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RAF in 1925 and then in Army in WW2 - is this possible?

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by ruma, Aug 18, 2016.

  1. ruma

    ruma New Member

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    Could someone be in the RAF in 1925 at aged 16 and THEN be in the Army in WW2?

    William Henry CORBETT. Born 13 June 1908, Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Wilts.
    Attestation date: 20 Jan 1925.
    Service No: 365821 (Archive Ref: AIR 79/2956).
    He was married in Paddington in 1937 but I can't find him in the 1939 Register.

    Royal Artillery attestations 1883-1942:
    William Henry CORBETT
    Attestation Year: 1938
    Service No: 1582276
     
    ruma, Aug 18, 2016
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  2. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    LRusso216, Aug 18, 2016
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  3. Owen

    Owen O

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    Owen, Aug 18, 2016
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  4. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    Welcome to the forums.
    Don't think it was that unusual for the time. Lawrence of Arabia served as an Army officer in WW1 and then an RAF aircraftsman between the wars.
    According to your info, William Corbett was 17 when he joined the RAF. He may have served for a few years and then left. Remember, he was still only 31 when he joined the Royal Artillery, probably the Terries as Owen suggested.
    My grandfather served in WW1 and joined the TA between the wars too.
     
    GRW, Aug 18, 2016
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  5. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake Member

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    Brigadier Denis Charles William Sanders CBE AFC TD can beat that.

    He was awarded the Air Force Cross for his service in the RAF in the First World war, His Territorial Decoration was for his service as a cavalry officer in the Leicestershire Yeomanry in the 1929s and 30s, commanded the artillery of the Royal Navy's Royal Marine Division and the Royal Marine Armoured Support Group on D Day and until his death in action on 21st June 1944. His gravestone is engraved with the cap badge of the Leicstershire Yeomanry.
     

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    Sheldrake, Aug 19, 2016
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  6. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WWII Veteran

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    I've always been fascinated by tales of men who served in more than one service during ww2 and never realised until a few years ago that my son-in-law's father was one of these men.

    Three snaps here/
    image 1: Home Guard 1940
    Image 2 RAF May 1943
    Image 3 Royal Navy Oct 1945

    Unfortunately the gentleman is no longer around so I can't get any further details from him

    Ron
     

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    Ron Goldstein, Aug 19, 2016
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