Person

Bertram “Bertie” Mawson was born on 4 June 1899 in Durham City. His father was Michael Mawson (1865-1952) who was born and worked as a law clerk in Durham City. His mother was Mary Annie Mawson nee Wright (1865-1931), also from Durham City. Bertie’s parents married in 1897 and had four children in total. Two sons did not survive early childhood leaving Bertie with one sister, Jane Isabella Mawson (1897-1974). At the time of the 1911 census the family lived at 58 Western Hill, Durham.

Bertie joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 4 July 1917 at the age of 18 to serve for the duration of hostilities. He was a fitter and turner in civilian life when he joined up. He was given the service number F32864 and the rank of aircraftman second grade. He spent his first two days in the RNAS at Crystal Palace and the next two months at Wormwood Scrubs. He was then posted to the Port Said, Seaplane Station, Egypt where he spent the rest of the war. While serving there he was promoted to aircraftman first grade on 4 January 1918.

Bertie transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) when it was formed on 1 April 1918 by amalgamating the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). His service number was updated to 232864 and his rank in the new service was private first class. He remained in Port Said until he returned to Great Britain in late summer 1919. His final medical recorded his health as category A at the time he left the service. He was transferred to the RAF G Reserve on 5 October 1919 effectively completing his wartime duties on that date. He was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal for his service during the First World War.

Bertie emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand sometime between leaving the RAF in 1919 and his marriage to Rhoda Jessie McKenzie, in New Zealand on 18 December 1929. There is no further evidence of his life in New Zealand until his death on 18 August 1943 and his burial in Hillsborough Cemetery, Auckland, New Zealand.

Civil Parish: Durham

Birth date: 04-Jun-1899

Death date: 18-Aug-1943

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 58 Western Hill, Durham City (1911 census and 1919 RAF service record)
Auckland, New Zealand (1929 marriage, 1943 death)

Employment: Fitter and turner (1917 RNAS service record)

Family: Parents: Michael Mawson (1865-1952), Mary Annie Mawson nee Wright (1865-1931)
Siblings: William Joseph Mawson (1894-1895), Jane Isabella Mawson (1897-1974), Harold Percy Mawson (1901-1901)

Military service:

F32864
Aircraftman second grade, 4 July 1917
Crystal Palace, July 1917
Wormwood Scrubs, 1917
Port Said Seaplane Base, Egypt, 1917-1918
Aircraftman first grade, 4 Jan 1918
Transferred to RAF, 1 Apr 1918
232864
Private first class
Port Said Seaplane Base, Egypt, 1918-1919
Transfer to RAF G Reserve, 5 Oct 1919

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham