Can anyone assist me in my quest to find accessible copies of these publications?
Here’s what a “Discovery” search throws up at The National Archives:
“Air Ministry Orders (issued 1918-1964), were printed routine directives to units for information, guidance and actions.
From 1918-1930 they were issued weekly, and thence split into four series: A (Administrative or Standing Orders); N (Temporary Orders); E (Equipment Orders) and B (discontinued 1943), which complemented the Air Ministry Confidential Orders.
With the creation of the Ministry of Defence the Orders were replaced by Defence Council Instructions (RAF).”
The early Orders (1918-1930) are viewable at T.N.A. in the Air 72 series. What I’m looking for are the post 1930 Equipment Orders. There don’t appear to be any at Kew and the R.A.F. Museum say they don’t have copies.
I’ve searched various on-line catalogues and have located the Equipment Orders for 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934 in the British Library.
That’s the sum of my success so far, so I’m wondering if anyone on the Forum knows of a source covering other years which is accessible for research?
All leads gratefully received!
Yours in hope,
Air Ministry
By: AndyY - 7th August 2018 at 21:03
I’ll buy two copies and double the sales…………….
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th August 2018 at 20:55
Yes, I’ve got one but I’m keeping it for my next book ‘An Illustrated Guide to Air Ministry Bicycle Bells, 1939-1945’.
If I put the photo on the forum I think it might harm sales of the book.
By: AndyY - 7th August 2018 at 19:10
Does anyone have a picture of a “Bells, Bicycle”, visibly marked with its Stores Reference Number?
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th August 2018 at 16:54
Hi Alan, and welcome to the Forum.
Yes, the RAF Museum came up trumps and were able to produce copies of the Weekly Temporary Orders for almost the entire period I’m currently researching.
I found there was something of interest in virtually every copy I looked at, even if it was not directly related to my current area of research (Service bicycles and their associated equipment).
I’m sure you would find lots of references to small arms in them.
It took me three visits to cover everything they had turned up for me and that was by speed reading and photographing only the most relevant pages.
For UK based researchers contemplating a visit, there are only three slots per week now, i.e. wednesday 10am – 4pm, thursday 10am – 1pm and friday 1 – 4pm, pretty restrictive, especially if you have travelled some distance. Luckily, I could use the “spare time” to hoover up yet more stuff at The National Archives, so I came back with gbs of data to plough through. (I’ve seen enough of The North Circular to last a life time though!).
By: jamesinnewcastl - 7th August 2018 at 15:03
Hi
The RAFM do allow cameras but no flash and no tripod – I managed over 1,500 photos in a day with a friend turning the pages. They charge you £6, which is of course extortionate…:cool: But you can only copy stuff with no copyright on. You can’t stay over the lunch period either… While you are there they can be very helpful too, often coming up with stuff that you didn’t expect.
Cheers
James
By: AlanD - 7th August 2018 at 14:04
AM
First post on this forum.
I am also interested in the Air Ministry Orders, especially those for equipment including small arms.
Did you have any luck with the RAF Museum and Temporary Orders?
Regards
Alan David
Sydney
Australia
By: Arabella-Cox - 4th February 2018 at 15:05
Thanks aircraftclocks.
I’ll try the RAF Museum next. I enquired about Equipment Orders and got a negative response but did not mention Temporary Orders and Notices.
I think the RAFM and BL allow the use of cameras but not sure about IWM. Being able to use a camera would allow me to cover much more material in a day when compared to having to take notes.
By: aircraftclocks - 1st February 2018 at 22:50
Air Ministry
I don’t know if the following will meet your requirement of being easily accessible, but there are files in Australia that suggest there are copies of what you are looking for, in the National Archives of Australia.
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st February 2018 at 16:49
Thanks for the suggestion W_P.
In the meantime, I’ve discovered that the Temporary Orders (N) series contains a lot of useful info and there appears to be a reasonable coverage between the British Library and IWM.
The period I’m most interested in is 1930-1945, if anyone knows of any other, easily accessible copies?
By: Whitley_Project - 21st January 2018 at 12:46
What about the AHB?
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January 20, 2018 at 9:14 pm