Genealogy Chat

nudge

Lovely to read the memories here. My father-in-law was in the RAF, as an engineer. I have his little book with a record of all his flights in it. He was in South Africa most of the war and his only war wound was when a German plane fired at his base and knocked his teamug out of his hand - he sustained a weeny little cut on his finger! My mum stayed recently and casually mentioned my dad's war records - he was in the Rifle Brigade in North Africa & Italy - and said 'I thought you'd seen them!' (NO! First time you've ever mentioned it!!!!) nell

I would love to get the records for my cousin, shot down in a Lancaster in May 1944. His brother is still alive (I think), but refuses contact with the rest of the family. I wonder if I could get away with being next of kin?

Thanks Heather Gwen

Thanks everybody for their advice, much appreciated - I shall give my Mum and Dad another nudge! Will also check out that RFC website mentioned. Kind regards, Chris

Thanks for the info Merry. I think the only proof that I have to send them that I am the next of kin, is a copy of their marriage certificate. Both parents are deceased now. Audrey

Will do that, Heather. I keep chivvying both Mum and Dad to send off for their records, to no avail. They just keep forgetting, and I would hate to nag and seem pushy. If I send off for these forms, perhaps they will just sign their permission.......... I would have loved to track down Dad's service record in particular, as I know he loved his time in the RAF and looks back with fond memories. My cunning plan was to surprise him with it as a birthday gift in July. Many thanks, Chris

Chris, just had a google and it seems they come under Army records - but I found a very interesting site where someone is collecting enlistment details - and has them up to 1917? This is the addy: http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:3RAzM2zW3ZsJ:www.rfc-rnas-raf-register.org.uk/Register.htm+Service+Records+Royal+flying+corps&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=20

Chris, I dont know - they were actually part of the army werent they? Why dont you have a look at the RAF site and see what it says. Im still waiting for the forms to complete for my dads records.

Sorry to muscle in, Heather! This thread is more than interesting, and have made a note of details and addresses etc. My father and mother were in the RAF during the war - Dad in Italy and North Africa, and Mum was a teleprinter operator. He is nearly 83 years of age now, as is my Mum, so I guess I don't qualify in getting their details without their consent, as both fortunately are still with us. However, my maternal grandfather was in the Royal Flying Corps during the 1st World War, which of course was the forerunner of the RAF. Would I be able to get his service record from the same address in Innsworth, please? Anybody help please? Thanking you, Kind regards, Chris

Many Thanks for this THREAD. I posted one about my Grandfather being on HMS Vindictive as a member of the RAF last night. Mandy thanks for the nudge on this THREAD. The information has been recorded and helps greatly with my search for information about my Grandfather. Anne in North London X

Nudging for Anne

Well, I wouldn't let them go either!! Hubby says either the RAF can pay for photographic reproductions or..... 600dpi scan and save as a .tif not a .jpg (If you have a decent scanner) should be good! Merry

Im lucky, Ive got lots and lots of photos (plenty of Brylcream) and several he took out in India and Burma - the RAF veterans website had asked to use them (they all have dads beautiful writing and notes on each one) but they wanted me to send the originals so they could get a better copy and I am very reluctant to do that. Hey, we are pming on here!

Yeh! Except he lost his hair when he was 20!! LOL Have ONE photo aged 18 with hair and brylcream! .....then Zilch! When he was a toddler he had long golden ringlets like a cherub......said he paid the price later! Merry

So your 'Brylcream Boy' went out as dad came back - coincidence, eh?

Well, you should get a medical record sheet, so the malaria should be on that! Merry

LOL - I like that! My dad waited until 1946 to be posted to Burma (waited until it was safer???!!!) I keep wondering if he was out there when his baby was born (my unknown half sister) and died (same Q - the baby, I mean) - can't really tell from these papers, there's so many acronyms..................I do wish the GRO would hurry! Can't they see I am DESPARATE!!! Merry

Another one Im interested in - Dad said when he was in Burma he got malaria (in fact he had recurrence of that for years, even when I was a kiddie!0. He was on morning parade and looked so ill he was sent to the Medical Officer who said to him, 'Whats wrong with you?' Dad said I think I have malaria Sir. The medical officer said, 'You have malaria when I tell you you have it and when you collapse' Dad promptly collapsed and was rushed to hospital!

Thanks Merry, there is some confusing and obviously out of date stuff on websites about this. I am quite looking forward to hearing my dad was a naughty boy actually. He was such a lovely funny person. I remember he told me when these two military police took him away - mum screaming and crying!! (theyd married in 1940 and hed seen her for about 3 months since then - she was only 19 when they married) - they took him to a local barracks first - on a bus!! You forget that there werent that many vehicles available. When they got on the bus, the conductor said 'Room for two upstairs, one downstairs' Dad (handcuffed by now!) said to the police - 'You take the upstairs seats'. Bless him. When he got to the holding barracks he was stripped of his stripes and medal strips - the Officer in charge said to the police sergeant, 'Did you take these strips off this man?' The sergeant said he had The officer said, 'This man is a hero who fought in Burma, you just stand there and put them all back on him' Dad said it was lovely seeing this bloke totally embarrassed!