Service numbers

[DG1]

Hi, just wondering if anyone could help.

If someone was transferred from the Army to the royal flying corp, would they have kept their regiment number, or would they be assigned a new one?.

Basically, I'm trying to get more info on my great grandfather, in particular where he was born.

I have an idea, but I wanted to verify it by checking his royal flying corp service record(which I have), sadly it does not tell me where, just his date of birth.

It does however state the he enlisted into the Army on 25/7/1916 for DoW( Duration of War I believe), the date of entry into RFC was 23/3/18.

So I am assuming he was in the Army for 2 years, and i have reason to believe he MAY have been in the Devonshire Regiment, I have tried looking under his RFC regiment number, but have had no luck.

So i am wondering IF he was in the Devonshire Regiment, could he have had a different number?

Also, i cannot see clearly any transfer information on his RFC service record, surely they would have jotted down the transfer from Army to RFC ?

If anyone can help, that would be great.

Thanks

Wayne

[kenf48]

He would be assigned a new one, if he went overseas with his original Regiment his medal index card should list his original number. Bear in mind the RFC was an Army Corps. The Census will tell you where he was born.

Without a name/dob it's not really possible to help further.

Ken

[DG1]

Thanks for the info Ken.

His name was William Henry Creber, RFC number was 146324,dob was 1876.

Was hoping it was going to say where he was born on the record,but sadly no, i have had trouble pinpointing him on the census, a lot of people with the same surname down here in southwest.

I have found someone from the Devonshire regiment that is the same name, but i am a bit hesitant to say it is him, think a leap of faith is required.

[kenf48]

I agree it's a bit of a leap of faith with no reference to RFC but apart from that it fits. There is a postman, William (no H) born 1876 Plymouth and living in the city in the 1911 Census married to Alice.

Ken

[rolt968]

Wayne, do you have a Royal Flying Corps record for W H Creber or an RAF record? He was only in the RFC for about a week before the RFC and RNAS joined forming the RAF. His transfer from his previous regiment to the RFC would have been shown on his army record, which should include his week in the RFC.

The RAF record (AIR79) probably contains his original army attestation form, but may not contain much else of the man's RFC service. Some have promotion dates and units. Since W H Creber was only in the RFC for a week before the RAF formed, there wouldn't be anything except rank to copy.

The RAF Muster Roll which lists the men who transferred into the RAF on 1 April 1918 (available on Findmypast) gives the following for W Creber. (The single initial might be significant as the number of forenames/ initials used in his record.) Men who transferred from the RFC to the RAF retained their number, but he would have had a different number before his transfer into the RFC from a previous unit.

14632, Creber, W.

RFC Trade or Classification: Cook

Remustered RAF Trade or Classification: Cook

RFC rank/appointment: Air Mech. 3

RAF rank/appointment: Private 2[nd class?]

Date of joining RFC: 23/3/1918

RAF Payrate: 1/6

Enlistment terms: DW

A MIC card for a William H Creber in the Devonshire Regiment exists (Ancestry). His serial number was 26057. He received the BWM and Victory Medal. Since his entitlement for these dated from his time in the Devonshire Regiment, it would not need to list further units.

I hope this helps a bit.

Roger.

[DG1]

Hello Roger, thanks.

It looks like I may have his RAF service record then, as it was AIR79/1323 where I found it.

I have looked at the Medal Index Card for William H Creber in the Devonshire Regiment on Ancestory several times..but am hesitant to say if its him or not.

If I can find his Army record i'm hoping it will have his next of kin mentioned, I know when , where and who he was married too(I have his marriage cert), if I can see that then I will know if it is him or not.

I know on the record I have it mentions a guardian to my grandfather and his sister, and it mentions his wife being deceased( she died in 1918).

Thanks for the help, really appreciated.

Wayne