Fl. S/Lt T.B. Holmes - Dates of Service (1917) with No 10 Sqdn RNAS ?

[horatio2]

12 hours ago, Dominion-of-the-North said:

the chevrons above his rank braid indicate 2 years overseas service?

In principle, yes. But it is difficult to see how he earned two with less than one year of RNAS service, nost of that in UK. The rules for the RN (for 'Sea Seervice Chevrons') were different to those of the army (for 'Overseas Service Chevrons'). This previous topic is worth a read for details:-

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/139013-overseas-service-chevrons-royal-navy/

12 hours ago, Dominion-of-the-North said:

does the silver eagle in his cap badge signify anything different from those RNAS officers I see with bronze eagles?

RNAS officers' cap badge should have a silver eagle (replacing the silver anchor). Not sure where gold/bronze versions come from 

https://www.uniform-reference.net/insignia/rn/rnas_ww1_ranks_officer_1.html

13 hours ago, Dominion-of-the-North said:

the white trousers (with navy blue tunic) is not unusual for RNAS officers?

White trousers at discretion of SNO  -  https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/94239290   in No.5 Undress uniform  -  https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/94239266

 

 

[MikeW]

Only just seen this thread, must have been asleep!

The information about Holmes burning his uniform came from Stew Taylor who interviewed many Canadian RNAS, RFC and RAF pilots, I do not know if he interviewed Holmes or  got the information from one of Holmes' contemporaries in Naval 10. There were numerous squadron and RNAS "reunions" held in Canada, and Stew was very persistent in contacting as many Canadian ex-pilots as humanly possible. 

Just a note about 12 Squadron which was an "Operational Training Squadron" - a "Pilot's Pool" if you like, where RNAS Pilots fresh from the training system would get a few days or weeks getting practice on Sopwith Pups, Sopwith Triplanes and Nieuports, and later on in 1917, Sopwith Camels, usually flitting about on the "safe" side of the lines. As "vacancies" cropped up the novice pilots were posted to the operational squadrons. 11 Squadron operated on a similar basis in 1917 flying practice flights and the odd Dunkerque defensive patrol

Mike 

[Dominion-of-the-North]

Very valuable insights and, I can assure you, much appreciated by me.

Cheers,

Glen,

In Our Dominion of the North

[nils d]

Obviously the Admiralty didn't want him at all if they discharged him Jan 1918.

If he was a valued pilot they'd have kept him on as an instructor even if he couldn't fly at heights.