Genealogy Chat

Just to be sure everyone has had a chance to see this ann

We asked the proprietor of a café in crail, Fife about an old air field we had noticed on the outskirts of Crail and he confirmed our suspicion that it was an old Naval airfield. He advised us to look in Crail museum for information on it. We found the museum to be beautifully presented, free, donation invited (and well worth a donation). It is all run by volunteers. There was a room devoted to the history of the airfield with so much information that it was difficult to take it all in. From Crail bay from coastal path 1918 – 1919 (it was built in 1918 with, almost certainly grass runways) it was the home of the 27 training depot station which was part of the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force. In August 1918 and from march – June 1919 the American 120th Aero Squadron had a detachment at Crail and the 104th Squadron is recorded as being there prior to 1919 when it disbanded. The airfield closed and returned to farmland in 1919. In 1939 work commenced on building a Naval Air Station. HMS Jackdaw was commissioned on 1 October 1940 – One of the first major Fleet Air Arm training airfields in the UK and the main Air Torpedo Training School. In all 29 squadrons were stationed or had a detachment at Crail between 1940 and 1947. HMS Jackdaw was paid off by the MOD on 28 April 1947. On 30 April 1947 the airfield was re-commissioned as HMS Bruce which provided a years training for 15 year old boy seamen. The first contingent being taken from HMS Ganges and HMS St Vincent. 1373 boys passed through HMS Bruce between May 1947 and October 1949. From 1952 – 1955 The Black Watch was billeted at Crail Airfield prior to their departure overseas – 1952 1st battalion to Korea 1954 2nd battalion to British Guiana and 1955 1st battalion to Berlin. Between March 1953 and February 1958 the airfield was used by St Andrews University Air Squadron. From 1956 to 1960 The Joint Services School for Linguists (JSSL) was stationed at Crail having moved there from Bodmin. What a mixed life that very small air field had – what stories it could tell. After the JSSl finished the area was offered for sale back to the farmers who had owned it before 1939. The accommodation blocks were converted to a piggery (no comment) and the fields farmed. Now the runways are used for car boot sales, racing and speed trials, and there is Go Cart racing every month. Within the museum there was a wealth of information on individuals, photos, books of remembrance etc. So much information in one tiny room. Spotted in the museum A will form for Kenneth Hindmarsh Boy 2nd class JY843240 serving at HMS Bruce. Mother Mrs Laura HIndmarsh of 2 Weston Crescent, Norton, Stockton on Tees. HMS Jackdaw book of remembrance – many names Photo PO Harold Harrison LRM Books of Crail deaths 1794 -1854 taken from Sextons books £2.50 each available from Crail Tourist Board, 62/64 Marketgate, Crail, fife KY103TL phone 01333 450869

If anybody is researching relatives from the above two places, or anyone who lived in Fife please see my message below.