Halton Boys

Explore the remarkable legacy of the Halton Boys in this captivating hardback that recounts the heroic tales of young RAF apprentices. The Halton Apprenticeship Scheme, pioneered by MRAF Hugh Trenchard, offers a unique insight into how teenage boys from diverse backgrounds acquired technical skills essential for their future, both within the RAF and in civilian life. This 192-page book narrates the extraordinary journeys of over 50,000 boys who served, trained, and flourished, including several who achieved high honors such as the Sword of Honour. Discover the inspiring stories of pilots who notably contributed to the Battle of Britain, those who bravely participated in daring raids, and the many who made significant sacrifices, including those involved in the Great Escape. Experience the evolution of Halton Boys from the traditional apprentices to influential figures in aviation and beyond, featuring notable graduates who excelled as commercial pilots, industry leaders, and even key government officials. This detailed account is a tribute to the enduring spirit of the ‘Trenchard Brats’ and their indelible mark on history. Ideal for history enthusiasts, aviation buffs, and anyone interested in the remarkable contributions of the RAF legacy, this book is not just a narrative but a celebration of courage, resilience, and camaraderie.

Author: Sean Feast Publisher: Grub Street
Bind: hardback
Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 24-09-2020

This is the story of Halton told through and by the boys who were there and who are still proud to be called ‘Trenchard Brats’. The RAF Halton Apprenticeship Scheme has a deserved reputation for excellence. The brainchild of MRAF Hugh Trenchard, the founder of the Royal Air Force, it took the ‘traditional’ idea of an apprenticeship and interpreted it in a novel way. It allowed teenage boys from any social background or geography to learn a technical trade that would equip them for their future lives, within and beyond the RAF. It also gave the best an opportunity to become pilots and break into the once public-school-dominated officer class. Of the 50,000 boys trained as apprentices, seventeen won the Sword of Honour at Cranwell, and more than 1,200 were commissioned with 110 achieving Air Rank. Eighteen have been knighted, with well over 1,000 others being honoured at various levels of state. More than a hundred Halton Boys served as pilots in the Battle of Britain (and many more as airframe/engine fitters and armourers), including the mercurial Don Finlay, the former Olympic hurdler. Others like Gerry Blacklock and Pat Connolly flew bombers on perilous missions over Western Europe or took part in the famous ‘Dams’ Raid. Then there were the three men murdered for their part in the Great Escape, and those who battled and survived years as prisoners of the Japanese in the Far East. In the jet era, ex-apprentice Graham Hulse became an ‘ace’ in Korea, serving with an American fighter squadron, and Mike Hines went on to become OC 617 Squadron after having first flown operations during the Suez crisis. Others like Charles Owen became a pioneer commercial jet pilot, and Peter Goodwin had the misfortune of being captured in the first Gulf War and used as a human shield. Some forged successful careers beyond the RAF, like Lawrie Haynes, who was on the main board at Rolls-Royce and is now chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, and Eugene Borysuik - one of the many Polish apprentices trained at Halton, who enjoyed a successful career at GEC. And there were many others beyond air and ground crew including policemen, government officials and even bishops whose careers started with the Halton family.