Can someone explain where the prefix ‘RAF’ in ‘RAF Walvick Cottage’ originates from?
It does not appear in any military sites list posted on or linked to Gwulo.
The booklet ‘The History of RAF Kai Tak 1927-1972’ has no mention of it.
While the building was directly below and in front of the elevated site of the RAF Officers quarters, it was apparently a private property, one brief pre-war reference has it as “the Dutchman’s garden”.
Are there any official property references or documentation for this place showing it to having been owned or leased by the Royal Air Force?
Gwulo readers with RAF backgrounds appear not to have referenced it.
Came across this land sale in the China Mail on 26 April 1934.
A sale of leasehold property took place on 25 April 1934 when the private residence of the late Dr. Marian Obrembaki at Ngau Chi Wan, on the north side of Kai Tak Aerodrome and overlooking the flying field was sold to Mr. W. Naef of Messrs. Arnhold & Co. Ltd.
The lot number NKIL No. 166 with description as a five-roomed house appears in the Hong Kong Daily Press on 23 April 1934.
An observation and connection made by IDJ here. Reposted below:
So, the building on the right with the garage doors is the Walvick Cottage, which was under discussion last year as possibly “RAF Walvick.”
A recent contributor has said:-
“I lived at Kai Tak Mansion in front of the captioned building since 1962. I was at that time only 10 years of age. I used to go up to the roof of Kai Tak Mansion and looked from the back to see the Officers' Mess. To my right hand side facing Kwun Tong Road, there was a villa like house allegedly accommodating the Commander-in- chief of the RAFwith a small swimming pool built in front of the house. The site has now converted to a small park.”
This reference to the C in C RAF makes it clearer why some sources refer to the villa with the suffix “RAF.”
1930s Driveway to RAF Kai Tak Officers' Mess, by moddsey
Comments
Can someone explain where…
Can someone explain where the prefix ‘RAF’ in ‘RAF Walvick Cottage’ originates from?
It does not appear in any military sites list posted on or linked to Gwulo.
The booklet ‘The History of RAF Kai Tak 1927-1972’ has no mention of it.
While the building was directly below and in front of the elevated site of the RAF Officers quarters, it was apparently a private property, one brief pre-war reference has it as “the Dutchman’s garden”.
Are there any official property references or documentation for this place showing it to having been owned or leased by the Royal Air Force?
Gwulo readers with RAF backgrounds appear not to have referenced it.
Walvick Cottage
Walvick Cottage was also known as the “Red House” as indicated here in the RAF Kai Tak Station Block Plan in 1966.
A building used by the RAF but does not appear to have had the prefix “RAF” in the building’s name.
I've removed the 'RAF' from…
I've removed the 'RAF' from the building's name, and added the tag 'RAF' instead.
1934 Pre-Walvick Cottage
Came across this land sale in the China Mail on 26 April 1934.
A sale of leasehold property took place on 25 April 1934 when the private residence of the late Dr. Marian Obrembaki at Ngau Chi Wan, on the north side of Kai Tak Aerodrome and overlooking the flying field was sold to Mr. W. Naef of Messrs. Arnhold & Co. Ltd.
The lot number NKIL No. 166 with description as a five-roomed house appears in the Hong Kong Daily Press on 23 April 1934.
From Carl Smith
Owners - Carl Smith cards
https://search.grs.gov.hk/en/searchcarl.xhtml?q=nkil+166&names=&cno=
and
https://search.grs.gov.hk/en/searchcarl.xhtml?q=nkil+63&rpp=10
NKIL 166
Ngau Chi Wan
Taken out of NIL 63
1935 View of the Driveway to the RAF Officers' Mess
An observation and connection made by IDJ here. Reposted below:
So, the building on the right with the garage doors is the Walvick Cottage, which was under discussion last year as possibly “RAF Walvick.”
A recent contributor has said:-
“I lived at Kai Tak Mansion in front of the captioned building since 1962. I was at that time only 10 years of age. I used to go up to the roof of Kai Tak Mansion and looked from the back to see the Officers' Mess. To my right hand side facing Kwun Tong Road, there was a villa like house allegedly accommodating the Commander-in- chief of the RAF with a small swimming pool built in front of the house. The site has now converted to a small park.”
This reference to the C in C RAF makes it clearer why some sources refer to the villa with the suffix “RAF.”