Genealogy Chat

Hi, Please could anyone help me. I'm trying to find records for Victor Morriss. My girlfriends father insists he was in the Royal Flying Corp before it became the RAF. I've looked at 3 records for a Victor Morriss and none of them say RFC.

Please can anyone with this kind of expertise advise me.

Kind regards
David

Your post implies that he is still living meaning that his service record is unlikely to be on line. If your girl friend's father is the son of Victor then it might be worth applying for the service records.

If you can persuade him to sign the form, he can apply for the service records for free if still living or £30 if deceased.

EDIT - sounds confused as it isn't clear if Victor is your girlfriend's father, or her grandfather!

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/default.htm and choose the correct link under Airforce Personnel.

When was Victor born?
From the NA site

The RAF was formed on 1 April 1918 when the RFC and RNAS were amalgamated. Officers and men of both services who continued service after this date transferred into the new service and were joined by new entrants.

RAF airmen after 1924

Records of those men within the service number range 1-329000 who went on to see service in the Second World War, as well as records of men whose service number was 329001 or higher, are still maintained by the RAF disclosures.

Have a read of the following and the various links

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/research-guides/raf-rfc-rnas.htm

You could check the 1918 Muster Roll for the RAF on FMP, and hopefully get his service number from that. Then you'll know whether his records might be retained by the MOD or whether they are at the National Archives.

Hi, thanks for your help. Victor is her grandfather who is deceased. He was born in 1902. I'll check the links you have provided. Many thanks

Its possible that he did join the RFC before 1918, at the tail end of WW1

Try a Free search on Findmypast of the Royal Airforce Muster Roll 1918. Bearing in mind his yob, he would probably have one of the higher service numbers in the time frame

RAF Museum. Hendon - if you can visit this place and you will find they have quite a bit about the RFC there.

Also was he aircrew or groundstaff - my gt/uncle was groundstaff 'rigger' in the RFC

http://www.airwar1.org.uk/raf%20personnel%20list.htm

This link is a complete list of all RFC personnel serving up to 1918 when it became the RAF.

I couldn't see Victor's name, but, if he was born in 1902, he would have been 16 at most in April 1918 and too young to join - unless he did what so many did and lied about his age!!

Andysmum - that list is not complete - my gt/uncle is not listed and we have his records from his time served in the RFC in WW1 and photos of him in uniform.

So if he is missing there may be others.

Andysmum

That list seems far too short! It appears to just relate to men mentioned on the site.

The Full Muster for the RAF in 1918 is, as I said, on FindMyPast and will obviously include lots of men who served with RFC

Apparently Victor Morriss was in the 1st squadron and flew spitfires. I still can't find any reference to this on findmypast. I'm wondering if they spelt his name wrong and have him down as victor Morris.

Am I reading this wrong

In the Royal Flying Corp and flew Spitfires ?

Surely the dates would not match up

If, as it implies, we are now thinking about WW2, could he have been in a Civilian Flying Corps and then in the RAF? He'd be getting a bit long in the tooth, but anything is possible!

Going back to basics - do you have a copy of his birth certificate? He might have a middle name which could help you find records, and rather necessary if you do have to apply to the RAF.

Hi, my girlfriends dad told me that his dad (victor Morriss) flew spitfires and was in the 1st squadron. My girlfriend mentioned that he might have flown a tiger moth as well. Victors fathers names was James and his grandfathers name was George but there is no middle name on his birth cert. things just aren't making sense because my girlfriend father (Malcolm) insists victor was in the rfc but the times aren't matching.