Rank

Hello:

If you knew the trade that someone had during World War stationed in England, is there a place you could find a individual's rank? I know this is probably asking to much. I'm desperate.

Thankyou
Gail

 

Sorry, I'll try again. If someone was an Instructor with the R.A.F. this would be his trade, is there someway to find out a person's rank? This person was stationed in England during World War 2.

Thankyou
Gail

 

The short answer is No.

Apply for his Service Records from the MOD. You'll find that contains all quals and promotions.

 

Hello:

Thankyou for responding to my posting. I have gone that root. Infact I forwarded birth, death certificates all what was needed to obtain something on him to the appropriate area only to have a return reply of them not having his name on file. I'm drawing a straws here. If he is shown in an Almanac in his hometown as being on a Muster Roll of 1941 with the R.A.F. showing him as an Instructor-I figure this is his trade, that he had to have had a rank?

Thankyou
Gail

 

Youll definately get a response of some sort on ww2 talk, but as a quickie, what trade was he....and any particular station in UK? What muster roll are you talking of.

I doubt if even talk guys and girls will be able to give you a rank for a trade. Except to say in flying trades an instructor would be of a minimal rank acceptable for that trade. Same as even a painter and finisher or teleprinter operator instructor. Generally ground trade instruction even in ww2 was done by nco's up to Flight sgt, warrant officer, Chief technician but as low as corporal or even leading aircraftsman depending on trade group. Flying trades by officers as well as nco's

To enter a particular trade in wartime even.... you had an appropriate rank to the trade if flying duties. So its going to be virtually impossible to just give a trade group member a rank by saying he was an instructor. Even had civilian instructors.

Name and service number will get you what you require. I'm surprised they have not found anything for you. Do you have a service number and name....With that the ww2 talk folk will eventually help you out.

 

Hello:

What I know is he was an Instructor with the R.A.F. I have no service #. He is shown on a Muster Roll of 1941 in the Brechin Library-showing him under the R.A.F. as an Instructor and where he resided at the time. He was responsible for the balloon barrage. He was a skilled machinist and mechanic I know and stationed in Blackpool? during the war.

Thankyou
Gail

 

Blackpool had a large training presence during ww2. Massive in fact. Have you looked for this info in the past anywhere on net..I seem to remember helping someone out with a similar problem about a year ago on another forum.

 

Hello:

I was looking up Weeton Training Camp trying to go that route without success.

Gail

 

Its unusual if you have the info you do have to not get an answer if you follow the route Drew states in his post above.

pm me if you wish with his name and any other details you have. But try ww2 talk folk firstly. Drews home site...

 

Gail. Im coming to the conclusion he may very well have been a civilian instructor on barrage balloons training. Suggest you tell his story or what you have on BBC peoples war site and request other ex serving members there for any memories or info.

 

Welcome to the Balloon Barrage Reunion Club Website

Try posting on here...This is an RAF barrage balloon vetrans site. This is probably at good as your going to get I'm afraid.

 

Thankyou, I to feel he may have been a civilian instructor. also as I commented before it shows him in an Almanac on the Muster Roll as such. I have tried R.A.F. Disclosures in Lincolnshire with the reply they didn't have anybody in there records by that name. I have decided that it might be best to start from his hometown in Brechin. I am going to check the Legion as he was with the R.A.F. also the Masonic Temple as my Mum tells me he was a Mason as she remembers his Masonic Ball. It might be the way to go. Anything is worth a try.Your mention about the BBC Peoples War Site is there a fee for posting do you know ?Thankyou so much for all your suggestions. Much appreciated.
All the best
Gail

 

Unfortunately, the BBC Peoples War website no longer accepts stories.

Their archives are still open for searches. Over 47,000 stories were contributed by the public. A search via a few keywords might reveal something:

BBC - WW2 People's War

 

Thats a pity...Perhaps the peoples war site should have realised how many folk would be interested and involved....Never mind....

The barrage balloon site may be able to get you some training structure in blackpool at the time, I'm sure if that was a major training site for balloon ops then they if anyone would have instructor staffing details. Good luck.

 

Thankyou so much for all your imput.
All the best
Gail