William James Harris - Royal Navy/Royal Air Force?

[martin hooper]

Hello

Bit of a mystery. I have the Royal Navy service record for William James Harris. The last entry is for 31 Mar 1918 discharged to RAF. And at the bottom in remarks it refers to N38135/18 approved discharge in order that he may be appointed to the RAF. But then I would expect to find an RAF record from 1 Apr 1918 for him. But I can't find one. He was a Chief Petty Officer in the Royal Navy and I believe he would have become a Flight Sergeant in the RAF? And does the comment mean that he wasn't in the Royal Naval Air Service and hence didn't automatically transfer to the RAF?

Might he have left the service completely and not transferred? He was aged 32 in 1918.

Clips of his RN record below.

Any thoughts?

Martin

[AllanUK]

The Monthly Air Force Lists, June 1920 lists a William James Harris as an Observer -- unfortunately no details to say if this is your man.

[AllanUK]

The 1921 Census shows a William Harris (born 1886, Shanklin, Isle of Wight) with the RAF at the Armament and Gunnery School at Eastchurch, Sheppey

Link to entry on Find My Past below

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBC%2F1921%2FRG15%2F04427%2F0690%2F16&tab=this

[martin hooper]

Brilliant! That's got to be him. Well done Allan and thanks.

[AllanUK]

Happy to assist where I can

[martin hooper]

That entry in the 1921 census shows him as married with a child. His wife and child are also at the same place but in different pages of the record. I found the marriage in Dundee - definitely my man.

It's opened up new lines of research. So thanks again.



All the best

Martin

[AllanUK]

Well found Martin. Good luck with your research.

Allan