202203, Sgt Arthur William Fowler RAF

[RFT]

Researching 202203, Sgt Arthur William Fowler RAF

According to RNAS Record of Service, born 16 Jun 1888, St Pancras, London.  Civilian occupation Carpenter & Joiner.

1901 Census confirms AWF is the son of William & Julia Fowler. 43 Harewood Avenue, St Marylebone.

Served with the RNAS from 24 Nov 1914; (Dunkirk, 30 Apr 1917-14 Jun 1917);  (Somme, 15 Jun 1917-31 Jan 1918).

Transferred to RAF 01 Apr 1918 and from 9 Jul 1919 on active service in South Russia (as Rigger, Aero) with 47 "A" Squadron RAF.  Hereafter details are not known as his RAF Record of Service is lost!

Recipient of the BWM & VM.

I would like to know what happened to Sgt Fowler post-Russia war service. 

Any information at all would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Rob

 

Edited 2 January by RFT
Additional information.

[horatio2]

59 minutes ago, RFT said:

Hereafter details are not known as his RAF Record of Service is lost!

Not lost but, since he probably served a long period of RAF service, his papers have not been released by the RAF and you would need to apply to MOD for copies.

TNA  -  "Some AIR 79 records are noted as 'Record Not Available'. There are two reasons for this. Either the individual was commissioned from the ranks and his RAF airmen's record no longer survives, or the airman served after the late 1920s and in many cases into the Second World War and his record is still retained by the Ministry of Defence for business and administrative purposes. In the case of those men who were commissioned, their records may be in AIR 76. The records of those airmen whose service continued into the 1930s and 1940s (where a record of service survives) will be transferred at a later date."

Edited 2 January by horatio2

[jonbem]

I reckon this chap on Ancestry

UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 - Ancestry.co.uk

 

[jonbem]

Some brief detail here

Fowler, A.W. - RAF Museum Storyvault

[RFT]

31 minutes ago, horatio2 said:

Not lost but, since he probably served a long period of RAF service, his papers have not been released by the RAF and you would need to apply to MOD for copies.

TNA  -  "Some AIR 79 records are noted as 'Record Not Available'. There are two reasons for this. Either the individual was commissioned from the ranks and his RAF airmen's record no longer survives, or the airman served after the late 1920s and in many cases into the Second World War and his record is still retained by the Ministry of Defence for business and administrative purposes. In the case of those men who were commissioned, their records may be in AIR 76. The records of those airmen whose service continued into the 1930s and 1940s (where a record of service survives) will be transferred at a later date."

Several years ago I made contact with the MOD who confirmed his records were indeed lost.  If I correctly recall, this loss of Service record was confirmed by another GWF member who was attempting to identify a photo which may have been A W Fowler.  However I may stand to be corrected.

Thanks for the response.

Rob

Edited 2 January by RFT
Correction.

[RFT]

25 minutes ago, jonbem said:

Some brief detail here

Fowler, A.W. - RAF Museum Storyvault

Thanks for the link.

Regards

Rob