WW1 RNAS service record - Geoffrey Caffin BROOK

[baevans]

Hi everyone,

Can any experts out there help me out please with deciphering the details on this service record.  I'm unfamiliar with RNAS history and the handwriting is difficult.

What was his rank, duties/trade and the units he served with? 

I understand President II was a kind of training ship alongside in London, but what about 'Wing 4 Petite Sqn', followed by Daedalus (?something?) and the transfer to Squad 1 Wing No1?

Was he demobbed from President II at the end?

Any pointers gratefully received.
Bruce

[mmm45]

He transferred to RAF which was formed in April 1918
He MAY have an RAF record too.
http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/daedalus/History.html

His RAF number is 204252 i think from 1918 nominal

Ady

[IMBER]

Some background here:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30418

Imber

[baevans]

Hi mmm45,

Thanks for responding.  Now that you've pointed it out I can see where the transfer to the RAF is mentioned but I surely can't see where his RAF service number is on the document!  Did you get that from a different source?

In the family we always thought that it was his brother Harold Randall BROOK (my Grandpa) who was in the RNAS as a technician and who got transfered to the RAF.  Now I'm beginning to wonder if the two were muddled up or whether both brothers enlisted in the same service - they were only a year apart in age.  I haven't managed to find anything about Harold's exploits in 1914-18.

Thanks again for helping with this, anything else you can enlighten me with would be most appreciated.

Bruce

[baevans]

mmm45

Ahh! a eureka moment, great stuff; thanks for the subliminal prod in the right direction.  Maybe I'm beginning to get the hang of this. 

I just searched the National Archives again, at AIR79 and found references for both brothers there.  Very similar service numbers made me think they did join up together. I now see the link between the RNAS and RAF service numbers - and the F4252 is a service number, not a Form number as I thought, dullard that I am.

Searched and found this second RNAS service record which is for Harold, turns out he joined the previous month. This one is a little easier to understand and it confirms the family rumours that Harold serviced aeroplanes in France during the war - the record shows Somme, Dunkirk and Cappelle.  He was indeed an Air Mechanic and then a L(E) whatever that was.  I guess PO(M) might be Petty Officer (Mechanic) - would that be right? 

In the previous record I posted before I can now read that Geoffrey was a Air Mech too, then a L ?something?  Any takers?

Anyone got a handle on the likely squadron numbers that might lead to more on where they went?

Bruce
 

[matt8]

The Fleet Air Arm Museum may have more records:

http://www.fleetairarm.com/contact-aviation-museum.aspx