others worthy of note are John Williamson of the 9th Entry who was awarded the
RVM for his service on the Queen's Flight. Bob Danes of the 33rd Entry was awarded two AFC's for his bravery in two air/sea rescues. Bill
Beedie of the 30 I st Entry was adjudged as being the most outstanding RAF apprentice of the year from the various training schools, and
was awarded a Gold Medal bearing the insignia of the Argentine Air Force, and presented by the Argentine Ambassador; at this
presentation incidentally, and representing the AOC-in-C, Bomber Command, was Air Vice Marshal VM Carter the ex-Ruislip Apprentice
Clerk mentioned earlier. Although information is sketchy, there were doubtless a number of other ex-admin apprentices who achieved
high rank, including Air Cdre John Pack of the 5th Entry. A list of those who reached Group Captain Rank including their entry numbers is
shown in our General Archive Pages . In a general resume of the performance of ex-administrative apprentices, many of whom have
been awarded honours, and with their varied achievements whilst serving and subsequent to their leaving the RAF, it is without doubt
that their contribution to the Royal Air Force, and indeed the nation as a whole, has been as significant as that made in the past by their
forebears, the RAF Ruislip Apprentice Clerks. At a reunion dinner of the 29th Entry in 1986, Reg Drinkwater an ex-drill instructor who
served training Administrative Apprentices at RAF Hereford in the mid 50's, spoke eloquently when he said ‘ My job was to turn boys into
men. Looking at you now and at your outstanding achievements both in and out of the Service, I rest my case’.
| A History Of The Administrative Apprentice Schemes |
| Royal Air Force Hereford Receives The Freedom Of The City In 1959 |
| The First Four Apprentice Entries RAF Ruislip 1947 |
| Air Vice Marshal Trenchard Inspects 22nd Apprentice Entry |
| Guard Of Honour By 1st Entry |
| To Visit The Training Units Click The Links Below |
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