Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

WW1 RAF Meritorious Service Medal


thedawnpatrol

Recommended Posts

I have a single MSM named to LAC Frank Jefferys RAF the only info i have is , 

No. 16060 awarded for action in Limpfield, France ……

anymore info would be greatly appreciated 

 

thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

His service records are online on Fold3 hope this helps.

Cheers

Tankie

 

Name Frank Jeffrey
Gender Male
Age 25
Birth Date 1890
Service Date 3 Dec 1915
Service Number 16060
Mother Mary J.
Next of Kin Mary J.
Relation to Airman Mother
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you both, i can see there is mention of 34 squadron……is there anyway of finding a citation for his MSM ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It will be highly unlikely to have a citation for the MSM, iv been through newspaper archives which has turned up a blank also  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 18/11/2023 at 23:07, thedawnpatrol said:

No. 16060 awarded for action in Limpfield, France ……

 

Hi

It was awarded for France and his home was Limpsfield in Surrey

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
On 19/11/2023 at 13:37, thedawnpatrol said:

Thank you both, i can see there is mention of 34 squadron……is there anyway of finding a citation for his MSM ?

Hi, Did he serve on 34 Squadron throughout the war? As 34 squadron went to the Italian Front January 1917 and remained there until May 1919  and disbandment in the UK September 1919. I also have an MSM for a Sgt Mech T. W. Skaife 34 Squadron (LG January 1919) on his service record there it mentions Italy for admittance to hospital but also states 'France from 8-7-16 to 26-12-18..  With his medals was a note from his son saying 'He was awarded his MSM for assisting the inventor of the of the mechanism to synchronise the shooting of a gun through the an aeroplane propellor whilst working in Italy' could your man have been involved in this as well?  Hope this information is of some use to you but like yourself I cannot find any official citation. Kind Regards Clive  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 17/01/2024 at 17:22, Clive ex RAF plumber said:

'He was awarded his MSM for assisting the inventor of the of the mechanism to synchronise the shooting of a gun through the an aeroplane propellor whilst working in Italy'

"the C.C. Synchronizer, named after its inventors, Munitions Officer Major Colley and Romanian inventor George Constantinescu. Based on Constantinescu’s work on wave propagation through fluids, the C.C. Synchronizer used hydraulic oil to transmit sound pulses from the engine to the guns. Not only was the system universally adaptable to any engine and aircraft type, it proved far more reliable and easily adjustable than all other systems, and starting in November 1917 became the standard for all British fighter aircraft. Though the Germans captured many examples of the C.C. gear, they were never able to reverse-engineer it as they erroneously assumed it to be a standard hydraulic system."

FROM: https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2020/08/how-did-wwi-pilots-shoot-through-their-aircraft-propeller/

See also: https://europecentenary.eu/constantinescu-the-romanian-engineer-behind-allied-air-superiority-in-the-first-world-war/

"Major Colley, the Chief Experimental Officer and Artillery Adviser at the War Office Munitions Invention Department".

Frank Jeffreys' MSM 3rd June 1919 as Jeffreys: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31378/supplement/7037  for 'FRANCE'.

Edited by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Ivor Anderson said:

"the C.C. Synchronizer, named after its inventors, Munitions Officer Major Colley and Romanian inventor George Constantinescu. Based on Constantinescu’s work on wave propagation through fluids, the C.C. Synchronizer used hydraulic oil to transmit sound pulses from the engine to the guns. Not only was the system universally adaptable to any engine and aircraft type, it proved far more reliable and easily adjustable than all other systems, and starting in November 1917 became the standard for all British fighter aircraft. Though the Germans captured many examples of the C.C. gear, they were never able to reverse-engineer it as they erroneously assumed it to be a standard hydraulic system."

FROM: https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2020/08/how-did-wwi-pilots-shoot-through-their-aircraft-propeller/

See also: https://europecentenary.eu/constantinescu-the-romanian-engineer-behind-allied-air-superiority-in-the-first-world-war/

"Major Colley, the Chief Experimental Officer and Artillery Adviser at the War Office Munitions Invention Department".

Frank Jeffreys' MSM 3rd June 1919 as Jeffreys: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31378/supplement/7037  for 'FRANCE'.

Hi Ivor, Thanks for the very interesting information on the C.C. Synchronizer did the C.C. stand for Colley and Constantinescu?  The point I was making with regards Sgt Mech Skaife's service record is that his service record only states service in 'France and Belgium' no mention of Italy although that's where 34 Squadron served from January 1917 and where we know he served, could the reference to France on LAC Jeffery's MSM LG entry be an error? Hence the question how long did he serve within the ranks of 34 Squadron. Regards Clive     

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Clive ex RAF plumber said:

the C.C. Synchronizer did the C.C. stand for Colley and Constantinescu

Constantinescu-Colley I think. I cannot comment on the service record as it is not very clear to me.

Apparently 34th Squadron moved to Italy in 1917: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._34_Squadron_RAF

It is unlikely that 'FRANCE' re MSM is an error. Army MSMs have a medal card listing the unit, but I cannot see one for him as RAF.

Most MSMs mentioned in WDs have no citation, only name, rank & number. So, it is unlikely we will find the reason it was awarded.

Edited by Ivor Anderson
Link to comment
Share on other sites

thank you both for your interesting reply's and help on this one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...