Is there anywhere online where citations for AFMs can be read? I have found the relevant gazette entry in Jan 1919 but I'd like to find out the circumstances through which it was awarded.

I thought it would be fairly easy as the recipient was one of only 127 to be awarded during WW1. He was a Chief Mech (Airship Rigger) in the RNAS prior to transfer, so not aircrew. That's what has caused my curiosity in finding out why such an individual would be awarded the AFM.

Do you have a name? Being January 1919 it is probably a New Years Honours award and there would be no citation, these were often for cumulative 'good work', being RNAS it could have been for airship or early carrier support work, for example. The AFM was an odd beast, really a specific operational 'attaboy' sort of award.

Scott.

Hi,

Do you have a name - that always helps. The LG is hard to search. I have a book at home that lists all the specific air branch awards in WW I. A Jan 191 award suggests to me that it is part of the New Year honours lists, for which there will be no citation. However if he was RNAS it is probably an 'Attaboy' award for general good work realting to airships or early carrier development, for example. The sor tof thing you'd expect to see a B.E.M. awarded fro in WW 2.

Hi Scott,

I got your email, but thought I'd reply here too.

Yes, I do have a name - Albert Edward Easterbrook (recorded herehttp://www.greatwaraviation.com/Medals/Great%20Britain/AFM%20Recip/AFM%20E.html)

It's quite frustrating actually as I have his uniform, photo and complete set of both Navy and RAF Service Records and discharge paperwork so it's easy to see where he was, the training he completed and the character assessment he had - but the story behind the AFM would complete it. The only thing to top that would be to see the actual AFM (or at least a photo of it) should it be in a private collection somwhere.

As an aside to Chris K - have there been any reports put to you about difficulties logging in to the forum to post? Several times mine has failed.

Thanks!
Ric

HiRic,

I looked in my book for the Great War AFM Role. Curious that better than 90% of the AFM's awarded do NOT have any citation. The ones that do are all related to R101 and R34 Airship work. A friend of mine in the UK is very deft at finding things that shuoldn't exisit in the records. He may have some insight. I did a quick check on Spinks sales history - they have not handled the medal. That doesn't mean it hasn't been sold, donated, in a family drawer or scrapped. It would be a very pricey award. Chances are slim you'd find out. But as I said before, more than likely an 'attaboy' for good service. He was an air mechanic, so engine work of some sort.

Send pics of his uniform items. I'm very interested in these and have a small assortment of RNAS stuff myself.