World War 2 and civilian instructors

Hello Richard:

As you see I’m not very good with computer unfortunately. I don’t know how to send pictures or newspaper articles on this site. If it not an inconvenience I could email them to you.

Thank you
Gail

Don’t appologise Gail, you are not the only one who is less than literate where computers are concerned. The others on here seem to be quite willing to make allowances for us and those whose first language is something other than English.

Hello Richard:

Did you receive my emails ok?

Gail

Hi Gail
Yes, would be great to see the articles. Have Pm my email address.
Richard

Hello Richard:

As you see I’m not very good with computer unfortunately. I don’t know how to send pictures or newspaper articles on this site. If it not an inconvenience I could email them to you.

Thank you
Gail

Hello Richard

Please disregard the name of the garage above.My Mum is elderly and memory not that good.She was very young when he worked as a motor hirer. I have some articles from Dundee Courier that was published on him. I was shocked when I read this.I would have to email them to you as well as Muster Roll.

Thankyou

HELLO RICHARD

SIMPSON ANDSON ON CLERK STREET, BRECHIN.

THANKYOU

Hello Richard:

Yes, I just found your pm. My your going to great lengths to help me. He was a Brechin Motor hirer. I believed he owned the garage. I will try and find out the name today.

Thankyou

Hello Richard:

My apology- no I didn’t read your pm. Not sure where to get this. Can I sent Muster Roll to you here or would I have to email you?

Thankyou

Hi Gail. Yes would like to see the muster roll, Did you read my PM?

The National Archives files, lists the names who have served with the RAF. (No guarantee all names are there). The lists only show the name and numbers of the persons and the odd bit of info.
I found 12 Frank or F smarts and these two stood out.
Frank Smart 1510027 Militia id
Frank Smart 2268746 Militia

What did the word Militia mean, Maybe a term used by the RAF to donate those who protected Airfields and not sent for Aircrew or admin duties.

Then looked up Militia.
A militia /mɨˈlɪʃə/[1] generally is an army or other fighting force that is composed of non-professional fighters; citizens of a nation or subjects of a state or government that can be called upon to enter a combat situation, as opposed to a professional force of regular, full-time military personnel, or historically, members of the fighting nobility class (e.g., knights or samurai). It was common for militias to engage guerrilla warfare or defense instead of attacking.

id what did that mean. Usually means identification. But what if it meant Instructional duties or dept.
Then with my list of names and numbers I checked the list of numbers against the RAF list of allocated numbers.
Here. http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/rfc_raf.pdf

As the blocks of numbers are only issued to a place and date (not all numbers are issued).
Frank Smart 1510027 Militia id would fall into this block of numbers issued 1475000 to 1550000 in Apr 1941 at Padgate

Frank Smart 2268746 Militia block of numbers 2265175 to 2275000 issued Oct 1945 at Padgate Non ATC (Air Training Corps) This would rule out your grandfather as war was over at this time.

As all other numbers for Frank Smarts, fall outside of the wartime time frame, it leaves Frank Smart 1510027 Militia id Apr 1941 at Padgate the most likely candidate.

As your grandfather was 38, married with two children and running a garage, 1941 would seem to be about the time he was called up.
Of course this could be a completely different Frank Smart. Then it’s back to square one.

Hello Richard:

If you would like me to forward the Muster Roll just so you can view I’d be glad to do so. I was looking at the National Archives Balloon Command but seem to get lost following.

Thank you

Hello Richard:

Thank you so much for doing all this research. Much appreciated. May I asked how you narrowed down the 2 Frank Smarts? What do the numbers stand for? Being he was an Instructor I presume he was a civilian instructor. I thought maybe a RAFVR, see you might be thinking militia?

All the best
Gail