Corporal Reginald George Stoneman Royal Air Force and Royal Observer Corps
The Man Reginald George Stoneman was born in North Tawton, Devon, on Saturday 29th August 1896 son of Philip a Tailor and Emma nee Gill. He was Baptised on 4th November in North Tawton as an Anglican by the Rector Robert Hole. He was one of six children, Philp Harold (1900-1978) Ivy Mary Gill (1910 – 2006), two unknown siblings who died very young and an adopted sister Vera M Endacott (1904).
The 1901 census shows the family living at 88 Barton Street, North Tawton together with a nephew William R who was also a tailor in what seems to have been a family business. By 1911 they were at 8 Victoria Cottages, Reginald having now left school and also a Tailor’s Apprentice.
At the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Reginald aged 17, continued working as a Tailor and on 7th August 1915 aged 18 married Edith May Woolacott in St Peter’s Parish Church. They were wed by Reverend T Harold Evans and had three children; Reginald William born on 3rd November 1915, Royce Avro on 20th February 1921 and Cicely Kate on 22nd April 1922.
The 1901 census shows the family living at 88 Barton Street, North Tawton together with a nephew William R who was also a tailor in what seems to have been a family business. By 1911 they were at 8 Victoria Cottages, Reginald having now left school and also a Tailor’s Apprentice.
At the start of World War I on 4th August 1914, Reginald aged 17, continued working as a Tailor and on 7th August 1915 aged 18 married Edith May Woolacott in St Peter’s Parish Church. They were wed by Reverend T Harold Evans and had three children; Reginald William born on 3rd November 1915, Royce Avro on 20th February 1921 and Cicely Kate on 22nd April 1922.
On 22nd October 1915 Reginald enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps as a Private with service number 1891, at the Army Central Flying School Upavon. He was described as 5’.5” tall with a chest of 34½“. He became a Sail Maker and Fabric Worker and on 13th February 1916 embarked for service in France on the Western Front with 27 Squadron that had been formed at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in 1915 and part of 9th Wing RFC.
The Squadron initially being tasked with using its aircraft as escort fighters and later bombing missions. They flew the Martinsydes G100 Elephant into 1917, taking part in the Battle of Arras in April–May, the Battle of Messines in June, where they attacked German airfields and the Battle of Passchendaele, attacking railways and airfields. From July that year they re-equipped with Airco DH.4s, which carried twice the bombload of the Martinsyde at greater speed and height and flew in support of the British offensive at Cambrai.
Reginald was promoted to Corporal on 1st November 1917 and in March 1918, the squadron moved to Villers-Bretonneux and fought as part of Operation Michael, the German spring offensive. They were evacuated on 24th because of the German advance and ordered to carry out low level attacks against the German troops.
On 1st April 1918 the RFC merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force and Reginald was transferred, but this had little effect on the squadrons at the front, with 27 Squadron continuing to operate against the German offensive. On 13th August 1918 he was transferred to 32 Squadron equipped with the Airco DH5 and specializing in ground attack missions.
Following the Armistice on 11th November 1918 Reginald remained in the RAF returning to the UK 20th February 1919. He was discharged to the RAF class G Reserve on 25th March (liable for recall whilst on the reserve) and awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal
On 9th August 1924 he transferred to the Class E Reserve (ex RAF regulars who could not enlist into the Army), until 8th August 1928 as an AC2 Fabric Worker and continued working as a Tailor in civilian life.
After his discharge from the reserve he joined the Observer Corps, which at the time came under control of local constabularies and Observers were classed as Special Constables. He was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1935, the qualification for this ceasing in August 1939 when RAF Fighter Command assumed sole responsibility for the ROC.
On 9th December 1938 aged 42 with the Munich Crisis taking place, he re-enlisted into the E Class RAF Reserve, the 1939 Register shows him living at 28 High Street, North Tawton his occupation given as a Tailor Journeyman and the fact he was in the RAF Reserves. ,
Reginald remained in the Observer Corps joining No 10 Group (Exeter) from 20th September 1940 and serving during the Battle of Britain. The Royal prefix was awarded to the Corps by His Majesty King George VI in April 1941 to recognise their service during the battle. It would appear the Air Ministry did not call Reginald up during the War as he was already performing a vital role for them in the ROC.
Reginald was awarded the Defence Medal and following a brief standdown of the ROC in 1945, Reginald re-joined and was promoted to Leading Observer serving for the next 12 years and awarded his ROC Long Service Medal on 18th May 1954, it being awarded in August the same year.
Reginald and Edith continued living in High Street, moving to number 21. Edith passed away on 8th April 1963 aged 66 and was buried at North Tawton Cemetery. Reginald died on 16th June 1965 aged 68 at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He was buried alongside Edith in North Tawton Cemetery.
The Squadron initially being tasked with using its aircraft as escort fighters and later bombing missions. They flew the Martinsydes G100 Elephant into 1917, taking part in the Battle of Arras in April–May, the Battle of Messines in June, where they attacked German airfields and the Battle of Passchendaele, attacking railways and airfields. From July that year they re-equipped with Airco DH.4s, which carried twice the bombload of the Martinsyde at greater speed and height and flew in support of the British offensive at Cambrai.
Reginald was promoted to Corporal on 1st November 1917 and in March 1918, the squadron moved to Villers-Bretonneux and fought as part of Operation Michael, the German spring offensive. They were evacuated on 24th because of the German advance and ordered to carry out low level attacks against the German troops.
On 1st April 1918 the RFC merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force and Reginald was transferred, but this had little effect on the squadrons at the front, with 27 Squadron continuing to operate against the German offensive. On 13th August 1918 he was transferred to 32 Squadron equipped with the Airco DH5 and specializing in ground attack missions.
Following the Armistice on 11th November 1918 Reginald remained in the RAF returning to the UK 20th February 1919. He was discharged to the RAF class G Reserve on 25th March (liable for recall whilst on the reserve) and awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal
On 9th August 1924 he transferred to the Class E Reserve (ex RAF regulars who could not enlist into the Army), until 8th August 1928 as an AC2 Fabric Worker and continued working as a Tailor in civilian life.
After his discharge from the reserve he joined the Observer Corps, which at the time came under control of local constabularies and Observers were classed as Special Constables. He was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1935, the qualification for this ceasing in August 1939 when RAF Fighter Command assumed sole responsibility for the ROC.
On 9th December 1938 aged 42 with the Munich Crisis taking place, he re-enlisted into the E Class RAF Reserve, the 1939 Register shows him living at 28 High Street, North Tawton his occupation given as a Tailor Journeyman and the fact he was in the RAF Reserves. ,
Reginald remained in the Observer Corps joining No 10 Group (Exeter) from 20th September 1940 and serving during the Battle of Britain. The Royal prefix was awarded to the Corps by His Majesty King George VI in April 1941 to recognise their service during the battle. It would appear the Air Ministry did not call Reginald up during the War as he was already performing a vital role for them in the ROC.
Reginald was awarded the Defence Medal and following a brief standdown of the ROC in 1945, Reginald re-joined and was promoted to Leading Observer serving for the next 12 years and awarded his ROC Long Service Medal on 18th May 1954, it being awarded in August the same year.
Reginald and Edith continued living in High Street, moving to number 21. Edith passed away on 8th April 1963 aged 66 and was buried at North Tawton Cemetery. Reginald died on 16th June 1965 aged 68 at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He was buried alongside Edith in North Tawton Cemetery.
The Story The medals awarded to Reginald George Stoneman were acquired from Noonan’s Auction on Wednesday 21st June 2023. They were of interest because they contained the Special Constabulary and Royal Observer Corps Long Service Medal combination, which had been sought for some time.
An unusual combination, as members of the Observer Corps prior to 1939 had been administered by local police constabularies and were actually Special Constables, this ceased in 1939 when the RAF assumed responsibility for the OC, thus if someone had joined early in the Corps existence and remained in service in the ROC for the requisite qualifying periods, they were awarded both medals.
Ancestry and extraction of Reginald’s will enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together and it was especially pleasing to locate a photograph of his final resting place.
Interestingly, he seems to have been very keen on life in ‘light blue’ uniform, as he named his youngest son Royce Avro!
There was also a Stoneman family on the 1939 Register living at number 27 High Street (Reginald at No 28) but no specific link can be found and it may simply be a coincidence.
An unusual combination, as members of the Observer Corps prior to 1939 had been administered by local police constabularies and were actually Special Constables, this ceased in 1939 when the RAF assumed responsibility for the OC, thus if someone had joined early in the Corps existence and remained in service in the ROC for the requisite qualifying periods, they were awarded both medals.
Ancestry and extraction of Reginald’s will enabled a reasonable biography to be pieced together and it was especially pleasing to locate a photograph of his final resting place.
Interestingly, he seems to have been very keen on life in ‘light blue’ uniform, as he named his youngest son Royce Avro!
There was also a Stoneman family on the 1939 Register living at number 27 High Street (Reginald at No 28) but no specific link can be found and it may simply be a coincidence.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 10891 CPL. R.G.STONEMAN. R.A.F.
- Victory Medal: 10891 CPL. R.G.STONEMAN. R.A.F.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: REGINALD STONEMAN
- Royal Observer Corps Long Service Medal: CHIEF OBSERVER R.G.STONEMAN.
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This page last updated 26 Oct 23
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