The following is the British Royal Air Force, Airmen's service records 1912-1939 entry for my Great Uncle Billy.
No 165384 Charles William Smith; b. 29 Nov 1887 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, CoE; RAF Engaged 9 May 1918 Age: 30yr 5mo for Duration of War. Occ: hairdresser; NoK: Martha (sic Matthew) Grayson Smith of 129 Frank Street, Benwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne, mother. Ht: 5ft 8 1/4ins, Hair: dark brown; Eyes: Grey, Complexion: Sallow. Transferred to RAF Reserve; 11 May 1919; Discharged: 30 April 1920.
Enlisted Private 2: to RD 9 May 1918; RD to BEF 18 July 1918; Appointed A/Corporal 7 Sep 1918;BEF to RD 17 Dec 1918; RD to 1 Ball Sqdn 22 Dec 1918; 1 Bln Sqdn to Des Cen Ripon 11 April 1919. Trade Classification: Batman. France: 18 July 1918 to 17 Dec 1918; BW & V Medal
I was hoping to find out (from his No. maybe) where he would have been posted in France; What is RD?; Was 1 Ball (or Bln) Squadron a balloon squadron operative in England?; Would he have been a Batman in the RAF to a commander or a pilot? There is a family story that he was given the rank of King's Corporal; what was it and is this likely?
Is there another forum site on WW1 RAF?
Regards
Dennis Richards
Cockatoo, Vic., Australia
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17-07-2019, 3:16 AM #1
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Private Smith, 1 Balloon Sqn RAF, Batman
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17-07-2019, 7:53 PM #2
HI Dennis
You could try here - https://www.greatwarforum.org/
They do have an air-force section.
RD- not sure but could mean Reserve Depot.
regards
RobertRemembering
My Father 1819170 Lance Bombardier Robert Simpson 39/14 L.A.A. R.A.
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17-07-2019, 7:56 PM #3
Welcome to the British-Genealogy forums
If you came to us from Forces War Records reading this will explain our connection.
Regarding the term Kings Corporal reading this and other article/forums (found by using a search engine)seems to suggest that it was not an official term and all references I have read refer to the army not the RAF. One article referring to Australian forces is very specific that there was no such rank.
Your relative would have been a member of the Royal Flying Air Corps which merged with the Royal Naval Air Service in 1918 to become the RAF. The National Archives has a research guide https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/h...rst-world-war/ for War Diaries WW1 which may help in finding where his squadrons were at specific times. The lower ranks don't usually get a mention, only the higher ranks. Have you tried the London Gazette to see if he is mentioned for an award?
ChristinaSometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
William Burroughs
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