Was my Grandad even in the RAF?

Hello all, iv just started to trace my family tree, which gets difficult when you get to family members that where in the military. Im hoping that someone can give me some guidance based on what iv got to go on, which isn't a lot!

I have always been told that my granddad was in the RAF in WW2, but im not sure if it adds up?

1. I have no pictures of him in full RAF uniform - any similar RAF pics I can find to the ones I have of him, are of airmen who where based in hot countries (open collar light shirt with large dart buttons square pockets and shoulder straps). I have attached a photo that I have of him, hopefully it will be blazingly obvious to one of you.

2. He didn't go to public school and was born in Birmingham (so had a basic education), However he did pick up a "proper" accent from somewhere (maybe his time in the RAF?)

3. He had Naval tattoos, a swallow and an anchor. This makes me wonder did the RAF serve on boats in hot countries in ww2? And could that explain his choice in tattoos. Or was he in the navy!?

Also is there a way I can find out a regiment and rank for him and my other granddad? Or are they lost forever if there is no record of them within the family?


Thanks to anyone who takes pity on my basic knowledge!

Anna

 

Hi Anna,

Apart from getting his war records there is not much to go on.

His full name would be the starting point for most searching.

Does the photo have further writing under the photographers watermark at the bottom of the frame?

This will sound like a stupid question however it is not! Have you had the photo out of the frame to see if anything is written on the back?

One of the other members may be able to give a clue on the "Uniform"

I could not copy it to enlarge the watermark as it will not "Save as".or copy.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Well the photo is captioned Albert Taylor 1920 to 2005 so that might be a clue as to who Anna is referring to...

If you are doing your Family History, did Albert have brothers or sisters, if so Names?
What about parents and obviously wife etc...

Being born in 1920, marriage may have taken place either around 1941 (which may place him as still in UK before service in hot climate) or post WW2, say 1946 onwards. What was his wife's name?

If he married whilst serving, he would probably have given his rank and Service Number, so getting the Marriage Certificate may be a start for you.
Are you absolutely sure that NOTHING at all remains of his background?
Did he join the RBL for example, or were there any memories of stories he told about what he did in the War?

Someone usually has a box of old "stuff" tucked away in an attic that they won't throw away but means little to them...
Have a family chat to see who can remember anything.... did an aircraft flying over make him say something "meaningful"?

The more help you give, usually the more we can provide to flesh him out.
With NO bones at all, that's difficult!!

For example, did he have a middle name?
There are 4 possibles just from the scant info you provided (almost by accident!)
Albert J Taylor Mothers Maiden Name Garbett
Albert W Taylor Maiden Name Robinson
Albert E Taylor Maiden Name Timbrell
Albert G Taylor Maiden Name Turner

so is he one of those or someone completely different?
There is a Death Registration in 2005 on the isle of Wight for an Albert Edward Brown which could be a match for the Timbrell mother.

 

QUOTE

"He didn't go to public school and was born in Birmingham (so had a basic education), However he did pick up a "proper" accent from somewhere (maybe his time in the RAF?)"


Hi,

Not all RAF "personnel" were "upper class" officers as stereo typically portrayed in war films!

There was a rank structure and organisation. Not all personnel flew planes - many were "working class tradesmen" who maintained the aircraft in many diverse ways.

Steve Y

 

You got anymore pictures-there isn't really any clues in that one.

 

Anna,

The RAF certainly operated boats in all parts where the RAF flew planes. Air Sea Rescue launches were in the Mediterranean and the Far East as well a operating nearer to home. If there is any evidence he was in Air Sea Rescue it will be easier to find more information. It was a relatively small part of the services and there are ex service associations that can trace most individuals.

The photo could be any of the services anywhere unfortunately.

Mike

 

Thanks Kevin, I got down to the watermark and stopped.

Are you being facetious Owen. I remember I told you how to copy and save.

Now with those two helpful insights we can move forward.


Cheers

Gents.

Now to "copy the photo" of "Albert Taylor"!

 

Looking at the photo at 100% magnification there does seem to be some writing however nothing that you could make out.

Lloyds Studio is certainly the photographer but no address.

The top of the left hand pocket hem does show some writing and "seems" to start with a Capital "A" however nothing certain.

 

I have a Leading Aircraftman Albert Taylor, service number 941884.
Taken POW probably on Sumatra, but maybe Java.
Ended up at Hakodate in Japan when repatriated.

Does anyone have any search of POWs site that the serial number might help to get an address. (not at Cofepow)

 

The above seems to have been with 605 Squadron

605 Squadron reached Singapore in January 1942. they were evacuated to Sumatra moving later to Java. There it became caught up in the Japanese invasion and after operating a collection of surviving aircraft was either evacuated in small groups or captured by the Japanese in early March

 

Wow Thank you everyone for your massive help!

Iv just had a closer look at the photo and the Lloyd embossing has Singapore underneath it! I can believe I missed that!

He had no middle name and married my Grandmother (Margaret May Arden) in Sep 1946 his death was in 1991. In there wedding photo he is waring a black pin strip suit no army dress.

I have another photo of him from 1940, he is in normal clothing again and appears to be in England.

The main things I remember about him was he ALWAYS corrected my English, was good at fixing things and had those two tattoos, he died when I was young and its ways been a big regret that I didn't find out more about him.

Thank you so much for all you help, I guess the next thing for me to do is track down the wedding certificate, although it does look like they got married after the war.

 

Id like to dig a bit deeper in to this lead, where did you find the info?

 

Also here is a link to a high res version of the back of the photo:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BycnDt64s_LbUUNpNVBPa0NxSDg/edit?usp=sharing

There are some numbers on there but they don't look like a date to me, they just look a bit like scribbles. But maybe they will mean more to one of you

From what i can tell by the ink and indents it says this:

1
53.143
12.3

 

Also my Mom thinks that he was a Lance Corporal, Im asking her to identify she badge if you can.

 

Hi Anna,

Was your great grandmothers name Franey or Collins?

Cheers

Geoff

 

His mothers maiden name was Wellsbury I will search Ancestry.com and let you know what I find out

 

Hi Anna,

I fell for the three card trick and was looking for only Birmingham with Alberts of no second name - Not Kings Norton - So definitely 1920.

Edit: So he had three older sisters? Edith, Florence and Jessie?

Cheers

Geoff

 

I have emailed home to check if these are right.

Where did you search to find them? You did it very quick!