Interpretation of Service Record Captain JWW Nason

[jeffaddress]

I am researching a relative, Captain John William Washington Nason, born 1889, served in 46 Squadron, 11th Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed over France in a reconnaisance plane on 26 December 1916.

I have his Service Record from the National Archives which I attach here. I would appreciate any help members can give in interpreting the following:

1. At the top of the first page it states: Date Sheet Started - 4/7/18 - but he died in 1916 as shown on page 2. If his record was posthumously constructed, what would be the reason?

2. On page 3 it states that he joined on 17/2/1917 and all the other dates of service are 1917 - but he died in 1916??

3. Only one promotion is shown on page 3, London Gazette 10 Oct 1916 (not 11/10/16) effective September 1916, but there was a prior promotion notice Gazetted 29 February 1916 for Temporary Captain 8 February 1916 with seniority from 15 November 1916

Thanks

See Attached Service Record

[jeffaddress]

Sorry, here is page 3 of the Service Record. I am new to this site and having difficulty with attachments.

Apologies

[johndavidswarbrick]

I suspect that the individual who wrote this file had a strange way of writing the number 4 so it actually looks more like a 7 - but I may be totally wrong!

Dave Swarbrick

[Old Owl]

It appears that some of these records were compiled retrospectively. All the dates on the second sheet should quite clearly read 1916. His entry from RFC Casualties 1914-17 states:

k.a. "Nason, Capt.J.W.W., Genl.List and RFC, 26 Dec.,16

Captain John William William Nason, Royal Sussex Regt and RFC killed on December 26th, 1916, aged 27, was the son of the late C.St.S.R.Nason, M.A., M.D., of Corse Grange, Gloucester, and Mrs Nason of 23, Grosvenor Crescent, St.Leonards-on-Sea. He joined the Army on the outbreak of war, and received his captaincy in November, 1914, transferring to the R.F.C. in January, 1916. He first played for the Sussex County XI, at the age of 17, and received his Blue at Cambridge on his third appearance for the university--earlier than it had ever been awarded before--appearing against Oxford in 1909 and 1910. He also played for the Gloucester County XI for two seasons. Captain Nason was also a fine golfer."

Hope this helps,

Robert

[David_Underdown]

This is an RAF record - for reasons not quite clear they do include some people who were killed before the RAF was actually founded. He will probably also have an army record in either WO 374 or WO 339 - unfortunately those are not digitised, so you'd need to go to Kew to look at it (or engage a researcher).

[jeffaddress]

Thanks for your suggestions. I also thought that the writer may have formed a strange 4 on the second sheet. However if you look at that sheet you will see a couple of good 4's in the column 'Incoming Authority Confirming" which confused me. Nevertheless this explanation fits well with the date of transfer to 'B' squadron on 31/8/14 in first entry of first sheet and last entry of second sheet. Although it states he was in 11th Royal Sussex regiment on the top of both sheets, nowhere in the body of the sheets is there a record of transfer. There are 24RS and 8Rs but no 11RS.

Finally, what do BO/31/8/14 and PI 2321 on first column and top of first sheet mean?

I live in Australia, but if I ever go to Kew I shall look up that Army Record you mention above. I don't know if I can afford a researcher.

Thanks,

Jeff

[Old Owl]

Jeff,

If you read the obituary I posted you will see that he only joined the RFC in Jan 1916, so he would have joined 'B' Sqd on 31/8/16 and not 31/8/14 or what appears to be 31/8/17 as recorded.

P.I.2321 is the Registered Papers Number, as stated on the form.

Robert

[jeffaddress]

Thank you Robert.

I had thought that his Service Record would be the definitive document, but it seems to be faulty. Did you obtain the obituary from Campbell's book on RFC casualties, published in 1917? The wording is almost identical with an article that appeared in The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 6 April 1917, Page 8. See below. I wonder which came first?

Thanks again,

Jeff

[Old Owl]

Hi Jeff,

Yes, this information came from the book by Campbell. The Preface to the book is dated 1st August, 1917, so I guess the book followed the piece published in the Adelaide Register. I am not quite certain from whence Campbell drew his information, but it could have been from the 'Flight Magazine', amongst others?

Robert

[jeffaddress]

Thanks Robert, I was looking for that date. The two publications have the same author - they are almost identical.

[phil1963]

Are you aware that he listed on the war memorials at Surrey Cricket Club, The OIval, Kennington, London and Fenner Cricket Ground, Cambridge(in the scorer's box)? He features in a book that I writing too and I have a lot about him. He has connections with Sussex Cricket Club and MAY be on their war memorial too.

[phil1963]

He is also listed on the war memorial inside Corse church, Gloucestershire, England. I have a photo of that too.