MyFamily: World War 1 Summary Page

I have ended up with numerous pages about Bernard in WW1. This page attempts to collate the in some kind of order. See also this page which just has the photos.

B Benson 6122

"C" Flight

14th Squadron

5th Wing

Royal Flying Corp

Bernard was living in King's Lynn when war broke out. The first page describes being there, signing up for the OTC, and later the Royal Flying Corps and his first experiences in the military, up to getting sent to Gosport (Jul 1915), on the way to France as a dispatch rider. This is from a handwritten journal written some time later, and in fact this first page is the final part of that journal. There is a postcard too.

Bernard before the war (part 3)

Family legend has that he was a dispatch rider in France for a year or so, but have nothing at all from this time, and the dates do not work. I suspect that that was the plan, but he got reassigned before getting to France. The reasons for that are not clear. He was part way though or about to do a science degree and already had an interest in photography, and I guess this was a factor.

He travelled from Gosport, and we have a typed diary describing the journey and first few weeks in Egypt. In part 1, he boards the Anchises, gets as far as Cape St Vincent.

Bernard in World War 1 (part 1)

In part 2, he reaches Alexandria.

Bernard in World War 1 (part 2)

A few days in Alexandria.

Bernard in World War 1 (part 3)

And then in Cairo

Bernard in World War 1 (part 4)

Then to Ismailia and back to Cairo for Christmas

Bernard in World War 1 (part 5)

At the start of 1916, he started a (new) diary. This first bit takes us to 9th of January, when he went inside the Great Pyramid.

Bernard's War Diary (part 1)

Part 2 is to the end of March.