N Branch

[ozgirl]

Looking at the new records on ancestry, Royal Navy Registers of Seamens Services, on the record there is a note

"Enrolment cancelled in accordance with instructions from N Branch".

Anyone got any idea what this is about?

http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/60...3_1062_0-00358


This was during WWI

[Rick]

N branch stands for Naval Branch - it dealt with personnel. Was he of German descent ?

[ozgirl]

Thanks Rick

No his father was Swedish, but had been born in St Petersburg.

[Rick]

He had been in the volunteer reserve (RNVR at top of form) and his discharge status says "shore until req'd" in Feb 1916. In May he joined the army...http://search.findmypast.co.uk/recor...hlights=%22%22

So maybe it's as simple as he wanted to see active service and swapped the RN for the army.

[ozgirl]

Thanks Rick - I don't have FMP, so hadn't seen that he had joined the army. Do those records give any info on family?

[Rick]

Yes - father Paul of 15 North Street, Eastbourne. Leon's dob Sept 1892, occupation electrician, service number 406931. It's a weird form and says it's RAF airmen's service records, but clearly says on the form that he is in the army.

[Rick]

Aha - RAF was formed in 1918, so it's before that. The form says he was with the SARD, about which google says "1915 February. The Southern Aeroplane Repair Depot (SARD) was set up at Farnborough." He then transferred to 10 MT Rep Dep ??? No idea what that means.

[ozgirl]

Okay - thanks, then he was in the very first bit of the RAF - interesting!

[Uncle John]

MT Rep Dep could be Motor Transport Repair Depot - but it might be a bit early for that.

[JBee]

My uncle joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 and I believe was this was formed from both Army and Navy personnel. In 1918 it became the RAF.

[grumpy]

On April 1, 1918 the two air services namely the RFC and the RNAS were amalgamated to become the RAF.