Finding R.A.F unit from a medal

[pdyholman]

Hi,

My grandfather (born 1898), Harold Hubert Holman was in the ground crew of the RFC, which of course became the RAF in 1918.

His service medal (Victory Medal, with the "THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1919" inscription) has the inscription "68817.I.V H H HOLMAN R.A.F" on the rim.

I assume 68817 is his regimental number (unfortunately, searching ancestry.co.uk I can't find him in the medal rolls etc.) ... I assume I.V. maps to his unit perhaps ?

Any guidance appreciated !

Thanks,

Paul

[per ardua per mare per terram]

His RAF service papers should be in AIR 79/636 (service numbers 68780 - 68900), those will give the units that he served with from 1 April 1918, if you're lucky they may give previous units when he was in the RFC. These are original records held at Kew, they are not online.

[Wardog]

I thought rank went before name, but unable to find what I.V. might be. Paul.

[Wardog]

I think his number was one of a batch allocated to civilians entering the RFC in March 1917-source H Williamson.

[pdyholman]

I think his number was one of a batch allocated to civilians entering the RFC in March 1917-source H Williamson.

Thanks for this Per Ardua, Wardog and Michael - yes all are very useful. My grandfather worked at Thornycrofts in Basingstoke (they manufactured lorries) post-war, and being born in Sep 1898, he would have been 18yrs six months in March 1917.

(My father has the medal, and I'll ask him to check).

So time to work out how to get some time at Kew !

[pdyholman]

As a final post script - I was able to get the service records from AIR 79/636 electronically. £8.50 from the national archives - but easy 24 hours service (plus they are electronic, so I could send them to my father).

Shows that he enlisted March 1917 (as Air Mechanic/2), had promotions and left June 1920.

During wartime, he was mainly with 112 sqd. and then the newely formed 152

Squadron in the last month of the war.

Googling ...

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2000...ile_112sqn1.htm

... formed in July 1917 to defend London and south east England against

German bombers with Sopwith Pups and later Camels. Based in Throwley

(Kent).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._152_Squadron_RAF - in Rochford. and a

few weeks later France to defend against night bombers.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/h152.html

http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn151-155.htm Thanks for all your help,

Paul

[Wardog]

Glad you got the info. for your relative. The I.V. mark is still rather strange. Best regards, Paul.