Stained Glass Windows Project
St. George's Church.RAF Halton
The story of Lord Trenchard,father of the RAF
and founder of the RAF Halton Apprentice scheme from 1920 to 1993 is well documented.
boys throughout the land and some from abroad trained at RAF Halton and the station became synonymous as the home of Trenchards Brats
Due to the reconstructuring of the Royal Air Force, apprentices have been re-located to RAF Cosford.
As a permanent legacy of their apprenticeship at RAF Halton the 155 Entries of Trenchard's Brats, and some others, have told their individual stories in Glass, at St. George's Church
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Viscount TRENCHARD GCB OM GCVO DSO DCL LLD
Born in Taunton 3 Feb. 1873,
Hugh Trenchard was
commissioned into the Royal
Scots Fusiliers during 1893
and went on to serve in
India and then South Africa
where he fought in the Boer
War
Born in Taunton,3rd Feb. 1873,Hugh Trenchard was commissioned into the Royal Fusiliers during 1893 and went on to serve in India, and then South Africa where he fought in the Boer War
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 18th September 1906. Returning to the UK as a Major, the 39 year old Trenchard,had no obvious career ahead of him, and decided to join the newly formed Royal Flying Corps.and learned to fly. His flying course was undertaken at Weybridge and lasted for 13 days, during which he gained one hour and 14 minutes flying time on Maurice Farman Bi-planes. He was then sent to the Central Flying school at Uphaven where he later became deputy to the first Commandant
On the outbraek of War in 1914, Trenchard was appointed to command the Military Wing at Farnborough and in November 1914 he was sent to France to Command Number 1 Wing
Just 9 months later, he was appointed General Officer Commanding Royal Flying Corps responsible for all British Operations, in support of the British Army on the Western Front
"
He had difficulty working with the Air Minister,Lord Rothemere, and in March 1918 tendered his
resignation, the announcement of which was not made until 12 April by which time the Royal Air Force
had been officially formed.
Quickly appointed to Headquarters of the RAF in France, Trenchard went on to command the
Independent Force which by the end of the war in 1918, had begun to show the potential effectiveness
of strategic bombing.
By this point in his military career Trenchard had been mentioned in dispatches nine times.
With the end of the war, Churchill had become Secretary of State for War and Air and brought
Trenchard back as Chief of Air Staff in March 1919
Thereafter he took up the rank of Air Vice- Marshal on 1 August 1919 and Air Marshal on 11 August 1919
In the difficult years immediately after the War, Trenchard went on to create what were to become the
three great institutions of the Royal Air Force, the RAF Cadet College at Cranwell, the Apprentice
school at Halton, and the RAF Staff College at Andover.
He was appointed to the rank of Air Chief Marshall on 1st April 1922
For a period of ten years as its highest commander, Trenchard fought for the very existence of the
Royal Air Force,and many people have credited its continued existence as an Independent Service to
his conviction and strength of character.
Viscount Trenchard
Shot through the lung and
partially paralysed, he
convalesced in
Switzerland,before
returning to South Africa
where he organised three
infantry battalions and led
an unsuccessful expedition
to capture the Boer
Government.
From South Africa he went
to Nigeria for some ten
years, leading exxpeditions
into the unknown interior
and latterly commanding the
South Nigeria Regiment