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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 3, 2023 6:00:26 GMT 12
Has come to light whilst sorting through my late fathers stuff; Dave, his training logbook has shown up, if you’re still interested Anyway, this little box is amongst the gear I’ve uplifted and I thought you might like to see it… it’s made of plastic, or perspex…  IMG_0911 by John Stokes, on Flickr …and these; I wonder if these were made from buttons???  IMG_0913 by John Stokes, on Flickr Dad must have, at some stage, stripped all of his tunics of their accoutrements because there’s a hoard of buttons and shoulder flashes/epaulettes , but joy of joys… I’ve found his tropical wings, and his issue watch! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 3, 2023 10:02:54 GMT 12
Superb John. And yes please, I am still very interested in getting a photographic copy of that logbook, please.
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 9, 2023 12:11:22 GMT 12
I'm back home after uplifting some of Dads' effects, and also what was left from his brother Pats' estate; his son and grandson had no use for it so I put my hand up...  Flying helmet by John Stokes, on Flickr  Helmet by John Stokes, on Flickr  Helmet showing name by John Stokes, on Flickr  Pat Stokes' ab initio class by John Stokes, on Flickr  Pat's wings, and RAF badge by John Stokes, on Flickr  RAF airscrew badge by John Stokes, on Flickr  RAF badge by John Stokes, on Flickr  loads of ephemera! by John Stokes, on Flickr  More books by John Stokes, on Flickr  Books and a Corsair model by John Stokes, on Flickr ... plus bags of buttons of both metal and bakelite construction and other bits and bobs; saddens me a lot to know that because I'm looking at this in person that Dad and Pat are gone, along with most of their comrades-in-arms. I also have the typewritten copy of Pats diary, which will be scanned and made available to whoever would like a copy; I haven't read it yet. According to the logbooks Pat commenced basic in 1940, and Dad in 1944. Pat ended up being seconded to 34Sqn RAF at Tengah, but was invaded out ill just before the Japanese came down the Malay peninsula... |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 9, 2023 12:18:25 GMT 12
Was Pat flying Blenheims, John?
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 9, 2023 16:19:41 GMT 12
He was indeed on Blenheims, with one trip in a Vildebeest. When he returned from convalescent leave he was on Gordons for a while, too…
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 10, 2023 12:59:13 GMT 12
I’m going to polish up the cap badges… would they have been polished to a high sheen?? One looks to be of a copper based alloy, the other is a brass alloy; these are the badges that go on the side caps.
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Post by classicman on Sept 10, 2023 14:14:13 GMT 12
Would love to see a photo of his issue watch front and back please!
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 10, 2023 23:26:36 GMT 12
... and so it continues; I don't know if these things are of any interest to you people, but they are of intense interest to me, only knowing Dad as a middle aged man, and not the youngster he was here...  Telegram from his father by John Stokes, on Flickr  Return of Army gear by John Stokes, on Flickr  Acknowledgement of enlistment by John Stokes, on Flickr  papCarder 3 by John Stokes, on Flickr  Travel permit by John Stokes, on Flickr  Souvenir; front by John Stokes, on Flickr  Souvenir; back by John Stokes, on Flickr  Equator crossing by John Stokes, on Flickr  Card 2 by John Stokes, on Flickr  Card 3 by John Stokes, on Flickr |
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Post by baz62 on Sept 11, 2023 6:23:33 GMT 12
... and so it continues; I don't know if these things are of any interest to you people, but they are of intense interest to me, only knowing Dad as a middle aged man, and not the youngster he was here... Telegram from his father by John Stokes, on Flickr Return of Army gear by John Stokes, on Flickr Acknowledgement of enlistment by John Stokes, on Flickr papCarder 3 by John Stokes, on Flickr Travel permit by John Stokes, on Flickr Souvenir; front by John Stokes, on Flickr Souvenir; back by John Stokes, on Flickr Equator crossing by John Stokes, on Flickr Card 2 by John Stokes, on Flickr Card 3 by John Stokes, on Flickr I too love this sort of thing. Apart from it being a tangible connection to your Dad it's neat to see how it was back then. Like logbooks it's history you can hold.  |
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Post by Mustang51 on Sept 11, 2023 6:56:45 GMT 12
That service information in Pidgin was great......was told the word for "blowfly" once. Hope I get this right or Mr Syphers will come and get me:-
"Some fella binatang, him fallem down in ma kai-kai"
Learned while walking from the main town on Majuro back to the airport where we were 'fixin' the Ventura.
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Post by Antonio on Sept 11, 2023 8:49:03 GMT 12
Amazing.
Loving the journey.
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 14, 2023 12:41:16 GMT 12
I’m going to polish up the cap badges… would they have been polished to a high sheen?? One looks to be of a copper based alloy, the other is a brass alloy; these are the badges that go on the side caps. ... anyone??? |
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Post by Antonio on Sept 14, 2023 12:52:39 GMT 12
I’m going to polish up the cap badges… would they have been polished to a high sheen?? One looks to be of a copper based alloy, the other is a brass alloy; these are the badges that go on the side caps. ... anyone??? I guess only for drill & parades. |
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 14, 2023 14:38:37 GMT 12
…and these; I wonder if these were made from buttons??? IMG_0913 by John Stokes, on Flickr … turns out they are, in fact, gold, and hand carved, according to the jeweller who is going to polish them. I had no idea… |
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Post by ErrolC on Sept 14, 2023 15:26:14 GMT 12
I vaguely remember watching a presentation and/or reading a blogpost on these I think. Charms/keepsakes to remember loved ones serving? Department stores and the like sold them in various forms.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2023 17:51:00 GMT 12
Generally called "sweetheart brooches."
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Post by corsair5517 on Sept 14, 2023 19:29:34 GMT 12
Could be! Although these aren’t for a woman, being cufflinks and a tiepin; I’m more inclined to think they were a gift to Dad from my grandfather…
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Post by corsair5517 on Oct 5, 2023 15:49:39 GMT 12
… a further example of what might well have disappeared; Dad was about to bin these many years ago until I expressed an interest in them… they are now in a reversible frame and displayed…  IMG_0257 by John Stokes, on Flickr  IMG_0260 by John Stokes, on Flickr … his notes on starting the Corsair and the P-40… |
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Post by corsair5517 on Oct 22, 2023 16:16:24 GMT 12
What's going on here, chaps?? The promotion date is 1944 but the date it's signed is 1949... or am I missing something??  Dad's promotion by John Stokes, on Flickr |
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Post by davidd on Oct 23, 2023 11:13:55 GMT 12
Commissioning effect date 1944, actual date of issue of commissioning parchment (as it was known) in 1949. This document is rather in the category of "tidying up" after the convulsions of WW2. Certificates of Discharge followed a similar leisurely pattern. I think it was stated in Air Force Regulations that newly commisioned officers were entitled to such certificates, but it may have been that no particular urgency was required in issuing them! (or, if it was WAS to be issued within a certain time, then it was quietly ignored for a few years.) Pity the Hon Minister of Defence having to sign all these certificates! (There may also have been other similar certificates and the like that I am not aware of.)
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