Ticket collection
H.M. Forces tickets
When the adjacent Royal Navy Air Station was in use, many service visitors or personel either going on or returning from leave naturally travelled by train via Culham. Special tickets were issued for such travel. We have found a variety of different examples to add to our growing ticket collection and, as they are distinct from those used by the general public, we thought it would be a good idea to give them their own special page.
RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill) was commissioned on 1st November 1944 and closed on 30th September 1953. For a few years after closure the old air station was used as an Admiralty storage facility. This eventually closed in 1960 with the main site being taken over by the UK Atomic Energy Authority.
Unknown date - Culham to Oxford
This undated ticket is the outward bound portion for Third Class travel between Culham and Oxford at the Government agreed rate. This type of ticket was for use by personnel on military service and would have had a large GR printed on left portion. Possibly dating from around the 1940s but old ticket stock was still being used up several decades later.
19th January 1942 - Reading to Culham
This Third Class single for travel from Reading to any G.W.R. station has the destination Culham written in ink, together with the price of 1/8. Possibly for use by someone returning to RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill).
4th November 1942 - Manchester(London Road) to Culham
This is an unusual ticket for several reasons. Issued by the L.M.&S.R. it is a First Class single for travel from Manchester(London Road), the destination 'Culham GW' is written in ink, as is the intermediate station of Wolverhampton. What makes this ticket more unusual is that it is specifically for a Navy Army & Air Force Officer on Duty, in all probability travelling to RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill).
Unknown date - Culham to Southampton Central
This Third Class return ticket issued by British Railways(S) appears unused and is therefore undated. It is overprinted with a red letter 'L' emphasising that the ticket was intended for use by a member of the Armed Forces travelling to and returning from leave. Possibly this might have been someone stationed at RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill) intending to return home to Southampton but who didn't use the ticket. This would date it as being between 1948 (when British Railways came into being) and 1953 (when RNAS Culham closed). Although this could be as late as 1960 when the Admiralty ceased to have a direct interest in the site at Culham.
17th June 1951(?) - Culham to Radley
This single H.M. Forces on Leave Third Class ticket for a journey of just one stop down the line can't have been called for very often as this ticket blank originates from Great Western Railway days. The exact year of issue is indistinct.
19th May 1952 - Reading General to Culham
A Third Class single British Railways Western Region H.M FORCES ON LEAVE ticket issued at Reading, possibly for someone returning to RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill).
22nd May 1952 - Paddington to Culham
A Third Class single British Railways Western Region H.M FORCES ON LEAVE ticket issued at Paddington. Another example of a ticket issued to someone returning to base from leave.
2nd March 1953 - Oxford to Culham
A Third Class single British Railways Western Region H.M FORCES ON LEAVE ticket from Oxford, probably issued to someone based at RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill).
28th May 1953 - Ford (Sussex) to Culham
Dating from early BR days, this is another example of old stock being used up. A Southern Railways Third Class single ticket from Ford in Sussex to Culham, via Victoria and Paddington. The GR overprint reinforces that this is a Government Rate ticket for use by personnel on military service, presumably travelling to the air base.
29th May 1953 - Calne to Culham
This hand written British Railways Western Region ticket is a little bit different to the others in our collection which are associated with the Armed Forces as this one is for someone specifically travelling to Culham (via Didcot) whilst on duty as it clearly states 3rd - Forces Duty Single.
1st July 1953 - Didcot to Culham
A Third Class single British Railways Western Region H.M FORCES ON LEAVE ticket from Didcot. Possibly issued to someone based at RNAS Culham (HMS Hornbill) or at the Central Ordnance Depot in Didcot which was closed in 1961.
28th July 1959 - Culham to Aldershot
A Third Class hand written British Railways Western Region ticket issued in exchange for a travel warrant. The ticket shows the route as being via Reading and Basingstoke. When this ticket was issued the airbase at Culham had been closed for almost six years but was still being used as an Admiralty storage facility.
