higher for skilled labour than the Canadian forces for unskilled,
a very high standard could not be set for trade test. The first
question of each recruit was: “What is the pay?” “How much will my
wife get?” and such answers as the recruiting officer could give were
not very reassuring. In contrast with the Canadian overseas man, the
prospect was, in truth, hardly attractive. The wife of the latter,
owing to the benefactions of the Canadian Patriotic Fund (subscribed
unofficially by Canadians) received $20.00 per month and $5.00 for
each child, in addition to a percentage of her husband’s pay. As
against this the brigade allowance looked meagre. The relief can be
realized, therefore, when, a little later, the authorities of the
Patriotic Fund, cognizant of the importance of R.F.C. work, and
that R.F.C. recruits were principally married men, extended their
generosity to the brigade as regarding men of category “A,” who were
eligible for overseas service. Here, too, a tribute must be paid to
R.F.C. men outside this category and unable to enjoy this special
benefit. It speaks highly for the patriotism of Canadians that these
mechanics carried cheerfully on, though under great personal and
financial disadvantages.
In the early part of 1918, a number of category “A” men were
liberated for the purpose of joining the C.E.F. and proceeded
overseas, thus causing considerable shortage of labour in the Corps.
Further recruiting appearing impossible, female labour was employed
in the capacity of civilian subordinates. It was at first thought
that these subordinates would be used only in unskilled trades and
office routine, but it was soon evident that they could be trained
for simpler and lighter mechanical work. A separate section being
formed to handle recruiting and administration, a large number of
patriotic women volunteered for duty with the Air Force, of whom
1,200 were selected. Through their work the brigade was tided over
a serious shortage of labour. Unaccustomed to aeroplane work, and
unacquainted with military routine, they have universally performed
sterling service.
From the very first, civilian female subordinates were employed at
headquarters and other units in a clerical capacity. In the autumn of
1918 they might have been seen in any of the shops or camps, dressed
in dusters, caps and overalls, taking down engines, grinding valves,
stripping aeroplanes and doing all forms of manual labour heretofore
always performed by men. At the Repair Parks alone, 135 women were
employed at technical trades, while at the various camps nearly 600
were carrying on as mechanics. In the capacity of motor drivers they
rendered excellent service. A large proportion of the cars throughout
the brigade at the present time are driven by them.
Too much praise cannot be given to the women who have been employed
in many varying capacities by the R.A.F. throughout Canada. They
have given the greatest satisfaction, and done their work in the
most conscientious manner possible. Furthermore, in spite of many
predictions, they have caused no trouble whatsoever, and submitted
themselves apparently without effort to the necessary discipline of
the Force.
The following notes, re female subordinates, may be of interest,
showing their distribution:--
In Headquarters Offices and in various cities 115
Paymaster Department, Victoria St., Toronto 36
Recruits Depot, Jesse Ketchum, Toronto 18
No. 4 S. of A. University 90
Cadet Wing, Long Branch 9
Armament School, Hamilton 14
Aeroplane Repair Park, Toronto 134
Engine Repair Park, Toronto 65
Stores Depot, Toronto 180
Motor Transport Section, Toronto 50
Engineer Section, Toronto 3
School of Aerial Fighting, Beamsville 91
Forty-second Wing, Deseronto 230
Forty-third Wing, Leaside 161
-----
1,196
At the time of the signing of the armistice, over 7,000 men had been
recruited for the mechanical section of the Royal Air Force, Canada.
Nearly fifty per cent. of these were recruited by correspondence,
and as many as 15,000 applications were handled through recruiting
headquarters and the various out-stations.
[Illustration: R.A.F. CAN.--RECRUITING RECORD OF CADETS AND MECHANICS
GRAND TOTAL 16,663]
CADETS.
When on May 1st, 1917, the campaign was commenced, the assistance
of the Aero Club of Canada was enlisted, and this society used its
organization as a recruiting agency.
At the same time, endeavours were made to approach the students of
public schools and universities by extensive circularization. It was
estimated that about 600 cadet recruits could be handled for training
for the balance of 1917, and about 1,500 in 1918, but although
thirty-odd schools and colleges were thus approached, the scheme was
unproductive of results. It was decided, therefore, to try out more
thoroughly the idea of civilian recruiting committees, and bodies
composed of about three influential, public men were organized in the
following cities:--
Toronto, Ontario.
Montreal, Quebec.
Charlottetown, P. E. I.
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Regina, Saskatchewan.
Calgary, Alberta.
Vancouver, British Columbia.
These committees, being furnished with our medical standards, were
empowered to interview applicants, have them examined by the local
Medical Board and apply for transportation to Toronto for final
test and approval. It will be understood that the committees were
not active recruiting agents. They simply passed opinion on the
men sent to them by the wing, all applications being made through
headquarters. The Royal Flying Corps was by this time becoming known
and talked about throughout Canada. Publicity was better managed, and
there were received on an average twenty applications per day from
the whole of Canada. Uneasiness was felt about this time as to an
adequate supply of cadets being available. The demand was continually
increasing. Towards the summer of 1917 it reached 300 per month. A
little later in the fall it rose to 400 and 500 a month, requiring in
two months what in April, 1917, had been estimated as the need for
two-thirds of the whole year.
A new plan was therefore necessary. Statistical research indicated
that past efforts had not reached the public except in large centres.
It was, in consequence, determined to enlarge the civilian committee
plan, and establish committees in every town of 10,000 inhabitants
and over, throughout the whole of Canada. In places of less than
10,000, the assistance of at least one important man was sought
to accomplish this, and the Dominion was completely divided into
five recruiting districts with headquarters offices at Vancouver,
Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Each district was supplied
with an officer in charge, and a second officer, whose duty it was
to travel continually from place to place establishing committees
and advise and assist those committees already established. The
scheme proved very successful. About 350 civilian committees, with a
total of over 1,000 members, were established throughout Canada, and
the travelling officers, by the mere fact of their presence in the
different towns, stimulated interest, and through interviews with
local papers obtained publicity. Coincident with this, the matter of
publicity was tackled in a serious way by a campaign whereby it was
hoped to bring to the notice of every man in Canada the work being
done by, or at least the name of, the Royal Air Force.
About this time the Military Service Act commenced to operate and
there seemed a danger of all the available material being absorbed
into C.E.F. units. A reserve class “B” was therefore started, and the
surplus cadets were placed on this reserve.
From this time on, committees coöperating more fully, the number of
applicants steadily increased and there has been no difficulty since
then in supplying the demand for cadets.
The difficulties encountered in cadet recruiting were:--
(1) The task of informing the public that cadets would be taken
for training as pilots. Not only had the fact to be known that
men were wanted, but it was also necessary to say exactly what a
pilot had to do. There still seems to be an impression that it is
very difficult to gain admittance as a pilot.
(2) Before the Royal Flying Corps, Canada, was formed, pilots
were trained at a civilian school. They paid about $400 for
the course, and then had to take a chance of being accepted in
England. The general public required to be acquainted with the
fact that training was _free_ at an Army School.
(3) It was absolutely impossible to interview all the applicants
at headquarters or at brigade centres, or to deal with them by
correspondence. The committees formed were, therefore, given this
work, and as soon as they thoroughly realized the requirements,
they rendered the very greatest service, and have been, as
pointed out, the backbone of cadet recruiting.
(4) The medical examination of cadets presented almost similar
difficulties to that of mechanics. Brigade standards were
entirely different from those usually adopted by the local
boards. It was very difficult to secure an examination which was
anything more than superficial.
The Barany revolving chair is now employed, and in doubtful cases
trial flights involving specified tests are given. In this way
it has been possible to accept some borderline cases, where under
the old system rejections would have been inevitable.
(5) It should not be forgotten that in this, as well as in the
campaign for recruits, the same staff was employed.
The brigade was handicapped from the commencement by the absolutely
inadequate staff provided. It has only been by most strenuous efforts
in training officers and men in the work that it was carried on at
all.
At the time of the signing of the armistice, 9,200 cadets had been
enlisted for service, while 35,000 applications had been handled by
headquarters and the various outstations.
RECORDS AND PERSONNEL SUPPLY
Unusually complete records of cadets and airmen enlisted were kept
from the very commencement of work in Canada. Where documents were
sent to officer in charge Records and the War Office, duplicates
were always kept. For this reason no change in organization or
administration was necessary when in September, 1917, the General
Officer Commanding was appointed officer in charge Records for Canada.
The continuous growth of the Air Force in Canada has meant a
corresponding growth in records. From time to time demands outgrew
systems, and it became necessary to remodel, so as to conform to
Imperial administration and yet dovetail with existing regulations
and conditions in Canada.
[Illustration: R.A.F. CAN.--MONTHLY STRENGTH OF OFFICERS, W.O.^{’S}
N.C.O.^{’S} & MEN, CADET PILOTS, CADET OBSERVERS]
All posting of mechanics and of cadets throughout their training
has been carried out by this unit. The records of the training of
mechanics, and their progressive history from station to station,
have been maintained by the individual card system. A complete
history of each cadet from the time he first made application until
the time he proceeded overseas, through every stage of training and
every movement, has been kept in minute detail.
New departments required organization to deal with pensions and
other subjects on which there was very little information available;
while the work of handling other sections, such as, discharges, was
continually on the increase.
In many cases the forms called for by K. R. were not available, new
forms being printed locally, also those used by the Medical Services,
which, although provided by the Canadian Militia, were often not
applicable to Imperial requirements.
It is found, however, on demobilization, that the records are in
excellent shape, and that the information at the disposal of this
office is complete.
Space does not permit of the printing of the hundreds of individual
names making up the personnel of those committees in various towns
to which the Corps is so greatly indebted, but to each and all, the
General Officer Commanding tenders in the name of the Royal Air
Force, his most sincere and hearty thanks for work, without which
such progress as may be credited to the brigade could not have been
achieved.
[Illustration: 89TH SQUADRON--CAMP MOHAWK.]
[Illustration: RIGHTING A MACHINE.]
THE CADET WING.
The Cadet Wing, like its younger and larger brother the School of
Aeronautics, found shelter at its birth in buildings most kindly
loaned by the University of Toronto. This was at the beginning of
March, 1917.
Prior to this, all R.F.C. cadets recruited had been equipped,
accommodated and generally looked after at Victoria College by the
Canadian Officers Training Corps, of the University of Toronto. This
unit, together with the School of Infantry of the District, continued
for some weeks to ration the cadets, but during hours of parade they
came under the Cadet Wing for instruction.
Already there were in existence the Recruits Depot, Stores Depot and
“X” Squadron at Long Branch. Up to now there had been no tuition
prior to flying, except such as could be given by the much overworked
but extremely efficient 2nd Lt. in command at Long Branch.
The strength of the Cadet Wing was, to commence with, some 50 cadets,
taken care of in ground instruction by 2 officers, 3 non-commissioned
officer instructors and some two or three clerks. Lectures covered
artillery observation, organization of troops, military law and such
technicalities as rigging, engines, etc. It will, therefore, be seen
that the two officers in charge were required to call upon the sum
total of their knowledge and experience to discharge their official
duties. The wing was fed direct by the recruiting office, since
cadets did not at first pass through Recruits Depot.
Gunnery instruction was added shortly, though the wing was woefully
deficient in suitable material. Simultaneously courses were
organized, and a regular programme set on foot. Through the courtesy
of the O.C. School of Musketry Military District No. 2, arrangements
were made by which all cadets took a course in machine gunnery at
Hart House, including range practice. A Curtiss machine was secured
(a peculiarly massive aeroplane, discarded as impractical by the
Curtiss Company), and though no mechanical power would have lifted
it into the air, its bones served to illustrate the anatomy of the
structure of which it was a prototype. There was also one Curtiss
and one motor car engine. It will be noted that by now the wing had
assumed the threefold function of a Cadet Wing proper, a School of
Aeronautics and an Armament School.
As can be understood, the course was not of any set length. The
passage of a cadet through the organization depended upon his
capacity to learn, and the requirements of the flying units. The
first graduates proceeded to Long Branch where, equipped with such
tuition as time had afforded, they began flying at once. By the
end of April, drafts were sent to Borden, where further ground
instruction was now being given.
Further expansion came in May, and with it additional help from the
University authorities. The splendid buildings of Burwash Hall were
secured from Victoria College, and the commodious East Residence
rented from the University of Toronto. It is difficult to say what
would have been the progress of this work of the Corps, were it not
for the constant consideration received from the President, Governors
and Superintendent of the University.
[Illustration: OFFICERS AND STRENGTH, 43RD WING, LEASIDE.]
[Illustration: RECEIVING WIRELESS.
ARTILLERY OBSERVATION.]
With expansion, arrived also the need for some subdivision of duties.
The Cadet Wing was too polyglot. It provided as much as humanly
possible of everything, but not enough of anything. Came therefore
the first demarcation between the Cadet Wing and the School of
Military Aeronautics,--i.e. the junior and senior sections, though
for official purposes of administration they were still unified.
New instructional equipment arrived, and during May the strength of
cadets rose to nearly 150.
Before passing on to later history, it is desired to give sincere
and official recognition to the splendid work done at this early
stage in spite of meagre facilities and an absurdly small staff. The
difficulties encountered were many and serious. The wing was still in
the throes of active service organization, but all eyes were turned
to the output of cadets as the crux of the situation, and the means
by which officers and men alike were to justify the programme then
being worked out. The output has never failed, but at no period did
it involve greater personal strain and effort than in these first two
or three months of this unit’s existence.
On June the 11th, a staff of nine officers and thirty-eight men
arrived from England to form officially the School of Aeronautics,
and took over general instruction at the Cadet Wing prior to the
final subdivision of the latter. This occurred on July 14th when the
wing moved out to summer quarters at Long Branch which was then given
up by “Y” Squadron as an aerodrome. Work continued with constantly
increasing numbers, till the winter of 1917, when, on the departure
of the 42nd and 43rd Wings for Texas, the unit divided itself between
Borden and Mohawk for some six months. Here instruction continued
without interruption till April 4th, 1918, on which date the two
sections re-amalgamated at Long Branch, with a strength that now
reached a staff of 200 officers and men and 900 cadets.
The formation of the Armament School in the early summer permitted
the wing to cease elementary gunnery instruction and devote more time
to drill, discipline and wireless, but it should be remembered that
the Armament School was the logical expansion of work previously
carried out at the Cadet Wing and School of Aeronautics.
In the summer of 1918, the wing was on the lines of an infantry
battalion, with four squadrons and a headquarters company. Drill,
physical training, wireless, topography and air force law were in the
curriculum, but the essential and psychological duty of this unit was
to impress on the new recruit those fundamental precepts of military
discipline, honour and self respect on which his future career alone
could be successfully based.
As to relaxation there was begun on July 18th an excellent monthly
magazine, “The Cadet Wing Review,” which is second to none of similar
publications. Local talent also conducted a theatre which was a
veritable centre of attraction.
Through this summer, the average strength was 200 staff, and 1,100
cadets. To house them for the winter, large barracks had just been
completed at the close of hostilities. The output of cadets of the
unit will be noted by the graph on page 161.
[Illustration: R.A.F. CAN.--OUTPUT OF CADET WING AND ARMAMENT SCHOOL
GRAND TOTALS. CADET WING 6695
ARMAMENT SCHOOL 1225]
SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS.
By May 1917, it had become quite apparent that ground training of
cadets demanded an expansion of treatment which could not be afforded
by the then existing Cadet Wing, however, valiantly the latter unit
might strive, and on the 15th a chief instructor, for the purpose of
starting a School of Military Aeronautics, was ordered to proceed to
Canada, taking with him eight other officers and thirty-eight men of
various ranks as a nucleus of an instructional staff.
This advance party worked in conjunction with the Cadet Wing until
July 1st, on which date No. 4 School of Military Aeronautics was
recorded as a separate and official organization.
The anticipated expansion immediately took place, aided very greatly
by the assistance, not only of the President of the University of
Toronto, but also of the professors of that institution who gave
up room after room, often at great inconvenience to themselves.
About this time, also, a large shipment of aeroplanes and engines
for instructional purposes was forwarded from England. It was
unfortunately lost on the way out, the immediate effect being that
for the first few months all practical instruction was confined to
the Curtiss engine and JN4 aeroplane.
The length of the course given during this period was three weeks,
but at the end of the month it was increased to four, and comprised
six flights, covering engines, rigging, wireless, artillery
observation, machine guns, and instruments and bombs.
[Illustration: STAFF OF SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS.]
[Illustration: “AERIAL” OF VICINITY OF UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.
(Note the Cadet Camp lying north of main University Building.)]
The importance of the work done at this unit was now most firmly
established. The length of the course was increased in September
to six weeks, and it was arranged that three courses went through
the school at a time, each composed of 150 cadets with two weeks
intervening. By now the strength of the unit had increased to 19
officers, 119 non-commissioned officers and men, 149 United States
army and naval cadets and 261 Imperial cadets. Occupation of the
buildings so kindly furnished by the University authorities covered
Burwash Hall, East and South residences, School of Practical Science,
Medical Building, portion of Convocation Hall, Thermodynamics
Building and dining halls in University and Victoria College.
In September, instruction was further expanded by the formation of
a school at the factory of the Canadian Aeroplanes Limited, where
members of flying units received introduction to the theory and
principle of aeroplane construction. There were three courses, each
lasting eighteen days, and each being divided into ten squads,
members of which remained together throughout their entire period
of instruction. Examinations were set and corrected by an examining
party at the School under direct supervision of the Commandant, when
sixty-five per cent. of marks was necessary before a cadet passed
through and was posted to a flying unit.
In the month of December, 1917, the strength of cadets greatly
increased and it became necessary to draw again on the goodwill
of the University authorities and occupy Wycliffe College.
Simultaneously a pool was formed in a remodeled hotel, Haydon House,
some four miles from the School, where were housed such cadets as
the flying units were unable to take owing to the reduced amount of
flying during the winter months. By the end of the year cadets on the
strength amounted to 721.
Training material now began to arrive more regularly from England,
and, as a result, the instruction given was considerably diversified.
In March, 1918, a seventh flight was formed for the study of aerial
navigation, in which much more complete instruction was given in map
reading and course plotting. Machine gun instruction was transferred
to the Armament School at Hamilton, and the time thus secured given
to further study of aerial navigation.
The practical education of the mechanics taught at the School was
ensured by the construction at Leaside of engine running sheds, in
which engines of various types were set up and their operations
drilled into all pupils under conditions which simulated those on
active service as nearly as possible. Considerable improvement in the
engine knowledge of cadets was immediately noticeable.
On April 1st, cadets in training at the School, now called No.
4 School of Aeronautics, had reached 1,277, while the staff was
composed of 26 officers and 230 non-commissioned officers and men,
with the inevitable result that another residence was taken over from
the University, with housing capacity for 185.
Again a flight was added to the course, this time for observers, and
by July all cadets thus passing through the unit received instruction
in aerial navigation, instruments, reconnaissance, organization of
the Army and R.A.F., and general military knowledge, photography,
engines, rigging and wireless.
In September, the process of engine instruction was still further
advanced by discarding the fixed stands to which Curtiss engines
had been rigidly attached, and substituting in their stead sections
of aeroplane fuselages so balanced as to be capable of vertical
adjustment, thus simulating the action of machines when in the air.
To these were attached Clerget engines, which it was now proposed to
use in conjunction with the Avro machines contemplated for flying
instruction. This departure from the reciprocating to the rotary
type made it necessary to organize special classes of tuition for
non-commissioned officers and men from various flying units. In this
course, the assistance given by the School Board of Toronto by the
use of a portion of the Lippincott Technical School proved greatly to
the advantage of the brigade.
[Illustration: R.A.F. CAN.--SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS OUTPUT OF PUPILS
GRAND TOTAL 6171]
[Illustration: PARADE ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
CADET CAMP, UNIVERSITY LAWN.