{"product_id":"rare-r-n-a-s-mechanic-war-medal-raf-silver-wound-badge","title":"Rare R.N.A.S Mechanic War medal \u0026 RAF Silver Wound badge.","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle entitlement War medal correctly impressed F38457 S.C. SMITH L.M. R.N.A.S.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlso found with the medal was a very unusual S.W.B stamped RAF929 I can only assume that this was issued to Smith\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSidney Charles Smith, F38457\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e10 July 1876:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Born in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eBefore the war:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e His trade was motor smith. That skill is almost certainly why he went into the air service as an engine mechanic.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e22 September 1917:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Joined the Royal Naval Air Service for the duration of hostilities, aged about 41. The \"F\" prefix on his number is the RNAS series.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eHis description on joining:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 5 ft 7¼ in tall, 37 in chest, brown hair, brown eyes, fresh complexion. He had a tattooed dagger on his right arm.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eFrom 22 September 1917:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Rated Air Mechanic (Engines), most likely AM2 (the second-class grade isn't fully legible). He was shown on the books of President II, the RNAS accounting base. His actual posting appears to be Daedalus, which was RNAS Cranwell in Lincolnshire, the main RNAS training station.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e31 December 1917:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Character \"very good\", ability \"satisfactory\".\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eEarly 1918 (likely 1 February):\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Promoted to Leading Mechanic. This matches the \"L.M.\" on his medal.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e31 March 1918:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e His RNAS service ends here. On 1 April 1918 the RNAS merged with the Royal Flying Corps to form the RAF, and he transferred across. The remarks column has RAF notes at this point.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe medal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe British War Medal is named F38457 S.C. SMITH L.M. R.N.A.S. That matches the record exactly, so it is definitely his.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Silver War Badge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis badge was issued to men discharged because of wounds or sickness. The \"RAF\" prefix means it came from the RAF series, so it went to someone discharged from the RAF. That fits Smith, since he became RAF on 1 April 1918. He was also in his 40s, and discharge through sickness was common at that age. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gradia Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54568135098696,"sku":null,"price":140.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0924\/1103\/5976\/files\/IMG-3291.heic?v=1794339474","url":"https:\/\/www.gradiamilitaria.com\/products\/rare-r-n-a-s-mechanic-war-medal-raf-silver-wound-badge","provider":"Gradia Militaria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}