Mick M Posted 12 May , 2022 Share Posted 12 May , 2022 (edited) I'm looking for info on the above, my maternal grandfather. I know he joined the RFC I think in 1915 he never spoke of it and cried when Chamberin waved his piece of paper in the air, whilst he served at home he was deeply affected by it as his brother Dudley served on the Western Front was gassed and buried alive leaving him bald and shaky with shell shock for the rest of his life. He was a Draper by profession so may have been employed in that capacity, we think he trained as a pilot in 1918 but the war ended, he tried to rejoin in 39 but was turned down on age. The picture may have been taken at Xmas 1916, it's numbered with another so dated. Ta. Edited 12 May , 2022 by Mick M Add pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nieuport11 Posted 12 May , 2022 Share Posted 12 May , 2022 File is AIR 79/107/8204 as Edgar Charles Evershed Service number 8204 indicates a 1915 recruit Not digitized by TNA, available via Findmypast etc for a fee unless someone has a subscription and will download it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 12 May , 2022 Share Posted 12 May , 2022 15 minutes ago, nieuport11 said: Not digitized by TNA, available via Findmypast etc for a fee unless someone has a subscription and will download it.. Skating on thin ice. Note the rules - Members may NOT use the GWF as a platform to ask parties who are subscribers to various subscription sites to download material on their behalf or to post it on the GWF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 12 May , 2022 Share Posted 12 May , 2022 1 hour ago, Mick M said: He was a Draper by profession so may have been employed in that capacity http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/evershed-e.c records him as an Acetylene Welder (Air Mech 1) in both RFC and RAF service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick M Posted 12 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 12 May , 2022 1 hour ago, horatio2 said: http://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/evershed-e.c records him as an Acetylene Welder (Air Mech 1) in both RFC and RAF service. Thank you, Was the 1917 promotion from II class to I class? I expect he was taught the welding....during the 2nd war he was employed making precision instrumentation for ships. Mick.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick M Posted 12 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 12 May , 2022 1 hour ago, nieuport11 said: File is AIR 79/107/8204 as Edgar Charles Evershed Service number 8204 indicates a 1915 recruit Not digitized by TNA, available via Findmypast etc for a fee unless someone has a subscription and will download it.. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horatio2 Posted 12 May , 2022 Share Posted 12 May , 2022 7 minutes ago, Mick M said: as the 1917 promotion from II class to I class? I believe that to be correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick M Posted 12 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 12 May , 2022 32 minutes ago, horatio2 said: I believe that to be correct. Thank you. 2 hours ago, horatio2 said: Skating on thin ice. Note the rules - Members may NOT use the GWF as a platform to ask parties who are subscribers to various subscription sites to download material on their behalf or to post it on the GWF. If thats aimed at me I apologise I was after info from the photo and should have been more specific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick M Posted 12 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 12 May , 2022 I was once told the tunic in the picture was a flying jacket, is that correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottmarchand Posted 12 May , 2022 Share Posted 12 May , 2022 23 minutes ago, Mick M said: I was once told the tunic in the picture was a flying jacket, is that correct? No it is not specifically, although it was worn when flying too if that was your trade.. It is the standard enlisted ranks RFC service dress jacket up to April 1 1918. It is a Lancers style 'Plastron' Jacket but more colloquially referred to, even at the time, a the 'Maternity' jacket - as it stonlgy resembled the dress worn by pregnanat women at the time. Officers wore the same pattern if they were direct entry to the RFC versus on detached service from a parent infantry unit when they would wear the regimanetal uniform- Officers uniforms usually a higher quality wool. Flying trades were indicated by a pilots or an observors brevet worn on the left chest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick M Posted 13 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 13 May , 2022 11 hours ago, scottmarchand said: No it is not specifically, although it was worn when flying too if that was your trade.. It is the standard enlisted ranks RFC service dress jacket up to April 1 1918. It is a Lancers style 'Plastron' Jacket but more colloquially referred to, even at the time, a the 'Maternity' jacket - as it stonlgy resembled the dress worn by pregnanat women at the time. Officers wore the same pattern if they were direct entry to the RFC versus on detached service from a parent infantry unit when they would wear the regimanetal uniform- Officers uniforms usually a higher quality wool. Flying trades were indicated by a pilots or an observors brevet worn on the left chest. Brilliant, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils d Posted 14 May , 2022 Share Posted 14 May , 2022 On 12/05/2022 at 20:30, Mick M said: I was once told the tunic in the picture was a flying jacket, is that correct? Well it's was designed with flying in mind as it was more windproof than the standard jacket and with no protruding buttons it wouldn't snag on flying wires etc . It's adoption for ground crew is less easy to explain but one imagines that it's smart appearance was deemed suitable for the ranks and gave them a distinctive look at a time when they were trying to build a esprite de corps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick M Posted 14 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 14 May , 2022 2 hours ago, nils d said: Well it's was designed with flying in mind as it was more windproof than the standard jacket and with no protruding buttons it wouldn't snag on flying wires etc . It's adoption for ground crew is less easy to explain but one imagines that it's smart appearance was deemed suitable for the ranks and gave them a distinctive look at a time when they were trying to build a esprite de corps. Thank you, the picture was taken around Xmas 1916 so your argument about timed for esprit de corps is logical.... Mick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nils d Posted 14 May , 2022 Share Posted 14 May , 2022 7 hours ago, Mick M said: Thank you, the picture was taken around Xmas 1916 so your argument about timed for esprit de corps is logical.... Mick. Actually I was referring to the RFCs foundation in 1912 . They needed to differentiate themselves from other Army units . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick M Posted 15 May , 2022 Author Share Posted 15 May , 2022 11 hours ago, nils d said: Actually I was referring to the RFCs foundation in 1912 . They needed to differentiate themselves from other Army units . Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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