1st AM J Collins 42955

[thedawnpatrol]

This is something that has baffled me……..

this is a German water bottle, but as can be seen, stamped up by J Collins…….

i dont know if this Airman existed even( any service record help much appreciated) 

why would an RFC Airman choose to use a German water bottle…….

the only reason I can think was that perhaps he was a wireless operator in the trenches and souvenired it……..

anyway here are the photos, see what you think

 

[horatio2]

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11620154

https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/collins-j.j

https://www.rafmuseumstoryvault.org.uk/archive/7000041336-collins-j.j

Edited 25 February , 2023 by horatio2

[thedawnpatrol]

Morning  Horatio, thats a start, Thank you , but i can access Findmypast………..

any further help please…………..

[alf mcm]

His name is James John Collins. His RAF service record is available on Findmypast;- https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=gbm%2fair79%2f403%2f00214&parentid=gbm%2fair79%2f270412

He was in the RFC from 08/08/16. Can't find and RFC record, but he was married in Southampton on 23/09/17 , which may give a clue to his number.

Regards,

Alf McM

[George Rayner]

RFC record courtesy Fold3

George

Oops that's what Alf has shown with FMP!

Edited 25 February , 2023 by George Rayner

[thedawnpatrol]

Thank you all, at least he exists ………any more thoughts?

[George Rayner]

7 hours ago, thedawnpatrol said:

the only reason I can think was that perhaps he was a wireless operator in the trenches and souvenired it……..

I can't see that he served 'in the trenches' from his RFC sheets and with his pre-war skills being body builder I would have thought he was on an airfield working on aircraft. No explanation as to why he had the German water bottle unless like many souvenirs it was better than the British version!

George