Pat Atkins Posted 19 May , 2019 Share Posted 19 May , 2019 (edited) Tom Palmer was an ASC dispatch rider who, after serving in France, transferred into the RAF and trained as a pilot though too late to see active service in the air. I would like to research his pre-RAF time, but haven't got anywhere with his number as quoted on the RAF record below: 132175. Is it, perhaps, missing a prefix? Or am I, perhaps, missing something blindingly obvious? Cheers as ever, Pat Edited 19 May , 2019 by Pat Atkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 19 May , 2019 Share Posted 19 May , 2019 (edited) 132174 was an M2 prefix, George E. Whittaker. You could check the Medal Rolls rather than the MICs to see that 132175 is the real number for Palmer. But without a service record, just about all you can estimate is his date of attesting or arriving in Grove Park or other ASC depot. Edited 19 May , 2019 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 19 May , 2019 Author Share Posted 19 May , 2019 Thanks, Dai, that's helpful. Despite initial overseas service in the ASC (for which there's supporting evidence kindly provided by Forum Pal kenmorrison) I've had trouble with his medals i.e. I've found ****** all, rolls or MIC - wondering if he didn't claim them? He was commissioned while in the RAF. Cheers, Pat Doh! will PM kenmorrison, as I think he had his supporting evidence from Tom's officer file - I'm an idiot, his ASC number must be in there too. Will post anything I find, if only to show how NOT to research a man... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 19 May , 2019 Share Posted 19 May , 2019 ORs medals were issued automatically, so a MIC should exist. Officers had to apply so a MIC might not exist. Don't know what the rules were for ORs who became officers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 May , 2019 Share Posted 19 May , 2019 (edited) This RAF record on Find myPast shows he was previously MT 132175, having joined 18/10/15. This would suggest he didn't go overseas in time to earn a 14/15 Star. His BWM and VM are on the RAF sheet I linked above so no MIC. Charlie Edited 19 May , 2019 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 19 May , 2019 Share Posted 19 May , 2019 (edited) I note that M2 132177 enlisted 19/10/15. perhaps MT should read M2 ? Edit, in fact all close to Palmer's number say M2, (as DByS suggested). But it didn't throw up any new records. Edited 20 May , 2019 by charlie962 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggoner Posted 19 May , 2019 Share Posted 19 May , 2019 Pat, ”MT” is not a recognized ASC prefix so “M2” is a better choice. All the best, Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 20 May , 2019 Author Share Posted 20 May , 2019 In haste, apologies if this is abrupt! But wanted to say thanks to you all, much appreciate the help. I believe he enlisted late 1915, so no Star seems correct. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenmorrison Posted 21 May , 2019 Share Posted 21 May , 2019 Hi Pat - thought I'd post this here (rather than on our PMs) since others are interested. The London Gazette 30 March 1920 Issue: 31841 Page: 3903 has The undermentioned Cadets are granted hon. commns as 2nd Lts., with effect from the date of their demobilisation : — 132175 Thomas William Palmer So this was an RAF Service number. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Atkins Posted 22 May , 2019 Author Share Posted 22 May , 2019 Thanks Ken, that explains the anomalous number! Not sure how this particular line of research will go, but if I discover anything I'll post it on here in the future. Thanks to you Dai, Charlie and Gary also for the generous help. Cheers, Pat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 22 May , 2019 Share Posted 22 May , 2019 19 hours ago, kenmorrison said: 132175 Thomas William Palmer So this was an RAF Service number. That is not what the Service Record on FindmyPast says twice ( see link in my post above and here is the topleft corner courtesy FMP) 132175 clearly ASC number, 318008 is RFC/RAF number Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 22 May , 2019 Share Posted 22 May , 2019 (edited) The number in the margin has 139175 ASC rather than 132175. And 318008 RFC rather than RAF. Edited 22 May , 2019 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 22 May , 2019 Share Posted 22 May , 2019 2 minutes ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said: The number in the margin has 139175 ASC rather than 132175. That depends how you read the little bit of curl at the bottom ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dai Bach y Sowldiwr Posted 22 May , 2019 Share Posted 22 May , 2019 1 minute ago, charlie962 said: That depends how you read the little bit of curl at the bottom ! Yes, I see what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 22 May , 2019 Share Posted 22 May , 2019 However I did try Palmer 139175 but nothing ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenmorrison Posted 23 May , 2019 Share Posted 23 May , 2019 On 21/05/2019 at 17:15, kenmorrison said: Hi Pat - thought I'd post this here (rather than on our PMs) since others are interested. The London Gazette 30 March 1920 Issue: 31841 Page: 3903 has The undermentioned Cadets are granted hon. commns as 2nd Lts., with effect from the date of their demobilisation : — 132175 Thomas William Palmer So this was an RAF Service number. Ken Just to correct my assumption that this was an RAF number - I checked several of the names listed with Palmer and found that while some were RFC/RAF men (F F Croydon for example) others were not and their service numbers were from their previous unit (Pickton M2/051953) Sorry about that! Ken This is the list: The undermentioned Cadets are granted hon. commns as 2nd Lts., with effect from the date of their demobilisation : — 240524 Leslie Wentworth Alexander. 255238 Leonard Frederick Ball. 306333 Reginald Victor Bazire. 4571 Leonard'George Brown. 5292 P. N. Barron. 318209 Cecil Courtis. 322814 James Winton Campbell.. 317725 William Cuthill. 2164 Farcey Frederick Croydon. 3019 E. Crowley. 318972 P G. Conway. 144788 Gilbert Claude Deroy 18024 Arthur Whitmore Derisley. 110595 Alexander Rennie Fleming. 14295 F/M. H. Jones " • 250165 Vincent Lloyd. 44938 Frank Lord 59421 George Albert Ronald Mead. 93905 John' Buchanan Mclnnes. 285173 Arthur William North 132175 Thomas William Palmer. 30150 Reginald Macdonald Pyke. 251623 Ernest P'ass. M2/051953 Gordon England Pickton. 254172 William Percy Phillips. MS375 Richard William Ross. F24546 John Horace Randall. 225063 Thomas Ritchie 318017 Harold Victor Rutherford. 767818 Roy King Fordham Scruby. 514901 E. C. Whalebone. 240086 Gerald Clinch Wright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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