Defence School of Photography

{{Infobox military unit

| unit_name = Defence School of Photography (DSoP)

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| image = File:Defence school of photography-crest.jpg

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| start_date = {{Start date|1972}} (as Joint School of Photography)

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| country = {{flag|United Kingdom}}

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| type = Defence training school

| role = Photographic training

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| command_structure = Defence Intelligence Training Group

| garrison = RAF Cosford, Shropshire

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| motto = Luce Scribimus ({{langx|la|(We) Write with light}}){{cite book|last1=Pine|first1=L G|title=A dictionary of mottoes|date=1983|publisher=Routledge and Kegan Paul|location=London|isbn=0-7100-9339-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/132 132]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofmott00tion/page/132}}Also translates as We write by light. This was the motto of the RAF School of Photography which became the motto of the Joint School of Photography in 1972. Whilst it was a Joint School, it retained an approved RAF Badge up until its name change to DSoP in 2003.

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| battle_honours = British Institute of Professional Photography

| battle_honours_label = Accreditations

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| current_commander = Edwin Hedges

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The Defence School of Photography (DSoP) is a training centre for all photographers drawn from the three arms of the British Military and the Civil Service.The Royal Marines are part of the Royal Navy. The School has been located at RAF Cosford in Shropshire, England since 1963 and in its own purpose built building at Cosford since 1965. The school has gone through several iterations being firstly a Royal Flying Corps school, then a Royal Air Force School, then a Joint school before becoming the DSoP in 2003.

Its origins lie in the advent of the First World War, with training being developed as far back as 1912; the school lays claim to being the oldest technical training environment in the Royal Air Force, pre-dating the formation of the RAF itself.{{cite journal|last1=Bennett|first1=I|title=A history of RAF Cosford|journal=RAF 60|date=1978|page=43}}

In 2003, the school was renamed as the Defence School of Photography which widened the scope on training it could offer across governmental agencies.{{cite journal|last1=Robinson|first1=Tim|title=100 Years of Continuous Military Photographic Training|journal=Cosford Grapevine|date=Autumn 2015|page=9|oclc=751026701}} Since 2006 it has been under the command and control of the Defence Intelligence and Security Centre (DISC) at Chicksands alongside the Defence School of Intelligence (DSI), the Defence School of Languages (DSL) and the Royal School of Military Survey (RSMS).{{cite web|title=Royal School of Military Survey|url=http://www.rsms.ac.uk/|website=Joint Intelligence Training Group|accessdate=18 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070605152011/http://www.rsms.ac.uk/|archive-date=5 June 2007|url-status=dead}} In 2015, DISC was renamed as the Joint Intelligence Training Group (JITG){{cite journal|title=Bedfordshire - Joint Intelligence Training Group Chicksands|journal=Sanctuary|date=2015|issue=44|page=74|issn=0959-4132}} which the DSoP still works under.

History

= Background =

The formation of aerial military photography was down to the determination of a small number of men who were in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) but it was mostly down to Frederick Charles Victor Laws (affectionately known as 'Daddy Laws' by photographers).{{sfn|Williams|2011|p=32}} Laws was initially a Sergeant in the RFC and had a passion for photography. Despite Field Marshall Haig's reputed maxim that reconnaissance was best achieved by the Cavalry,There is some doubt that Haig actually said this; in the citation from Air Power Review, it mentions that it is more likely to be attributable to a technophobic officer under Haigh's command or part of his headquarters staff.{{cite journal|last1=Marr|first1=Paul|title=Haig and Trenchard: Achieving Air Superiority on the Western Front|journal=Air Power Review|date=Summer 2014|volume=17|issue=2|page=25|publisher=Royal Air Force|issn=1463-6298}} Laws and his cohort proved that aerial photography could provide information at a level of accuracy unseen before in theatres of war.{{sfn|Humphrey|2014|p=10}}

In January 1915, Laws, Lieutenant J T C Moore-Brabazon, Lieutenant C D M Campbell and 2nd Air Mechanic W D Corse were sent to test and report back on aerial photography.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=H A|title=The War in the air|url=https://archive.org/stream/warinairbeingsto02rale#page/88/mode/2up/search/laws|website=Internet Archive|accessdate=13 May 2016|page=88|date=1928}} They produced such detailed reconnaissance of Neuve Chapelle with its intricate hidden defences that when the attack took place, the eventual human toll was far less than that of previous similar campaigns.{{sfn|Humphrey|2014|p=10}}

A School of Photography was established in 1915{{cite web|title=Defence School of Photography|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/TrainingandExercises/DSOP/|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121026065214/www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/TrainingandExercises/DSOP/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2012|website=National Archives|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=15 May 2016|date=18 October 2012}} with a formalised training centre at Farnborough (later RAF Farnborough) in January 1917. Laws came back as Commanding Officer twice; first as a Squadron Leader in 1924 and secondly as a Wing Commander in 1933.{{sfn|Humphrey|2014|p=20}} Because the school was created in 1915, it is referred to as the oldest technical training environment in the Royal Air Force (even though it is a defence school, it operated primarily for the RAF due to the aerial reconnaissance responsibility). The school was responsible for holding millions of exposed glass-plate negatives from the First World War. 130,000 would be gifted to the Imperial War Museum, whilst many others not considered important enough were simply buried in a hole in the ground at RAF Farnborough.{{sfn|Williams|2011|pp=366-367}}

On the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, all photographers from the Royal Navy and the Royal Flying Corps became part of the RAF Photographic branch. The Royal Navy established its own photographic school at Tipner Ranges (under HMS Excellent) in 1920. This was a dedicated gunnery and torpedo school.{{cite web|title=Early history of photography in the Navy|url=http://www.rnpa.org.uk/background-to-phot-training/|website=Royal Navy Photographers Association|accessdate=2 July 2016}} During the early 1920s, T. E. Lawrence (under the alias John Hume Ross) was attached to the School of Photography whilst it was at Farnborough.{{cite ODNB|first=Lawrence|last=James|title=Lawrence, Thomas Edward [known as Lawrence of Arabia]|id=34440|date=23 September 2004}}

File:Aerial Photography during the Second World War CH6011.jpg

During the Second World War the school was renamed No. 1 School of Photography,{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=212}} as the need for reconnaissance and photographic experts became paramount, a second school was opened at a hastily converted technical college{{cite journal|last1=Robinson|first1=Tim|title=100 Years of Continuous Military Photographic Training|journal=Cosford Grapevine|date=Autumn 2015|page=8|publisher=Ministry of Defence|oclc=751026701}} in Blackpool, Lancashire to cater for the upsurge in personnel.{{sfn|Humphrey|2014|p=15}} During this period, the School(s) of Photography came under the Royal Air Force Technical Training Command.{{cite news|title=Training in Photography|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000532/19411122/046/0009|accessdate=2 July 2016|work=Gloucester Journal|date=22 November 1941|page=9}} {{subscription required}}

On 17 March 1947, the RAF school moved to Heath End, Hampshire, with the unit being renamed back to School of Photography RAF on 22 August 1949, the unit then moved into RAF Wellesbourne Mountford in Warwickshire on 6 January 1948.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=212}} It used Avro Anson aircraft in its aerial photography training and stayed for fifteen years at Wellesbourne Mountford before moving on to RAF Cosford in Shropshire on 26 August 1963{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=212}}{{cite web|title=WW2 Peoples War; RAF Wellesbourne Mountford|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/07/a4376207.shtml|website=BBC History|publisher=BBC History|accessdate=15 May 2016|date=15 October 2014}} as part of No. 2 School of Technical Training.{{sfn|Sturtivant|Hamlin|2007|p=212}} A new building was designed and built specifically for photographic training at Cosford which is supposed to resemble a Rail Camera from the aerial perspective with Bellows as the front doors.{{cite magazine|title=New RAF School of Photography Open|magazine=Shropshire Magazine|date=January 1966|page=35}} Alec Brew in his book of photographs of RAF Cosford, describes the building opened in December 1965{{sfn|Humphrey|2014|p=17}} as '...being a drab place enlivened by a marvellous mural.'{{cite book|last1=Brew|first1=Alec|title=RAF Cosford in old photographs|date=1995|publisher=Alan Sutton Publishing|location=Stroud|isbn=0-7509-0701-0|page=53}}

During the same period, the Royal Naval School of Photography had moved from Tipner Ranges to Felpham at Bognor Regis (1943), then in 1947 it moved on to HMS PeregrineThe Royal Navy Photographic award is called the Peregrine Trophy. at RNAS Ford. It moved to HMS Daedalus (Lee-on-Solent) in 1961 and then onto HMS Fulmar.This base became RAF Lossiemouth in 1972. (where the Naval aerial photographic training was undertaken).{{cite web|title=Peregrine Trophy|url=http://www.rnpa.org.uk/peregrine-trophy/|website=Royal Navy Photographers Association|accessdate=2 July 2016}}

= Formation =

In 1972, the schools combined to become the Joint School of Photography (JSoP) when the Royal Navy closed their school at what was RNAS Lossiemouth. The Royal Navy and Army photographic training was formalised into a new programme at the school in Cosford alongside the Royal Air Force and was the first instance of formalised Joint training at RAF Cosford.{{cite journal|last1=Bennett|first1=I|title=A History of RAF Cosford|journal=RAF 60|date=1978|page=82}}

In 2003, the school became the Defence School of Photography which allowed it to train employees from across the military spectrum either enlisted or civilian. In 2015 the school celebrated its centenary with a special open weekend and formal dinner at the RAF Museum Cosford.{{cite web|title=A century of military photographic images goes on show at Cosford|url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/a-century-of-military-photographic-images-goes-on/|website=RAF Museum Cosford|publisher=RAF Museum|accessdate=15 May 2016|date=21 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203161449/http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/whats-going-on/news/a-century-of-military-photographic-images-goes-on/|archive-date=3 February 2016|url-status=dead}}

Training

Royal Navy and Army trainee professional photographers are drawn from existing strength within their respective services.{{cite web|title=Logistic Support Photographer|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/rolefinder/role/158/logistic-support-photographer|website=British Army|publisher=British Army|accessdate=15 May 2016}} The Royal Air Force have traditionally taken on recruits as direct entrants with no military experience.{{cite journal|last1=Robinson|first1=Tim|title=100 Years of Continuous Military Photographic Training|journal=Cosford Grapevine|date=Autumn 2015|page=10|publisher=Ministry of Defence|oclc=751026701}}RAF Photographers belong to Trade Group 14 in the non-commissioned branches. The Royal Navy see being a sailor first as important to its overall ethos. On completion of successful professional photographic training, Royal Marine personnel transfer over to the Royal Navy but are allowed to keep their Green beret.{{cite journal|title=View from our office - behind the scenes with the Navy's photographers|journal=Navy News|date=February 2016|issue=739|pages=14–15|issn=0028-1670}}

All three services have now had their training aligned into one professional photographic course which last for eight months.{{cite web|title=Defence Photographer Course - 5300|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/idtraf/courses/5300.cfm|website=Royal Air Force|publisher=Royal Air Force|accessdate=15 May 2016}} A civilian course with the same content and commensurate qualifications is normally undertaken over two years.{{cite magazine|title=Five days to show they're cool enough for phot school. Will they click?|magazine=Navy News|date=April 2016|issue=741|page=21|issn=0028-1670}} All trained professional photographers have the opportunity to come back for further training in courses that enhance their skills.

Professional photographers are given NVQ's in their respective fields{{cite web|title=Defence School of Photography|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcosford/aboutus/dsop.cfm|website=RAF Cosford|publisher=Royal Air Force|accessdate=15 May 2016}} and the ability to receive a Modern Apprenticeship. They are also entitled to join the British Institute of Professional Photographers.{{cite web|title=About the BIPP|url=http://www.bipp.com/default.aspx?tabid=77|website=BIPP|publisher=British Institute of Professional Photographers|accessdate=15 May 2016}}

The DSoP also operates training for non-professional photographic staff, such as coastal survey and reconnaissance training.

Military nicknames

Photographers in the military are commonly known as 'Phots'. In the Royal Air Force, they were traditionally known as 'Clicky's' whilst the original term for a photographer in the Royal Navy was 'Snaps'.{{cite book|last1=Jolly|first1=Rick|title=Jackspeak - a guide to British Naval slang and usage|date=2000|publisher=Palamanando Publishing|location=Cornwall|isbn=0-9514305-2-1|page=410}}

Commanders

Unless annotated at the end of the name of the Commanding Officer, all are Royal Air Force.{{sfn|Humphrey|2014|p=21}}

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Rank and Name

!Year

!Rank and name

!Year

!Rank and name

1915

|2nd Lt F C V Laws (RFC)

|1941

|Wg Cdr J B Newman

|1974

|Sqn Ldr A A Blain

1917

|Lt C Porri (RFC)

|1941

|Wg Cdr A E Taylor

|1976

|Sqn Ldr G P Proctor

1917

|Major P R Burchall (RFC)

|1942

|Wg Cdr P R Burchall

|1978

|Sqn Ldr G C Ashman

1920

|Sqn Ldr A R Cooper

|1943

|Sqn Ldr W H Dunton

|1982

|Sqn Ldr G J Brown

1922

|Sqn Ldr W J Guilfoyle

|1945

|Wg Cdr C G R Lewis

|1985

|Lt Cdr M H Larcombe (RN)

1924

|Sqn Ldr F C V Laws

|1947

|Wg Cdr H C Westwood

|1989

|Sqn Ldr B A Broad

1930

|Wg Cdr A H Steele-Perkins

|1950

|Wg Cdr E T Scott

|1991

|Lt Cdr C L Hamlin (RN)

1932

|Wg Cdr H M Probin

|1953

|Wg Cdr G J Buxton

|1993

|Sqn Ldr V Kinnin

1932

|Wg Cdr R H Neville

|1955

|Sqn Ldr S Hoskin

|1996

|Sqn Ldr S Ivory

1933

|Wg Cdr F C V Laws

|1955

|Sqn Ldr J W Berry

|1998

|Mr J D Ness (Civil Service)

1933

|Wg Cdr G Bowman

|1959

|Sqn Ldr P R Mayle

|2000

|Mr G H Sellars (CS)Former Royal Navy photographer.

1934

|Wg Cdr M L Taylor

|1961

|Sqn Ldr F R J Richardson

|2010

|Mr J J Jarvis (CS)

1936

|Wg Cdr C Porri

|1964

|Sqn Ldr J E Bellingham

|2018

|Mr F Tomlinson (CS)

1938

|Sqn Ldr J Silvester

|1968

|Sqn Ldr K M Hall

|2022

|Mr E Hedges (CS)Former Royal Air Force photographer.

1939

|Sqn Ldr R C Sturgiss

|1972

|Sqn Ldr W H P Brown

1940

|Wg Cdr H G Barrett

|1974

|Lt Cdr T Marriott (RN)

Notes

References

=Bibliography=

{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Humphrey|2014}}|reference=Humphrey, Dave. Legends and heroes; behind the lens. Raleigh, North Carolina, USA: Lulu Enterprises, 2014. {{ISBN|978-1-291-98410-1}}.}}
{{cite book |last1=Sturtivant|first1=Ray|last2=Hamlin|first2=John|title=Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912 |year=2007 |publisher= Air-Britain (Historians)|location=Tonbridge, UK|isbn=978-0851-3036-59}}
{{wikicite|ref={{harvid|Williams|2011}}|reference=Williams, Alan. Operation Crossbow - the untold story of photographic intelligence and the search for Hitler's V weapons. London, UK: Random House, 2011. {{ISBN|978-1-848-09307-2}}.}}

External links

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-33919230 Interview with the Commanding Officer of the DSoP on its 100th anniversary]

Category:British photography organisations

Category:Education in Shropshire

Category:Military history of Shropshire

Category:Military training establishments of the United Kingdom

Category:Military units and formations established in 2003

Category:Military units and formations in Shropshire

Category:Organisations based in Shropshire

Category:Defence agencies of the United Kingdom