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The site known as Wellbank Hostel, was built in 1941-42 on land requisitioned by the Ministry of Supply ½ mile south of Bootle Station, Cumberland to house 500 workers engaged in the construction of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Hycemoor. The Hostel was transferred to the Admiralty in November 1943 and work began to adapt the site as a transit camp where new Fleet Air Arm Pilots were to assemble on their return to the UK after completing their preliminary flying training in the Service Flying Training Schools in Canada.

Commissioned as H.M.S. MACAW

R.N. Hostel Wellbank was commissioned on November 17th 1943 as H.M.S. MACAW, Commander J. W. Hawkins (ret) in command. Initially the ship's accounts were carried by the Naval Air Station at Inskip, H.M.S. NIGHTJAR, before becoming an independent command on New Year's Day 1944.

Trainee pilots left the UK for Canada as Leading Naval Airmen, having completed their preliminary, non-flying training at H.M.S. ST. VINCENT, Gosport. On arrival back in the UK those qualified as pilots reported to HMS Macaw were they attended the Admiralty Interview Board, which comprised a panel of senior naval officers, to decide their suitability to become an officer in Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (Air Branch), those under 19½ would become a Temporary Acting Midshipman RNVR, over 19½ a Temporary Acting Sub Lieutenant RNVR. Those not deemed as having 'officer potential' remained Rating Pilots, being promoted to Petty Officer Pilot. The first batch of newly qualified pilots arrived at the end of January 1944 and 55 received commissions on February 7th.Within a matter of months the hostel was filled to its capacity of around 400 'Pilots in Training'

The newly commissioned officers were then sent on two weeks leave during which time they would attend a Naval Tailors and be fitted for uniforms. On return to HMS MACAW any deficiencies in thief flying equipment and other kit were made up from stores held on site in preparation for appointment to their next stage of flying training in the UK.

The Western edges of the camp were damaged by an explosion at about 22:17 on March 22nd 1945 when a rail freight wagon, part of a southbound munitions train caught fire. The wagon, one of 7 being hauled, contained 52 depth charges and was spotted as being on fire by the Signal Box at Bootle Station. The train crew stopped the train about 770 yards past Bootle Station to investigate, roughly in-line with Wellbank Hostel. Despite efforts to isolate the wagon and seek help the charges exploded, killing the engine Driver and injuring the Fireman and Guard. A crater 105' long, 50' deep and 60' at its widest was left, the blast blew out windows and caused light damage to HMS MACAW some 400 yards away.

Returned to the Ministry of Supply

Newly qualified Pilots continued to arrived at HMS MACAW for many months after the end of the war, the Hostel was not closed until September 13th 1946 when HMS MACAW was paid off. A small retard party remained to clean up the Hostel site before it was returned to the Ministry of Supply on October 31st 1946

Click here for a list of Primary sources

Additional sources:

Ministry of War Transport secret report into the explosion at Bootle Station on 22 March 1945

www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_Bootle1945.pdf

Admiralty Fleet Orders:

5/44 H.M.S. "Macaw" - Location of Accounts

3259/44 Qualifying Courses for Pilot, Observer, and Telegraphist Air Gunner Reports
on Training

Confidential Admiralty Fleet Orders:

2576/43 R.N, Hostel Wellbank, Cumberland Commissioning