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Spencer Shirres

Margaret Stringer

  John Joseph Spencer Shirres

Date and Place of Birth:

9 Oct 1922, Monton, Eccles

Date and Place of Death

2 Jun 1973, Bolton, Lancs

Date and Place of Marriage

15 Jan 1949 in: Emmanuel Church, Didsbury, Manchester

Margaret Stringer

Date and Place of Birth:

1 Nov 1925 in: Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire

Children:

1. David Arthur John Shirres -

Born: 27^th April 1950, Bury, Lancs

Railway Engineer / Safety Manager

2. Ralph Spencer Shirres

Born: 7 Dec 1951, Bury, Lancs

Director Deakin Walton consulting engineers http://www.dwce.co.uk/

3. Richard Alexander Shirres

Born: 13 Jul 1954, Bolton, Lancs

Flood Defence Engineer, NW Region Environmental Agency

Flight Sergeant J. J. S. Shirres with his Tiger Moth in India

5.5.1941

Enlisted, Cardington, Bedfordshire

6.5.1941

Into Reserve, recommended for training as Pilot / WO.AG

8.8.1941

1 Air Crew Receiving Centre, Abbey Lodge, Regents Park, London

20.9.1941

4 Initial Training Wing

31.10.1941

Under instruction Pilot II, 50 Group Pool, No 18 Elementary Flying Training School, Fair Oaks, Eastleigh

13.12.1941

Started 2 embarkation weeks leave prior to departure to Canada

31.12.1941

Rank - Leading Air Crew

2.2.1942

31 RAF Personnel Division, Moneton, New Brunswick, Canada

9.4.1942

Admitted to US veterans hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

31.12.1942

Rank - Leading Air Crew

7.8.1943

50 Group Pool, No 22 Elementary Flying Training School, Cambridge, trained as flight instructor.

23.10.1943

HQ 51 Group Pool

4.12.1943

5 Personnel Despatch Centre, No 3 Wing, RAF, South Shore, Blackpool

31.12.1943

Rank - Flight Sergeant

5.2.1944

Left UK to No 1 Elementary Flying School, India

16.7.1944

Discharged to take up probationary commission

17.7.1944

Air HQ, Air Command South East Asia as Pilot Officer

30.10.1944

No 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Begumpet, Deccan, India

17.1.1945

Promoted Flying Officer

10.6.1945

No 2 Elementary Flying Training School, Jodhpur, India

4.4.1946

Embarked for U.K.

7.4.1946

No 1 Personnel Despatch Centre (Discharge leave 26.4.94 to 16.5.1946)

17.5.1946

No 4 Air Crew Holding Centre

15.6.1946

100 P.A.C

22.6.1946

Date of Release

30.9.1946

Last Day in Service

28.7.1959

Commission relinquished, retains rank of Flying Officer (Notice in London Gazette)

Extracts from Operational Logs of Units (with Public Record Office references)

18 EFTS, Fair Oaks, Eastleigh Airfield Ref: AIR 29 / 619

4.11.1941

On Saturday 1st November the first of the Graded courses of pupils was posted here for a course of three weeks duration. The 30 cadets were all selected as being unmarried, not over 26 years of age, of British parentage, born in the U.K. and had not been fitted with corrective goggles. The cadets are to be given up to 15 hours dual flying and if the instructor considers that his pupil will eventually fly solo he will stop flying. At the end of the course the pupils who are considered fit will be posted to Personnel Despatch Centre. Heaton Park, Manchester pending posting overseas to complete their flying training. Backward pupils will either be transferred to a present service or junior course

13.12.1941

No 2 grading course was granted 14 days embarkation leave pending posting to Canada to complete their training. Original intake of 30 plus 3 transferred from No 1 grading course. 7 were transferred to Junior Course, 2 suspended at own request owing to lack of confidence. Average flying time 8.15 hours for the course

31 Personnel Dept Moneton, New Brunswick, Canada Ref: AIR 29/ 697

3.3.42

218 u/t pilots arrived on draft from UK (assumed to include J.J.S.Shirres) NOTE: Large training centre with large number of RAF staff and trainees. In addition 50% more staff and trainees from other allied air forces. Some training undertaken at Moneton, trainees also sent to other airfields

Number of RAF personnel at New Brunswick as follows:

Establishment Officers

Airmen

Officers

Airmen

31.8.42

55

513

326

1523

30.4.43

63

778

492

3399

Monthly camp magazine called "In Transit" produced.

Daily Routine April 1943

Mon to Fri

Saturday

Sunday

Reveille

0630

0630

0700

Breakfast

0645 - 0730

0645 - 0730

0730 - 0830

Morning Parade

0745

0745

Commence Work

0800

0800

Sick Parade

0830

0830

0900

Cease Work

1230

1230

Dinner

1230 - 1330

1230 - 1330

1215 - 1315

Commence Work

1330

Cease Work

1700

Supper

1700 - 1745

1630 - 1730

1630 - 1730

Fire Picquet Parade

1800

1800

1800

Tatto Roll Call

2200

2200

2200

Staff Parade

2230

2230

2230

Lights Out

2245

2245

2245

22 EFTS, Cambridge Ref: AIR 29 / 620

August 1943

Log shows that Flying Instructor training undertaken at 22EFTS

1 EFTS, Begumpet, Deccan Ref: AIR 29 / 616

11.12.1944

Viceroy and Viscountess Wavell visited the airfield

December - Training - Dual 395 hours; Solo 689 hours; Dual Night 62 hours; Other Night 1.4 hours, Other Day 52.15 hours; Link Trainer 149.15 hours - Log shows both Indian and British pilots trained, also some glider pilots

4.2.1945

Complement

RAF

IAF

Officers

13

13

Senior NCOs

15

Airmen

72

35

100

48

February 1945

Bi - weekly Hindustani classes for British Airmen also Boxing, Soccer, Cricket, Hockey, Tennis and Swimming with P.T. from 0600 to 0630

Typically one Tiger Moth per month written off / badly damaged, although no casualties recorded, often through inexperience on solo flights. One particular example:

Tiger Moth DG455 crashed near GOLCONDA six miles SW of the airfield on the 22nd May. The pilot, Pilot Officer D.C. OWERS sustained a head injury and his pupil Sergeant HEATH, C.W. an injury to the left eye. The primary cause of the accident was failure of engine feet causing engine to leave the airframe. An accident investigation was held There were no injuries under extremely hazardous circumstances.

9.4.1945

VE Day celebrations. Officers of the unit entertained the airmen to special lunch and a concert organised in the evening.

13.6.1945

Pilot Officer J.J.S. SHIRRES (sic) left the unit in posting to No 2 EFTS

June 1945

30 Tiger Moths (apparently total complement) transferred to 139 R&SU

20.6.1945

Working on present policy as a result of verbal instructions the unit was prepared for closing down. During the early part of June the majority of Flying Instructors were posted away from the unit leaving only the Commanding Officer, the Adjutant and two other officers. The last three weeks have been devoted to winding down the affairs of the unit.

2 EFTS, Jodhpur Ref AIR 29 / 616

June 1945

P/O J.J.S.SIRRES from No 1 EFTS arrived on posting to the unit during the month to take up duties of staff pilot.

Flying Hours - Dual by Day 572, Dual by Night 9, Solo by Day 394, Other 84, Total 1060

Strength

Officers

OR

O/C

Total

RAF

21

85

106

RIAF

15

38

61

114

36

123

61

220

Roll of Officers

CO Flying Wing Commander

Adjutant F/Lt

Education Officer F/O

Link Trainer Instructor F/O

S/N (P); C.G.I. F/Lt

Navigation Instructor P/O

S/M/P Navigation Instructor F/O

Flight Commander "A" Flight F/Lt

Flight Commander "B" Flight F/Lt

Engineer Officer F/Lt

Aircraft Recognition Instructor F/O

17 Flying Instructors (inc JJSS) 1 x F/Lt, 14 x F/O, 2 x P/O

Aircraft

Cornell II 33

Oxford 1

Tiger Moth 3

Aug 45

Training: -Owing to persistence of monsoon conditions through a major portion of the month a number of flying hours have were lost. Morning after morning the flying staff were met by complete overcast with base at times as low as 150 ft. The situation was such that the C.O. was finally forced to request an extension of two weeks in order to complete the syllabus of the 35th course.

The general event of the month was cessation of hostilities with Japan. This news was received on 15.8.45 and, in accordance with the instruction contained in the signal ACSEA W9603 all ranks were granted two days holiday. Entertainment for the men was provided in the form of Picnic to Khilana for which transport was arranged. Sports of various descriptions, extra rations were provided throughout this period. On Wednesday evening a sing song was arranged at the Albert Hall and liquid refreshment added to the geniality. All patients in the sick quarters received one bottle of beer and an extra meal provided during the evening

October 45

Training generally has been considerably eased by the new policy extending the course from 12 to 14 weeks

Nov 1945

During the month a most regrettable incident occurred involving a demonstration by other units on the station. It is a matter of immense satisfaction and worthy to go on record that the NCOs and Airmen of No 2 EFTS remained entirely loyal throughout.

Concern at low number of instructors with repatriations. Some Instructors making as many as 3 sorties before 1000 hours.

Supreme Commander Lord Louis Mountbatton visited the station during the month and talked to entire personnel about the war, the strategy and the part played by the RAF. He was received with tremendous enthusiasm. The Supreme Commander was later entertained by His Highness the Maharajah of Jodhpur at Chittar Palace.

Dec 1945

News of the promotion of His Highness the Maharajah of Jodhpur to Air vice Marshall was received with great pleasure by all ranks at the station. The officers were entertained by His Highness at Chittar Palace to celebrate the event.

With the closing of No 319 M.U. No 2 EFTS is now the parent unit of the station

A total of 13,372 hours flying time for 1945.

19.1.46

His Highness the Maharajah of Jodhpur entertained all ranks at Chittar palace on 19.1.46 and of RIAF on 31.1.94. On both occasions the party was a great success and all ranks conducted themselves in a fitting manner. His Highness honoured the unit with a party for the Officers and Officer Cadets at Chittar palace on January 26th.

Feb 1946

On 22.2.46 the IORs refused duty and submitted a list of grievances which were forwarded to the AOC 227 Group. On the 24th February the AOC visited the station and the IORs agreed to resume essential services. On the following day they were back on duty.

Many references to post war resettlement problems being discussed and special classes set up.