Who was F.J. ?

[charles]

This is a Royal Naval Air Service visor cap from The Aero Conservancy Collection. It is of navy blue Melton wool with a khaki poplin wool summer cover shown in the second photo. It has a padded crown and top with a handsome bullion wire cap device with velvet King's crown, small bronze eagle and tightly-woven bullion wreath mounted on a black herringbone wool band. Composition visor with black patent leather chinstrap. Navy blue quilted lining. Brown leather sweatband. It is a size 6-7/8 and has the wearer's initials inked as “F.J.”



In the same size and from the same source comes this R.A.F. visor cap, worn presumably by the same F.J. as of April 1, 1918. It is of gray-green poplin wool, having a heavily padded cap device with large King's crown of burgundy velvet and bullion wire. Large gilt eagle in center with bullion wire wreath below. Mounted on a removable black wool band. Black-lacquered composition visor. Patent leather chinstrap. Red quilted lining with maker mark reading: Clark & Son/Outfitters/Hull. Light brown leather sweatband.



When I asked back in 2003 for guesses as to who F.J. might be – an RNAS flying officer who converted to RAF in 1918 – Forum member Andrew Smith suggested Fitzroy Jardine. Any other suggestions?

If you have a roster of RNAS officers from the beginning of 1918 as well as a list of RAF officers as of April 1, 1918, then those with the initials F.J. appearing on both lists – of which there could only be a handful – are the only possible owners of these caps. I would very much appreciate having that short list if you can prepare it for me !

And if anyone has a photo or knows the unit of Fitzroy Jardine, please let me know.

[MikeW]

Charley,


can't help just at the moment as I have a publisher's deadline coming at me rather rapidly. If nobody has answered after a week or so, remind me and I'll see what I can come up with.

One, thing, either your man lived near Hull or was stationed near Hull when he purchased his RAF uniform.


Mike