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WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916
WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916

WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916

$ 316.8

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Condition: Used
  • Original/Reproduction: Original
  • Restocking Fee: No
  • Refund will be given as: Money Back
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: Tanzania, United Republic of
  • All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
  • Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
  • Conflict: WW I (1914-18)
  • Item must be returned within: 30 Days

    Description

    You are bidding on a
    WWI Named Gnarled British Walking Stick South African Aviation Corps 1916.
    This World War I walking stick has carved into it the name D.M. Ewan.  Also carved into it is the following S.A.A.C.(South African Aviation Corps),
    1916, MBUYUNI and B.E.A.(
    British East Africa).
    Mbuyuni was the location of an Aircraft Park that serviced the
    No 26 (South African) Squadron Royal Flying Corps
    I based the price of this item while attending the Antiques Roadshow on what one of the Antique Roadshow Military Experts told me it was worth.
    At the end of the South West Campaign all the volunteers returned to Europe where they formed No 26 (South African) Squadron Royal Flying Corps. The Union was meant to supply 30 reinforcements a month but failed to do so resulting in the squadron constantly being short of manpower. The squadron arrived back in Cape Town on 29 July 1915 leaving for England in stages, the last arriving in late November. They left again on 25 December 1915 (along with the new Commander in Chief for East Africa General Horace Smith-Dorrien), arriving in Kilindini, East Africa on 31 January 1916.9 On 1 February 1916 they arrived at Mbuyuni from where the attack on Salaita Hill near Taveta was to take place on 9 February. They returned to Aircraft Park at Mbuyuni in April to sit out the rains, before moving with the forces to Kahe and later to Morogoro on 31 August 1916, a distance of 300 miles. In September 1916, Aircraft Park was moved from Mbuyuni to Dar es Salaam, the move being completed in December. A shortage of shipping had caused the delay in moving the park.
    Although the SAAC remained active, its activities were limited to ground training at the Cape Town Drill Hall using the two Jeannin Taubes and two damaged (and now no longer air-worthy) B.E.2c's, while the pilots who had been detached to the RFC were grouped to form 26 Squadron RFC at Netharavon, becoming an independent squadron on 8 October 1915. No. 26 Squadron was equipped with the ex-SAAC Henri Farman F-27's used in German West Africa and B.E.2c's from the RFC. Shortly after becoming operational, the squadron was shipped to Kenya in support of the war effort in German East Africa, landing in Mombasa on 31 January 1916. The eight aircraft had been shipped in wooden crates and were re-assembled in Mombasa and then flown to a forward airfield prepared inside German East Africa at Mbuyni, with the South African and British pilots of 26 Squadron (now known as "The South Africa Squadron") being billeted in tents close to their aircraft. The squadron flew reconnaissance and observer missions throughout the campaign until February 1918. The squadron was returned to the UK via Cape Town and arrived at Blandford Camp on 8 July 1918 and was disbanded the same day.
    While the SAAC were engaged in German South West Africa and 26 Sqn RFC in East Africa, many South Africans travelled to the United Kingdom to enlist with the Royal Flying Corps. The number of South Africans in the RFC eventually reached approximately 3,000 men and suffered 260 active-duty fatalities. South African airmen took part in aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over the Somme during the war. Forty six pilots became fighter aces shooting down five or more enemy aircraft, with the most successful, Andrew Beauchamp
    -
    Proctor being the British Empire's fourth most successful ace with 54 victories
    26 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The Squadron saw service in East Africa in support of South African forces under General Jan Smuts. The main task of the squadron was reconnaissance. The bush was so thick it gave the enemy complete protection from aerial reconnaissance and bomb action that all they really could do was to report on the whereabouts of towns, railways, roads and rivers. The squadron was disbanded in July 1918, before the end of the First World War.
    Shipping for this product will be weight.
    See pics for details and condition.
    I CAN COMBINE SHIPPING IN CASE YOU WANT MORE THAN 1 ITEM.
    Look at the pictures
    carefully to determine condition.
    Thanks for looking and Happy Bidding!!!
    .
    Feel free to ask me any questions regarding this auction.  Shipping will be by weight
    in the US.  I will combine on shipping.