Mystery photo in need of a better look!

[scrimnet]

He is RAF and BRITISH!!!!!!


 

 

 




 

[Flakdodger]

Yes Piestains, how old was Alfred? On Freebmd I can see three likely, 1883, 1894 and 1896. the 1896 chap marrying in 1918.
I'd want to keep and open mind, especially as I am a walking advert for pies and beers.
Ironic that I was coming to you to flush out family details and locations on account of the family locus of CO candidate 2.
Bright blessings, Rabbit - but can I tell you that the Mikhail Gorbachev chap looks a lot like my uncle Charlie - and the nearest he got to the Volga Boatmen was the end of Southend Pier.
Dave

[scrimnet]

Are you the chap who plays "Big Bob" on the Al Murray TV show then???

[Flakdodger]

Close - but he is more handsome

[O1dgobbo]

Hi All

I deduced from the absence of a medal ribbon that the exRNAS airman had not seen active service in WW1.  This may be a false assumption.  My ancestor, who was wounded and discharged during the war did not receive his 1914/15 star until Oct 1920 and his other medals were posted to him even later.  So it may be that the exRNAS was entitled to some medals but had not received them when the photograph was taken if it were taken in 1920/21.  This makes me think (despite Rabbit) that Alfred Morgan Ivins born in Monmouthshire, 1896, could well be the exRNAS airman.

Good luck

Gobbo

[scrimnet]

That sounds v. good to me matey...

I am also opined that Rabbit is mis reading the photo 

 

I do not think your assumptions are wrong either re the RNAS chaps.....

[Rabbit B]

Hi Gobbo and Scrimnet,

My Father was in the RNAS.  Gobbo, you should have a letter from the King, which was given to all the Service personnel after the Great War.   I have a copy, I also have Dad's service records.  But I wonder if they all got medals if they had not served overseas.  They usually have to have served in the battle zone for at least 6 months.

Rabbit B   

[O1dgobbo]

Hi Rabbit

I found the medals amongst our papers but I have not found the letter from George V, it may be lost or just in another box away from the medals.

You are quite right about the need to serve in an operational theatre.  For the RNAS this is defined as service at sea (excluding harbour duties), service in any of the Army operational theatres or flying over the sea.  The exRNAS airmen have not got wings so were probably not employed in flights and they may have been lucky enough to spend the war on a home base but I do believe that many of the RNAS units were employed alongside the RFC providing air support in various  of the military operational theatres.  See

http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/ww1_victory_medal_award.htm

Good luck

Gobbo

[Flakdodger]

Hello all,
I have got permission to be abscent from the household this coming Saturday and I am going to toddle over to Kew and do a bit of digging on a couple of CO candidates.
I will also have a look at AIR 76 and list all the Ivins listed (RAF other ranks 1918-19(I think)65).
Dave