brummie76 Posted 21 April , 2013 Share Posted 21 April , 2013 Hello all I have recently came across a family member who served in the RFC. I have no information other than the following:- Henry Sanders, Born - 6th April 1878 in Aston, Warwickshire. Wife - Florence Boswell born 1880, Mother - Mary Jane Eaton, Father - Edward Sanders both from Coventry. His photo is also attached. Any info would be greatly received! (Indeed a long shot!) Thanks Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 28 April , 2013 Share Posted 28 April , 2013 Hi Paul. How old do you think Henry looks in this photo? He seems quite young to me. And yet, if we assume this is taken circa 1914 (I think the RFC was formed around 1912), then going by his birth date, he would have been about 36. He could have been blessed with youthful looks but appears to be younger than that. What do you think? Also, do you know if he survived the war? There is the following casualty: Second Lieut. John Henry Sanders, RFC, d.27/10/1917 http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/256322/SANDERS,%20J%20H regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmsk212 Posted 28 April , 2013 Share Posted 28 April , 2013 There are two Henry Sanders in Air79 :- Numbers 76654 & 196720 Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john-g Posted 28 April , 2013 Share Posted 28 April , 2013 The following have come up in AIR79 where you should be able to find his RAF record of service, even if he was later awarded a commission. AIR 79/698/76654 Henry Sanders. AIR 79/1153/128708 Henry Percy Stanley Sanders. AIR 79/1393/155309 Henry Frederick Eyles Sanders. AIR 79/1784/196720 Henry Sanders. If might also pay to contact the Royal Air Force Museum and ask them to check through the Casualty Cards to see it there is one for him, this might then tell you his service number. regards John-G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 28 April , 2013 Author Share Posted 28 April , 2013 Thanks guys! Tbh i am not sure when he died or if he survived the war...i will do some digging with relatives and hopefully get back to you with a date! Thanks for the help! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 2 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Guys....of the 4 names listed 2 posts above the middle two are not the chap as apparently these middle names do not fit..... Cheers Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 2 May , 2013 Share Posted 2 May , 2013 Paul. What were your thoughts on my question about Henry's apparent age in the photo? Something doesn't seem quite right. regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 2 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 2 May , 2013 personally i think he looks his age.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 When you say the middle names do not fit, does your man have a middle name or names? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Here are some names from AIR 78 - Index to Airmen and Airwomen (1918-75) Henry Arthur Sanders 1184553 Henry Frederick Sanders 513888 (Aircrafthand) Henry Richard Sanders 581044 A guide on researching RFC personnel: http://nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/royalflyingcorpsairmen.htm regards, Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john-g Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 There are two Sanders listed on the CWG site who died/killed in 1918/19 none of them seem to fit the man you are after. There was a death registered in Birmingham in the 1st quarter of 1951 of a Henry Saunders aged about 72 the record is in Vol9c page 646. A copy death certificate could be obtained either from the Birmingham Registry office or the ONS at Southport on line. You could also look for Probate or Obit. john-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 If there's a possibility he was ocmmissioned it will be worth checking AIR 76 too, those have been digitised so can be downloaded for a fee (I think DoB may be in the catalogue description too). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melliget Posted 3 May , 2013 Share Posted 3 May , 2013 Good idea David. Unfortunately the only Henry Sanders listed was born 1899. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 3 May , 2013 Author Share Posted 3 May , 2013 When you say the middle names do not fit, does your man have a middle name or names? Apparently he didnt have any middle names...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie76 Posted 18 June , 2013 Author Share Posted 18 June , 2013 Hello again, This info below has just come to light! Can anyone give me any further information on his military career please? I think sqn 135 only came into being in 1918 so was he in another sqn before? He lived at 11 Johnstone Street, Birmingham on 1911 census and the Absent Voters Electoral Roll for 1918 has him at same address - Service number 196720, 2 Pte., 135 Squad., R.A.F. He survived the war as he is at same address through to 1930 with other members of his family. Reg. District: Birmingham Sub District: Ladywood Parish: Birmingham Enum. District: 12 Address: 11 Johnstone Street Birmingham County: Warwickshire Name Relation Condition/ Yrs married Sex Age Birth Year Occupation Where Born SANDERS, Henry Head Married 11 years M 32 1879 Silver Spinner Warwick Bham SANDERS, Florence Wife Married F 30 1881 Warwick Bham SANDERS, Maud Daughter F 10 1901 School Warwick Bham SANDERS, Alfred Henry Son M 9 1902 Warwick Bham SANDERS, Walter Frederic Son M 5 1906 Warwick Bham SANDERS, Charles Edward Son M 3 1908 Aston Warwick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Underdown Posted 19 June , 2013 Share Posted 19 June , 2013 In that case his record will be AIR 79/1784/196720 (as you'll see the last part of the reference matches his service number). These are not yet available digitally, so for the time being you (or someone acting for you) would have to go to Kew and order the physical record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJW Posted 5 July , 2013 Share Posted 5 July , 2013 That is an interesting portrait. My thoughts: I think he looks as though he is in his early 30s, has lost any optimism he might once have had, and is not happy to be photographed. There is a sadness about him. I await any proper research with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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