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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 11, 2017 0:44:56 GMT 12
What did the upside-down chevron mean on the lower arm of this Leading Aircraftman?  This photo comes from the New Zealand National Archive Date: [between ca 1940 and 1945] Ref: 1/4-017645-F Four Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) personnel playing a game of pool during World War II, possibly in Canada. Shows one of the airmen leaning over the table to take a shot in front of the others. Photograph taken between circa 1940 and 1945 by an unidentified photographer. Other - From back of file print: `RCAF photo Link to zoomable version here: ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE293136&dps_custom_att_1=emu |
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Post by SEAN on Dec 11, 2017 4:40:25 GMT 12
What did the upside-down chevron mean on the lower arm of this Leading Aircraftman? Good Conduct Badge |
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Post by SEAN on Dec 11, 2017 4:56:44 GMT 12
What did the upside-down chevron mean on the lower arm of this Leading Aircraftman? Good Conduct Badge They were still around in the very early 80's, as I remember seeing older guys with "two up two down". I know it meant extra pay, and I am pretty sure they could take them off you if you got charged etc. I don't remember seeing SNCO's with them do maybe only CPL's and below got them. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 11, 2017 8:57:05 GMT 12
Thanks Sean. I've never noticed the stripe before and wonder what sort of conduct was involved, was it something exceptional, like when airmen get a special page in Insight magazine for realising a safety concern that probably saved lives?
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Post by xbaggy on Dec 11, 2017 9:42:20 GMT 12
Pretty sure it was just a matter of keeping a clean record sheet for 5 years for the first ,and 10 years for the second. Quite common in 60's and 70's and only for Corporals. Two stripes mostly found in trades where promotion was very slow. Mess staff, gate guards, MT staff, Base runners etc. Worth sixpence a day per stripe.
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Post by camtech on Dec 11, 2017 15:11:26 GMT 12
All correct - I was one of the "Two up - two down" brigade. Ten years undetected crime was worth about 20c a day. Promotion to Sgt meant you were supposed to be a good boy anyway, so didn't qualify. When I was in the UK, I was frequently asked what the two stripes were for, and then had the job of cutting them off just before leaving to come home as I was promoted while still in UK.
They could be forfeited if the holder committed any one of a number of offences.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 11, 2017 18:51:46 GMT 12
Interesting. In the Army during WWII they got an upside down half chevron of thing on the cuff if they were wounded. One of me friends that I interviewed for Courage And Valour had three stripes (Sergeant) on his sleeve and three wounded stripes too.
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Post by horicle on Dec 11, 2017 19:43:49 GMT 12
The good conduct stripes were worth sixpence a day each. Did take five years to get each one. When they were introduced they were probably a meaningful extra on the pay. All their life they remained at 6d each per day. So when inflation made them worthless they were quietly pensioned of in the four group to two group pay review about 1965/66, when I was wearing one. Worth two duty free beers.
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Post by camtech on Dec 11, 2017 20:41:57 GMT 12
Good Conduct badges were still in use until the mid 70's at least. I qualified for my second stripe in 1975, and took them off December 1976 in the UK.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 11, 2017 21:38:56 GMT 12
It makes sense to me now why I have never seen them, because I usually only deal in WWII photos and very few people in WWII would have served 5 years as an LAC or Cpl.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 11, 2017 21:40:10 GMT 12
Another query, was the mixing of khaki trousers and blue blouse an accepted norm? Or would that have been due to a shortage and out of necessity?
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Post by horicle on Dec 12, 2017 8:14:53 GMT 12
I’ll go with camtech on the cut-off date. I just couldn't remember wearing them after Fiji. I still believe it was a pay review that removed them so look for something around that time.
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Post by camtech on Dec 12, 2017 19:27:26 GMT 12
Horicle, I believe you are right in that it was a pay review that abolished the GCBs.
During my 22.5 years, there were a number of pay/structure/banding reviews, trade restructures and operational re-organisations. The one constant was change.
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