History of No.14 Balloon Section

Thanks Nick and Ian for all the interesting information you have posted.

 

Can’t find anything specific to 45 Balloon Section but there are some files at TNA on 12 Balloon Company.

 

12 Balloon Company Summary of work Jan – May 18 (AIR1/1836/204/207/1)

12 Balloon Company Summary of work May – Nov 18 (AIR1/1837/204/207/3)

12 Balloon Company Field Returns Feb 17 – June 18 (AIR1/1836/204/207/2)

Operations and movements of 12 and 19 Balloon Company March – April 18 (AIR1/1804/204/158/17)

 

There are lots of files on 3 Balloon Wing (To many to list).

 

Field returns are great for information on Postings, Attachments, Leave, Promotions etc.

 

Ian, there is no doubt that balloons had serial numbers like aeroplanes. All the records I have seen referring to balloons state their serial number.

Albert Dodd was my Great Uncle. I came across this forum whilst researching the men who wrote to my Great Great Grandparents and were included in this biography of Albert from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour. It was a surprise to find Albert mentioned here. I have now joined the forum and hope to learn more about 11 Kite Balloon Section, which I believe from my research was part of 19 Company. Thank you for including my Great Uncle here and ensuring he is remembered not only by his family. 

This is a bit of a diversion I'm afraid but I'm baffled by an abbreviation in the Muster Roll. 13604 Sawyer D. J.  has a Trade Classification K.B.S.(SilPlt). Assuming that K.B.S is Kite Balloon Section (or similar) what does the SilPlt mean? 

From a list of abbreviations file in AIR1 819/204/4/1316:

K.B.S. (Balloon Party) - K.B.S. (B.P.)
K.B.S. (Balloon Rigger) - K.B.S. Rigger
K.B.S. Fitter - K.B.S. (Ftr.)
K.B.S. Telephonist Learner - K.B.S. Tele. Lr.
K.B.S. (Winchdriver) - K.B.S. (WhD.)
K.B.S. (Winchdriver & Fitter) - K.B.S. (WnchD.F.)
Kite Balloon Section - K.B.S.
Kite Balloon Section - (Telephonist) - K.B.S. (Tele.)
Silicol Plant - (Sil.Plt.)

Errol

PS: I'm sure I've seen somewhere a list of KBSs and their locations. Can anyone remind me as to where it might be found?

17 KBS member found today :

Arthur Leslie Kent-Lemon
30.11.1889 Born
1913 Lieutenant Arthur Leslie Kent-Lemon, from 3rd Battalion, The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) to The York and Lancaster Regiment. Gained commission in Special Reserve and transferred to a Regular Army commission without attending Sandhurst (London Gazette, 23.5.1913).
6.3.1914 Promoted Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment
15.1.1915 Joined BEF in France
24.2.1916 Graduated as Kite Balloon Officer, Lieutenant, York & Lancaster Regiment, to be seconded to the Royal Flying Corps (London Gazette 7.3.1916)
1.4.1916 Captain/ Flight Commander, while seconded to Royal Flying Corps (London Gazette 10.5.1916)
6.9.1916 Left Balloon Training Depot, Roehampton, for embarkation to join 17 Kite Balloon Section, Salonika
24.11.1916 Posted from 17 KBS to Balloon Training Wing
21.12.1916 Joined Egyptian Army
24.11.1916 Promoted Captain, York & Lancaster Regiment (London Gazette 24.11.1916)
12.1.1917 Captain. Remains seconded for service with Egyptian Army (London Gazette 8.3.1917)
11.1919=5.1920 Involved in fighting the Aliab Dinka in Southern Sudan.
Awarded Sultan’s Sudan Medal.
To be Nominated Official in place of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Stewart Davies CMG, DSO, Officer commanding troops, resigned (Kenya Gazette 19.7.1927)
13.7.1927 Provisional Appointment of Major AL Kent-Lemon as temporary Nominated official Member of the Legislative Council revoked (Kenya Gazette 31.1.1928)
13.7.1927 Major AL Kent-Lemon to be Acting Officer Commanding Troops, and Acting Officer Commanding 3rd Battalion, King’s African Rifles, with effect from 13 July 1927. (Kenya Gazette 26.1.1927)
25.4.19140 Appointed acting Commanding Officer of 15th Infantry Brigade, in Norway (1st Battalion, Green Howards, 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1st Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment)
25.5.1940 Ceased to be acting Commanding Officer of 15th Infantry Brigade, in Norway.
8.6.1940 “This officer commanded the centre brigade when the Div was attacked by greatly superior enemy forces on June 9th. He showed the greatest courage and determination in dealing with the situation and directed a counter attack which recaptured a village captured by the enemy. Later when the brigade position became untenable he personally supervised the arrangements for withdrawal and showed great courage, resource and energy in extricating the remnants of the brigade from a most difficult position. His determination, energy and personal example throughout the operations 8/9 June were beyond all praise.” Recommended for a DSO by Major-General A.B. Beauman, Commander, Beauman Division, 10.6.1940. CBE awarded instead 20.8.1940.
1.7.1940 Appointed Commanding Officer, 36th Independent Brigade (6th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, 7th Battalion, Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment (until 20 August 1942),36th Infantry Brigade Anti-Tank Company (formed 18 August 1940, disbanded 20 June 1941),8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (from 21 August 1942), 181st Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (from 10 December 1941 until 22 June 1942)
22.6.1940 Ceased to be Commanding Officer, 36th Independent Brigade
20.12.1940 Mentioned in Despatches, for service with 15th Infantry Brigade Headquarters, in Norway
22.6.1942 Appointed Commanding Officer, 36th Brigade, North Africa
17.12.1942 Ceased to be Commanding Officer, 36th Brigade, North Africa
1952 The 'KING has been graciously pleased to sanction the following Promotions in, and Appointments to, the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem: — Serving Brothers:- Brigadier Arthur Leslie Kent-Lemon, CBE

13.7.1970 Died