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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0198.PDF
MARCH 25, 1926 Nevertheless, Mr. Cobham gave it as his opinion thatworld aeroplane routes would have to be^run with relays of machines—every 300 miles or so—improved methods ofrefuelling, previously referred to, making such a system practicable, without loss of time. Furthermore, the passen-gers would, without doubt, be glad of an opportunity for stretching their legs when changing from one machine toanother at each stage. Married FRANCIS S. S. LAMPREY (Green Howards, seconded toR.A.F.), younger son of A. S. Lamprey, M.A., School House, Ashford, Kent, was married on March 17, at St. MaryMagdalene's, Wandsworth, to AGNES, only child of the late CAPT. DIXON, M.C. (Suffolk Regt.), and of Mrs. DIXON, ofDover. To be Married The engagement is announced between HUGH NORMAN DAVIES, R.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Davies, London,S.W.6, and DOROTHY, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. IEVERS, Croft House, Epsom. The engagement is announced of OLIVER HUMPHREY CANTRILL, late R.N.A.S., of Dooars, India, eldest son ofMr. E. Crosbee Cantrill (Geological Survey) and Mrs. Cantrill, Ridgecroft, Kidderminster, and MARGARET ISOBEL (Bunny),elder daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. DAVID BURNETT, ofGolden Grove, Carmarthenshire. The engagement is announced between Flight-Lieut. EDWARD GOODWIN HILTON, D.F.C., A.F.C., R.A.F., son of the late Mr and Mrs. J. E. Hilton, of Lambourne, Berks, and JOYCE ELIZABETH, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. HERBERTJ. MARTIN, Mason's Bridge, Hadleigh, Suffolk. The engagement is announced between Mr. TERENCE HUME LANGRISHE, late Irish Guards and R.A.F., onlysurviving son of Sir Hercules Langrishe, Bart., and Lady Langrishe, of Knocktopher Abbey, Co. Kilkenny, andMiss JOAN GRIGG, eldest daughter of Maj. Ralph Grigg,late 18th Hus., and Mrs. Grigg, of 42, Hertford Street, Mayfair, London. The engagement is announced between RICHARD M. THOMAS, R.A.F., of Llanberis House, Moseley, Birmingham,and DOROTHEA WYKDHAM KNATCHBULL, second daughter ofMr. and Mrs. Knatchbull, of the Manor House, Winsley, near Bradford-on-Avon. The engagement is announced between LEONARD C. LEWIS,late R.A.F., youngest son of Canon F. E. Lewis and the late Mrs. Lewis, and JULIET EVELYN MARY, only daughter ofthe late Rev. WILFRED ROGERS and Mrs. ROGERS, of Tre-medden, Falmouth. "TOMMY" LYONS An Appreciation by one who knew him. IN 1914 the Aeronautics Directorate of the War Office con-sisted of eight officers and the same number of N.C.O.'s and civilians. The Junior Lieutenant—graded as Staff Captain—had been commissioned from the ranks but three months previously. In 1917 the Directorate consisted of 168 officers and manyN.C.O.'s and civilians, and our lieutenant of 1914 was in charge of the administration, graded as Deputy AssistantDirector. He was whom we later knew as Wing - Commander"Tommy " Lyons, O.B.E., Knight of the Legion of Honour, and also the Order of St. Anne of Russia. What he had done during those few years was known mostlyto himself only. His juniors knew there was " something doing." His seniors only knew that it was done. He foresaw things in a manner uncanny, and with obstruction-ists, particularly amateurs—and there were many—T.O.L. was a factor to be reckoned with. It mattered not whether inEngland or France, a few strokes with his pen on a chit— and, oh, how we who served with him knew those chits—and the difficulties were cleared. A right man had been found by him for a specific job. That man had to be placed in thatjob. Another was found useless. He was transferred with as little fuss as one changes one's boots. He had the unique distinction of having been concerned inevery department of the Air Ministry and on the formation of that separate body was sole resident officer throughout thehardest days of the war. Thus, after a hard day in the office he would be at the call of everyone through the nightfrom the Secretary of State, to a mother's enquiries regarding a son—from the despatch of a squadron of machines to anapplication for an extension of leave. It would take a book to tell all he did, and it is a greatpity that he did not live to write that book in his retirement as he intended. In 1920 he was sent to command No. 4 Stores Depot,Ickenham, the site of which he himself chose in 1916, and here he endeared himself to all with whom he worked and here»after the stress of war, we learned most of what was in the real Tommy Lyons. He was sent to Iraq in 1921, where, after doing furtherconstructive staff work he was invalided home and after a long spell of sickness followed by a short spell of staff work atSpittlegate, was reposted to his old depot (No. 4) in the autumn of 1923. His system was control and not interference. He placed thegreatest reliance on the integrity of those serving under him and satisfied himself by results and occasional surprise checks. He had been heard to remark that his depot did not require" commanding." If anything had to be done, he pressed a button and it happened. Many times, owing to pressure of office work when he hadnot been able to tour his depot, has he stood at his depot gates on the cessation of work at mid-day or evening (oftenin heavy rain) with his cheery smile and a recognition for all. It was his depot and they were his men and how proud he wasof them and they of him. He was taken seriously ill on Friday, January 28. andpassed away 20 minutes after his depot had begun work on February 1. He was buried with full R.A.F. honours in IckenhamChurchyard and, in accordance with his wish, within sight of his depot which he loved so much. No greater visibletribute could have been paid to such a leader as at that sad farewell. Behind the Service personnel followed in formation offours the entire staff of the depot—some hundreds of civilians —to the church and grave-side. The whole depot beingclosed for one hour. " Tommy " Lyons has gone but his memory lives, and solong as that memory lives and his examples emulated, the R.A.F. shoud be proud that Providence singled out theR.A.F. to be chosen to receive such a man with such an example of loyalty and ability. British Empire League and Aviation SIR HENRY PAGE CROFT, M.P., presided over a meeting of the Imperial Communications Committee of the British Empire League at the House of Commons on March 22, when the following resolution was unanimously adopted : " That this committee notes with satisfaction the recent references of the Minister for Air in regard to Empire communi- cations, and further hopes that immediate steps will be taken to prepare schemes to lay before the Imperial Conference with a view to linking up all parts of the Empire by airship, aeroplane, and seaplane." This was moved by Commander Burney, M.P., and seconded by Sir Harry Brittain, M.P. 178
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