Shiny Two Stories - every now and again we'll add stories to give you a flavour of life on Shiny Two through the ages.
The Shanghai Affair (or "The Flt Lt Hollinghurst Mystery")
The following was gleaned from the archives at the RAF Museum Hendon. It is a fine example of how when one is embarked upon researching one particular aspect of history that a chance glimpse of something quite unrelated takes one's interest which then becomes an all-consuming project on its own merit.
The story - if that is what it can be called - was culled from a series of official reports and letters and concerns a II(AC) Sqn officer of some merit and his battle with officialdom in the quest for what he believed was his rights. It is presented as I found it; a collection of statements from various official documents which in some way or another support his case. You can make up your own mind as to the character of the man from the clues therein and maybe sympathise with his sense of grievance. Whether he suceeded is not known but it does remind us that even in those long since past times that the "Bean-Counters" were obviously very much a part of the organisation!
Read and be comforted by the thought that it wasn't only you that had to argue the toss for an increase in rates.
Firstly, there is his annual report which although the original was undated mentions "China - 1927" suggesting it to be written about that time:
The story - if that is what it can be called - was culled from a series of official reports and letters and concerns a II(AC) Sqn officer of some merit and his battle with officialdom in the quest for what he believed was his rights. It is presented as I found it; a collection of statements from various official documents which in some way or another support his case. You can make up your own mind as to the character of the man from the clues therein and maybe sympathise with his sense of grievance. Whether he suceeded is not known but it does remind us that even in those long since past times that the "Bean-Counters" were obviously very much a part of the organisation!
Read and be comforted by the thought that it wasn't only you that had to argue the toss for an increase in rates.
Firstly, there is his annual report which although the original was undated mentions "China - 1927" suggesting it to be written about that time:
AM Form 731
Date of Birth: 2nd January 1895
Record of Service:
Previous Service:
War Service:
7th September 1914 – 11th November 1918
Foreign Service:
Orders, Decorations and Medals
Date of Birth: 2nd January 1895
Record of Service:
- Temporary 2nd Lieutenant, General list (Middlesex Regiment) – 2nd April 1916
- Flying Officer Royal Flying Corps - 20th March 1917
- Temporary Lieutenant - 1st May 1917
- Lieutenant RAF - 1st April 1918
- Acting Captain - 18th November 1918
- Permanent Commission as Flying Officer RAF - 12th December 1919
- Flight Lieutenant - 1st January 1922
Previous Service:
- Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers – 7th September 1914
- Officer Flying Corps - 5th March 1916
War Service:
7th September 1914 – 11th November 1918
Foreign Service:
- Egypt: 27th November 1916 – 16th March 1917
- France: 23rd June 1917 – 9th July 1917
- France & Germany: 26th April 1918 – 14th June 1919
- India: 15th June 1919 – 31st January 1922
- China: 11th April 1927
Orders, Decorations and Medals
- Distinguished Flying Cross (London Gazette - 3rd December 1918)
- Since the 25th April this officer has destroyed four enemy aeroplanes and driven one down out of control. At all times he displays great determination and cool courage, notably on 20th September when although his petrol tank had been shot through and his machine badly damaged, he attacked and destroyed a Fokker biplane that was stalling to fire on another member of the patrol, thereby saving the life of a brother officer. On numerous other occasions Lieutenant Hollinghurst by his gallantry has saved from disaster other members of his patrol.
- 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals
- Great War Service
- India General Service Medal with clasp “Afghanistan NWF 1919”
- For service in India
Then comes the letter which was written to his superior when he was clearly a little ticked off that he, an RAF Officer serving on the General Staff in Shanghai, was not getting the same rates as his Army equivalents:
14 Jun 1927
Sir
I have the honour to request that this my application for Lodging, Fuel and Light Allowance be assessed week ending friday 20th May 1927 at the rates laid down for Army class 11 instead of those laid down for Army Class 12, may be recommended and forwarded to higher authority for consideration.
The present rates are:
For lodging Class 11 - $3.50c; For lodging Class 12 - $2.0c
For Fuel and Light (Summer) Class 11 - $0.33c; For Class 12 - $0.13c
The army allowance regulations place a staff captain under Class 11 and a Regimental Captain under Class 12. I am at present posted to the Staff of the General Officer Commanding, Shanghai Defence force for Air Staff Duties. No Government quarters within reach of this HQ are available; as a result I am compelled to find my own accommodation as any other Captain performing Staff Duties at this HQ. I therefore respectfully suggest that in this instance Class 11 and not Class 12 rates should apply.
I am aware that para. 3167 Kings Regulations does not take cognizance of Class 11 rates, nevertheless it seems evident from the tenor of the instructions issued to Flt Lt Farmer (AM letter N0. 742841/27 dated 21 Jan 27) that the intention of the Air Ministry is that RAF Officers attached to the army should receive the same allowance as do army officers of their own status.
I remain your Obedient Servant ...
Sir
I have the honour to request that this my application for Lodging, Fuel and Light Allowance be assessed week ending friday 20th May 1927 at the rates laid down for Army class 11 instead of those laid down for Army Class 12, may be recommended and forwarded to higher authority for consideration.
The present rates are:
For lodging Class 11 - $3.50c; For lodging Class 12 - $2.0c
For Fuel and Light (Summer) Class 11 - $0.33c; For Class 12 - $0.13c
The army allowance regulations place a staff captain under Class 11 and a Regimental Captain under Class 12. I am at present posted to the Staff of the General Officer Commanding, Shanghai Defence force for Air Staff Duties. No Government quarters within reach of this HQ are available; as a result I am compelled to find my own accommodation as any other Captain performing Staff Duties at this HQ. I therefore respectfully suggest that in this instance Class 11 and not Class 12 rates should apply.
I am aware that para. 3167 Kings Regulations does not take cognizance of Class 11 rates, nevertheless it seems evident from the tenor of the instructions issued to Flt Lt Farmer (AM letter N0. 742841/27 dated 21 Jan 27) that the intention of the Air Ministry is that RAF Officers attached to the army should receive the same allowance as do army officers of their own status.
I remain your Obedient Servant ...
Although a recommendation was forwarded by the squadron commander it was unclear if this had achieved his desired result for it seems he then became involved in that most dangerous of games, going over your Bosses' Head.
What followed was an extraordinary piece of documentation inasmuch as it was a high level report to the Air Council in the UK providing an update on the situation in Shanghai where II(AC) Sqn were "Peacekeeping". The Group Captain making the submission not only reverses and rubbishes a previous decision made by the OC II(AC) Sqn (and implicates our man Hollinghurst in coming to his conclusion) but then seems to be keen to emphasise his own decisive, decision-making contribution on the knotty problems of extracting the force from China. Then at the end he seemingly trivialises the whole report by taking up our man's case:
What followed was an extraordinary piece of documentation inasmuch as it was a high level report to the Air Council in the UK providing an update on the situation in Shanghai where II(AC) Sqn were "Peacekeeping". The Group Captain making the submission not only reverses and rubbishes a previous decision made by the OC II(AC) Sqn (and implicates our man Hollinghurst in coming to his conclusion) but then seems to be keen to emphasise his own decisive, decision-making contribution on the knotty problems of extracting the force from China. Then at the end he seemingly trivialises the whole report by taking up our man's case:
Extract of report to Air Council on RAF in China by Gp Capt A S Barratt – 22 Mar 28
On my return to Shanghai I found that the OC No. 2 Sqn had reported to the General Staff that the aerodrome was unsuitable except in case of emergency and for operations and that he did not consider that more than four of his officers were capable of using the aerodrome with safety. I did not concur with this report and after satisfying myself by personal tests and from test flown by Flt Lt Hollinghurst, I informed the OC that, with the exception of those officers who had come out from England in Jan 27, I considered that the aerodrome was fit for use and that all officers had to fly about and keep themselves in practice.
Embarkation. I arranged with Army Staff that all arrangements for the move home of the sqn should be carried out direct by myself with the SNTO. This was agreed to provided that copies of all orders and decisions were communicated to the military authorities (MLO & AAQMC). This arrangement undoubtedly simplified matters and saved time and worked admirably. When it is realised that personnel were despatched on two different vessels, aircraft on HMS HERMES, transport and stores on a separate ship and stores for HONG KONG on another, and that separate contracts were necessary and had to be arranged, it will be appreciated that dealing direct instead of through the MLO saved the reference of innumerable questions of the details through a third party ignorant of the requirements of a separate service. That all arrangements worked smoothly and without a hitch I entirely attribute to the excellent work of Flight Lieutenants HOLLINGHURST and SKOULDING.
Establishment of HQRAF It is recommended that in the case where a HQ proceeds overseas with responsibilities of command and Administration over one or more squadrons, that the establishment should be that of a Wing HQ. It will be appreciated that the organisation for ensuring that all administrative and financial details are correct, and that returns, etc., are properly rendered, that question of supply and accommodation are attended to and adjusted, that the Air Staff work of plans, operations and training are carried out, that one Staff Officer and two clerks were inadequate. As it happened no active operations intervened, yet the work necessitated long hours in a very trying climate. In this connection I cannot speak too highly in praise of Flt Lt HOLLINGHURST DFC and No. 340232 Cpl Statham A T, both of whom were indefatigable and exceptionally efficient. It is suggested that Flt Lt FA SKOULDING should have been posted as a member of my staff. This recommendation is in no way intended as a reflection on the work carried out by this officer. Flt Lt SKOULDING was invaluable in his assistance to an inexperienced Stores Officer called upon to act in a position where initiative and experience were essential. This fact and also the instructions issued to him necessitated his working in the squadron the whole of the time with the result that the very considerable amount of “Q” Staff work had to be done by Flt Lt HOLLINGHURST in addition to his normal duties.
Flt Lt HOLLINGHURST was attached to me as Staff Officer to HQSDF. He drew Lodging Allowance at Class 12. Army Officers of equivalent rank and appointment were drawing allowances at a higher rate, Class 11. It is recommended that under the particular conditions applying to the SDF that allowances at Class 11 should be sanctioned for this officer.
On my return to Shanghai I found that the OC No. 2 Sqn had reported to the General Staff that the aerodrome was unsuitable except in case of emergency and for operations and that he did not consider that more than four of his officers were capable of using the aerodrome with safety. I did not concur with this report and after satisfying myself by personal tests and from test flown by Flt Lt Hollinghurst, I informed the OC that, with the exception of those officers who had come out from England in Jan 27, I considered that the aerodrome was fit for use and that all officers had to fly about and keep themselves in practice.
Embarkation. I arranged with Army Staff that all arrangements for the move home of the sqn should be carried out direct by myself with the SNTO. This was agreed to provided that copies of all orders and decisions were communicated to the military authorities (MLO & AAQMC). This arrangement undoubtedly simplified matters and saved time and worked admirably. When it is realised that personnel were despatched on two different vessels, aircraft on HMS HERMES, transport and stores on a separate ship and stores for HONG KONG on another, and that separate contracts were necessary and had to be arranged, it will be appreciated that dealing direct instead of through the MLO saved the reference of innumerable questions of the details through a third party ignorant of the requirements of a separate service. That all arrangements worked smoothly and without a hitch I entirely attribute to the excellent work of Flight Lieutenants HOLLINGHURST and SKOULDING.
Establishment of HQRAF It is recommended that in the case where a HQ proceeds overseas with responsibilities of command and Administration over one or more squadrons, that the establishment should be that of a Wing HQ. It will be appreciated that the organisation for ensuring that all administrative and financial details are correct, and that returns, etc., are properly rendered, that question of supply and accommodation are attended to and adjusted, that the Air Staff work of plans, operations and training are carried out, that one Staff Officer and two clerks were inadequate. As it happened no active operations intervened, yet the work necessitated long hours in a very trying climate. In this connection I cannot speak too highly in praise of Flt Lt HOLLINGHURST DFC and No. 340232 Cpl Statham A T, both of whom were indefatigable and exceptionally efficient. It is suggested that Flt Lt FA SKOULDING should have been posted as a member of my staff. This recommendation is in no way intended as a reflection on the work carried out by this officer. Flt Lt SKOULDING was invaluable in his assistance to an inexperienced Stores Officer called upon to act in a position where initiative and experience were essential. This fact and also the instructions issued to him necessitated his working in the squadron the whole of the time with the result that the very considerable amount of “Q” Staff work had to be done by Flt Lt HOLLINGHURST in addition to his normal duties.
Flt Lt HOLLINGHURST was attached to me as Staff Officer to HQSDF. He drew Lodging Allowance at Class 12. Army Officers of equivalent rank and appointment were drawing allowances at a higher rate, Class 11. It is recommended that under the particular conditions applying to the SDF that allowances at Class 11 should be sanctioned for this officer.
Although the matter is now out of his hands our Flight Lieutenant Hollinghurst obviously still felt a little vulnerable and he sent a request to UK for supplementary protection. Here in the form of a signal from the Air Ministry is confirmation that his "shopping list" has been despatched
Message Form
From: Air Ministry
To: Flt Lt Hollinghurst - Shanghai Defence Force
Reference: Y42Y41/27/Q .
– Helmet Cork aviation
- steel helmet
- web equipment
- field dressing
will be placed on board”
From: Air Ministry
To: Flt Lt Hollinghurst - Shanghai Defence Force
Reference: Y42Y41/27/Q .
– Helmet Cork aviation
- steel helmet
- web equipment
- field dressing
will be placed on board”
Clearly by the beginning of the following year matters had moved on and despite having aligned himself with his superior's superior in the matter of whether it was safe or not to fly from the Shanghai Racecourse (or was it because of?) he found himself being recommended for promotion:
Flight Lieutenant Hollinghurst
Recommendation for Promotion
Dated Jan 1928.
Total hours for the year 1st January 1927 – 31st August 1927 = 53hrs.
“An exceptionally clear headed competent staff officer with plenty of initiative and excellent powers of organisation. A keen and good pilot. Possesses considerable character and would make a first rate Squadron Commander. Very strongly recommend for promotion to Squadron Leader."
Recommendation for Promotion
Dated Jan 1928.
Total hours for the year 1st January 1927 – 31st August 1927 = 53hrs.
“An exceptionally clear headed competent staff officer with plenty of initiative and excellent powers of organisation. A keen and good pilot. Possesses considerable character and would make a first rate Squadron Commander. Very strongly recommend for promotion to Squadron Leader."
So there in the form of a collection of archived documents you have it; a mini-saga of one man's struggle against the system.
Only problem being that as a story it is most unsatisfactory given that we don't know,
Only problem being that as a story it is most unsatisfactory given that we don't know,
- Did he get his increase in lodging allowance?
- Did his Cork Aviation Helmet arrive along with the Webbing and Field Dressings?
- Did he go onto greater victories as a Squadron Leader?
