Roving - many thanks. Sorry for delay, been laid low by a virulent tummy bug.
My friend has the year books, and he brother has Father's log books. The Record of Service was in a format indecipherable unless one had a bit of knowledge.
To cap it all, went to see friends in Devon on the way back to France, and my mate suddenly suggested as I was ex RAF I might like to see his Grandfather's logbook.
Chilling to see for the first time the red closing stamp "killed in action". His Grandfather was one Plt Off Robb, observer/bomb aimer to Wg Cdr HG Malcolm and died with him and the gunner on the operation that won Malcolm the VC. more research to do!