RAF Officer with prosthetic leg and dogs

barrageballoon · 3 February 2013, 08:03 AM

I am trying to find out if anyone knows the name of a highly decorated WWI and post WWI RAF officer who worked on balloons post WWI.
He was unusual in that he had a prosthetic left leg and went everywhere with two black Labrador dogs.

I can see that his medal row has at least two crosses MC? AFC?
I know I have read about such an officer but have not managed to remember where!! It is my age!

Raineranton · 3 February 2013, 12:51 PM

Hi barrageballoon,

maybe you mean "Timbertoes" Sydney Carlin of 74 Squadron?

Regards

Rainer

barrageballoon · 3 February 2013, 01:40 PM

Yes that could be him but this man was certainly in the RAF in 1922 to 1929. So did he go to farming immediately after the Great War?

Raineranton · 3 February 2013, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrageballoon

Yes that could be him but this man was certainly in the RAF in 1922 to 1929. So did he go to farming immediately after the Great War?

Yes, he was then a farmer in Kenya and during World War II, he rejoined the Royal Air Force, serving as a gunner on night fighters and bombers. At the age of 52, while serving with 151 Squadron, Carlin was killed during an air raid on the squadron's airfield.

See here (klick on the name):

Sydney Carlin

Regards

Rainer

josquin · 3 February 2013, 11:00 PM

Barrageballoon and Rainerton,

I doubt if Sydney Carlin is the man with postwar service with the RAF
extending to 1929. His service record is in the AIR 76 file at the National
Archives, U.K., which includes only records for those who did not serve
with the RAF during the postwar years. Carlin's record is available for
downloading at AIR 76/77/28. The following entries in the London Gazette
make it extremely unlikely that Carlin served in the 1920s:

London Gazette, 8 August 1919, p. 10092:
"Lt. S. Carlin, M.C., D.F.C., D.C.M. (R.E., T.F.) relinquishes his comm.
on account of ill-health contracted on active service. 7th Aug. 1919."

London Gazette, 17 October 1919, p. 12857:
"Armies of Occupation.
Lt. S. Carlin, M.C., D.F.C., D.C.M., East Riding Fortress Engineers,
relinquishes his commision on account of ill-health caused by wounds,
18th Oct. 1919, and retains the rank of Lt."

Josquin