WW2 Fleet Air Arm

My brother spent over 22 years in the Fleet Air Arm.

This video compiled from his photographs shows what it was like.

Arthur Scotney's War

Ship Ahoy - Sepia Saturday

I knew immediately I could match this week's prompt.

The background of a larger shot where people, including a woman and a sailor, are walking away from the camera.

This photo with the woman walking away towards a group of sailors comes from a wartime photo of a band either welcoming home an aircraft carrier, or maybe serenading one about to depart to war.

I prefer the welcome home scenario.

 I also wonder whether that is the band of the Royal Marines?

Unfortunately my elder brother who served on carriers with the Fleet Air Arm during WWII is no longer alive to identify the occasion or the location for me.

I also wonder whether this is another photo taken from a different position on the same day.

This looks much more like a welcome home occasion far different to this action shot.

Depth charges going off

I hope our lady found her sailor as I'm sure you've heard

For other background shots charge over to Sepia-Saturday-258.

Guys in uniform

My father and at least one of his brothers served in WWI, my brothers in WWII. I have no photos of them in uniform except for copies of war photos of my elder brother in the Fleet Air Arm, some of which I have shown before.

Arthur (on the left)

My sons have not had to join the forces but did turn out in uniform.

Cub scouts  - eldest son's head under someone's arm!

Although I did two years (mandatory, then) National Service in the Royal Signals no photos of me in uniform exist.

In August this year the town of Yarm held a service at the war memorial to commemorate the centenary of the start of WWI. Men and a few women in uniform took part.

Army cadets at the head of the parade.

If you look closely at their arms you might think they are out of step. The video below shows just how badly.

My old Sergeant Major would have had a fit.

Later there was a drum head service in another part of the town.

Cadets waiting to take part

When the fun fair began I just wonder whether it was as entertaining as this.

Not like my Sergeant Major at all.

Now march over to the links at Sepia-Saturday-247.

A Blurry War - Thematic Photography

When I think of the hundreds of blurry photos that I have taken and destroyed or deleted I know why I have struggled with this week's blurred vision theme.

So I have had to resort to photos taken in the Mediterranean during WWII.

Malta blurred by German bombs.

Aircraft Carrier under attack

View astern

These shots are from my brother's war photos. He served in the Fleet Air Arm aboard carriers. If I had been there with my camera I'm sure my vision would have been blurred as well.

For other blurry shots visit  Carmi's thematic-photographic-253-blurred-vision.

Men of War - Sepia Saturday

 Alan has departed on a cruise, Kat has posted a picture of some soldiers for us.

I decided to go to war with the Fleet Air Arm and post more shots from my brother's album.

Fleet Air Arm

I have no means of knowing where this was taken. By straining my eyes I believe that my brother (George Arthur Scotney) is eight from the right on the first standing row. The aircraft is a Swordfish; the photo must have been taken c1939.

Arthur's war service took him to the Mediterranean and Ceylon during WWII. I know he spent time on the carriers Illustrious, Indefatigable and shore establishments at Dekheila in Egypt (now Alexandria airport) and Malta. Post war his service record show him as having been at HMS Daedalus (Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent), HMS Blackcap (RNAS Stretton) and at several airfields on Malta.

However I am unable to place where the following pictures were taken.

Arthur - informal but smart - on the left

Bearded - in the centre

A Group of NCOs

Among the Palm Trees (Egypt or Ceylon)

And finally the pilots.

Pilots (and a Spitfire?)

What chance is there of someone recognising any of them? These men would all be in their 90s if they are still alive.

For other groups of men you need to dash over to the sergeants at  Sepia-saturday-147

My Brother's War Photos - Sepia Saturday

I showed a few photos before at My Brothers War but Alan's photo this week enables me to post some more. Four men are in this one too.

Fleet Air Arm buddies

My brother Arthur is on the left. Unfortunately I do not know where the picture was taken or who the others are.

His album contains a lot of action photographs including a number of what I believe is a Supermarine Walrus flying boat like this:

Supermarine Walrus

(The picture came from "Aircraft of the Flying Powers", Volume I edited by HJ Cooper, OG Thetford and DA Russell, Harborough Publishing Co., Leicester, England 1940)

The Walrus used for reconnaissance would be catapulted off the aircraft carrier.

Walrus over carrier

I believe the structure you can see below the plane is a catapult mechanism. But how did it get back on board?

The aircraft carrier would slew to one side creating a smooth surface in its wake on which the plane would land.

Walrus landing in the ships wake

Then the plane would be quickly brought alongside.

Crewman on the wing

His job is to hook up the aircraft to the carrier's crane.

Lifting onboard

Operation complete

I have put these pictures together in sequence based on a desciption of the operation I found on the web. Hopefully it makes sense and Arthur's pictures fit together.

For more action please visit Sepia Saturday 96

Train Spotting - Sepia Saturday

Train spotting is not a hobby of mine but back in February I came across two iconic trains. They appeared originally in a thematic photography post; here they are again. I hope you can make up your mind whether (get it?) they qualify:

Locomotion

Thomas

Regular contributors to Sepia Saturday posts will know that I have often said that I had no old photos of my family. That has changed -- my niece has sent me over 100 from an album covering my elder brother's wartime experience in the Fleet Air Arm in the Mediterranean. To my delight I found this:

Now all I have to do is to find out where and when it was taken.

I will share other of my brother's photos when appropriate.

Don't miss the other trains at Sepia Saturday 77