RAF New Look Quarters
OK, here's a question for the old hairies.
In the army an inverted chevron was a long service stripe, but this is going back a long time, they'd maybe even gone out by WW2. I think they were only worn by privates, and they were worn on the lower sleeve. Naval ratings still have them, of course (but not inverted).
First time I saw a (loose) junior tech's chevron in a box of old cloth insignia I assumed that this was an old RAF long service stripe, but now I realise what it was thanks to posts above. But did the RAF ever have long service stripes?
In the army an inverted chevron was a long service stripe, but this is going back a long time, they'd maybe even gone out by WW2. I think they were only worn by privates, and they were worn on the lower sleeve. Naval ratings still have them, of course (but not inverted).
First time I saw a (loose) junior tech's chevron in a box of old cloth insignia I assumed that this was an old RAF long service stripe, but now I realise what it was thanks to posts above. But did the RAF ever have long service stripes?
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But did the RAF ever have long service stripes?
In more words, several different versions of Long Service & Good Conduct stripes.
In regular airmans service, the the 'J/T's' stripe that you found could have been a long service stripe. They were worn, point upwards above the left cuff. I believe that they were awarded for 5 years service plus 'good conduct'. They were discontinued before my time.
In Boy Entrants and Aircraft and Admin Apprentice service up to 3 such stripes could be earned. The qualifying time was set so that 3 'GC's', as they were known, could be earned by the Passing Out Parade, but because of the ease that 'jankers' could be earned in Brats service, getting all 3 in time for pass out was quite an achievement
Similar stripes were worn in Brats service by 'Bandsmen', these on the right lower sleeve. The Drum Major at passout could possibly have worn the largest number of stripes/chevrons ever seen on an RAF uniform. If he was a Sgt/Boy or App with 3 GC's I reckon that he could have worn 6 stripes on each arm!
I am still in touch with a former Drum major through the RAFBEA so I will ask him.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.
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http://www.rafbea.org/aswewere/Pictu...ry-Band-1d.jpg
My 1st attempt at posting a picture.
From the RAFBEA site, the 15th Entry band, I believe from Cosford. The guy 4th from the left in the front row is the Drum Major, he is wearing a total of 12 stripes/chevrons. I believe a candidate for the most ever worn on any RAF uniform!
Note the two guys at the extreme right, only 2 GC's each! They got caught for something and did some jankers
Late Edit.
Since posting this, I have been informed by a former 'bandsman', now in Oztralia, that Drum and Trumpet Majors wore 'FOUR' stripes on their lower right sleeves!
So the total stripe count was 13
And I still haven't posted a picture
My 1st attempt at posting a picture.
From the RAFBEA site, the 15th Entry band, I believe from Cosford. The guy 4th from the left in the front row is the Drum Major, he is wearing a total of 12 stripes/chevrons. I believe a candidate for the most ever worn on any RAF uniform!
Note the two guys at the extreme right, only 2 GC's each! They got caught for something and did some jankers
Late Edit.
Since posting this, I have been informed by a former 'bandsman', now in Oztralia, that Drum and Trumpet Majors wore 'FOUR' stripes on their lower right sleeves!
So the total stripe count was 13
And I still haven't posted a picture
Last edited by ian16th; 27th Feb 2010 at 12:20.
The introductory bit states that the Valiant was at Cosford. I was wondering if a Valiant could get out of Cosford with any sort of meaningful load, especially if it was taking off towards the railway embankment.
