History of HMS Macaw

HMS Macaw was originally established on land requisitioned by the Ministry of Supply near to Bootle in 1941-42 as a workers camp known as Wellbank Hostel to house the 500 workers constructing the nearby Royal Ordnance Factory at Hycemoor.

Qualified Pilot Petty Officers arriving at HMS Macaw in 1944.

On the 17th November 1943 the site was taken over as a Fleet Air Arm Station and commissioned as HMS Macaw - Royal Naval Air Station Bootle for the reception of pilots returning from Canada after flying training, they would have been sent out to Canada as a Leading Naval Airman and upon qualifying in Canada would have been promoted to Pilot Petty Officer. The accounts were held by HMS Nightjar at Inskip.

A Pilot Petty Officer undergoing the selection process in 1944.

It was here at HMS Macaw that pilots upon their return would undergo assessment for their suitability to become an officer in the FAA, those under 21 would become a Midshipman. The successful ones who stayed, were measured for officers uniforms & stores, then sent on leave home, their uniform and equipment would follow on in the post.

After returning from 2 weeks leave to HMS Macaw they would have been found a posting and subsequently posted away.

Commander John Whicher and his senior officers in 1944.

Commander John Whicher Hawkins appointed to the command of HMS Macaw on the 16^th Nov 1943 till 16^th Nov 1945.

On the 24^th March 1945 a munitions train carrying depth charges exploded 400 yards from the camp causing superficial damage to the buildings and shattering most of the windows in the camp.

On the 14th September 1946 the Navy paid off HMS Macaw and was decommissioned. In August 1947 it then became the first Government Holiday Camp for families to be established after the war with a capacity for 720.

HMS Macaw rooftops in 1946 whilst a holiday camp

Between when the holiday closed and 1954 HMS Macaw reverted back to its original task of a workers accommodation camp, this time for the construction of the UK's first Nuclear Power Station at Windscale.

One of the formal areas

The site was then taken over by the Royal Artillery and nearby Eskmeals proof and Experimental Range for accommodation and social activities. The Mess Nights becoming something of a legend.

ATC accommodation blocks

The British Army converted two of the accommodation blocks into an Adventure Training School for adult soldiers and cadets.

HMS Macaw continued to operate in this manor for a number of years until approximately 1997 when it closed.

HMS Macaw was put up for sale in 2002 for and was sold in 2004. Subsequent planning applications to clear the site and build 70 wooden bungalows were refused and it was at this point in early 2007 that the RAF Millom Aviation & Military Museum stepped in and identified the site as an ideal location for us to expand into.

During the Kosovo Crisis HMS Macaw was used by a local community group as a collection and despatch centre for aid, HMS Macaw also housed for a time the village Crèche and the kitchens provided food for the help the aged organisation. The former Naval stores was used as a Coastguard Station.

The camp swimming pool

Wellbank Swimming Club still mange to maintain and operate the camp swimming pool.

HMS Macaw has had a varied history over its 60 odd year life and it hoped that it can be brought back to life to tell the story of the Fleet and its Air Arm, the work of Eskmeals and to provide once again a valuable community resource.

Much work to be done

To be updated - Please call again soon.

If you can add any further information or have any artefacts related to HMS Macaw please Email HMS Macaw

Casualties of HMS Macaw

HOVE NEW CEMETERY, United Kingdom

THAXTER, Sub-Lieutenant (A), RONALD JOHN, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 5 July 1945. Age 20. Son of Alfred Charles and Norah Kathleen Thaxter, of Hove. Grave Ref. Block 2. Grave 1164.

KEMPSTON  CEMETERY, United Kingdom

OWEN, Sub-Lieutenant (A), WILFRED ADRIS, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 27 May 1945. Age 19. Son of Idris and Mary Louisa Owen, of Kempston. Grave Ref. Block J. Grave 6.

LEIGH CEMETERY, United Kingdom

HIGHAM, Midshipman (A), FRANK, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 31 May 1944. Age 19. Son of Alfred and Margaret Ann Higham, of Astley. Grave Ref. Sec. 28. Grave A. 34.

MURIE CEMETERY, United Kingdom

HOBDAY, Sub-Lieutenant (A), JOHN ROLAND, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 30 March 1944. Age 19. Son of Harold Roland and Joan Pease Hobday, of Moseley, Birmingham. Grave Ref. Sec. B. Grave 368.

VERNON, Lieutenant, JOHN HAMO JACKSON, H.M.S. Macaw, Royal Navy. 26 November 1944. Age 20. Son of Wilfred Douglas Vernon and Nancy Elizabeth Vernon, of Ottershaw, Surrey. Grave Ref. Sec. B. Grave 373.

SHOTESHAM (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD,United Kingdom

SUTTON, Sub-Lieutenant (A), JOHN HEDWORTH, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 1 March 1945.

ST. FERGUS OLD CHURCHYARD, United Kingdom

HULL, Sub-Lieutenant (A), THOMAS GEOFFREY, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 31 August 1945. Age 21. Son of Percy Frederick and Clarice Hull, of Allestree, Derby. Grave Ref. Sec. C. Grave 51.

SHORTT, Sub-Lieutenant (A), DOUGLAS JERROLD O'LEARY, H.M.S. Macaw, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. 11 March 1946. Age 21. Son of Adam Jerrold Shortt and Gwendoline Shortt, of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Grave Ref. Sec. C. Grave 53.

STOKE-ON-TRENT (HANLEY) CEMETERY, United Kingdom

KNOWLES, Sub-Lieutenant (A), SYDNEY, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 26 December 1944. Grave Ref. Grave 23735.

STRETFORD CEMETERY, United Kingdo 

MULLACRANE, Sub-Lieutenant (A), ALEX ROY, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 11 November 1944. Age 21. Son of Frederick and Helen Mullacrane, of Stretford. Grave Ref. Sec. F.L. Grave 213.

TREGARON (BWLCHGWYNT) CALVINISTIC METHODIST CHAPELYARD, United Kingdom

JONES, Midshipman, DANIEL DAVID, H.M.S. Macaw, Royal Navy. 22 July 1944. Age 19. Son of Moses and Mary Elizabeth Jones, of Kilburn, Middlesex. Grave Ref. N.W. of chapel.

WILTON (ST. GEORGE) CHURCHYARD, United Kingdom

WEBBER, Midshipman (A), MAURICE ROBERT WYBURN, H.M.S. Macaw, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 13 October 1944. Age 19. Son of Herbert and Florence Webber, of Taunton. Grave Ref. N.E. part.

WING (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, United Kingdom

PIDGLEY, Sub-Lieutenant (A), PETER WILLIAM, H.M.S. Macaw., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. 20 September 1944. Age 19. Son of George William and Louisa Annie Pidgley, of Wing. Grave Ref. Row 22. Grave 10.