Royal Air Force 1918

The Royal Air Force was founded on 1 April 1918.  Later that year, two 17-year-olds from Warmington enlisted.  Their names are on the Roll of Honour in Warmington church.  They were:

Norman Frank Smith, born 14 July 1900 in Warmington.  He lived at Home Farm, Warmington.  He enlisted in the RAF on 2 July 1918, Service No 179958.  His occupation at the time he enlisted was farmer and he was described as 5 ft 6 in tall, with auburn hair and brown eyes.

Norman continued to live in Warmington after the Great War and later moved to Fotheringhay, where he lived at College Farm House.  In the 1939 Register, he was a leather salesman to the boot and shoe industry.  Norman died in 1974.

Eric Mildmay Turnill, born 14 August 1900 in Ashton, near Oundle.  In 1911, Eric lived with his widowed mother, grandfather and brother, Hugh Victor Turnill, in Springfield House, Warmington.  He joined the RAF on 11 June 1918.  His Service No was 195707.  Eric was described in his service record as having brown hair and brown eyes.

Eric came back to Warmington after the Great War and in the 1939 Register he was living at Springfield House.  He gave his occupation as 'gardener for mother'.  Eric married Chrystabel Lorinne M Chew in 1952.  He died in 1986.

If you have photos of these two men, or any information you are prepared to share about them, please complete the Roll of Honour contact form.

Page last updated: Friday 30th March 2018 10:13 AM
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