Recognise unit or regiment?

[whitej]

Hello

Anyone help by recognising the unit of this man in uniform? many thanks

James

[RRTB]

The badge is very indistinct, but I *think* it might be the Essex Regiment?



I emphasise that it is a guess.

RRTB

[whitej]

Thanks - badge is unclear as you say

[MaecW]

Note the "eagle" (?) flash on the shoulder.
That and the tunic style suggest Royal Flying Corps / R A F . The cap badges are similar except for the lettering and, as noted, the badge is too indistinct to read.
I'm not an expert on RFC/RAF but a quick trawl on RFC did not show up a tunic of this kind. Could it be RAF just post WW1 ?

Maec

[medpat]

Looks like the RAF eagle to me - I'm ex WRAF.

The first RAF uniforms in 1918 were a bit of a miss mash, the eagle was red on khaki uniforms, 1919 the eagle became white on the new blue uniforms.

The eagle became the emblem on the uniform in 1918 - the RAF was formed 1st April 1918 by combining the Royal Flying Corps (army) and the Royal Naval Air Service.

[whitej]

Interesting comments thank you.

RAF  could be plausible. A relative born 1914 or 16 served with the RAF joining as a "boy" - maybe what around 1930? I thought this picture looked WW1 but maybe it is late twenties early 1930?

[John915]

Good morning,

I would say RAF as well, 1918, early 1919. The first cap badge was the same as RFC but with the letters changed to RAF.

No rank showing or wings so not a pilot but given he is wearing jodphurs is probably aircrew. Maybe an air gunner on a twin seater. Or an observer, again on a twin seater or a balloon.

John915

Not post 1919 I think,  RAF blue uniform had come in by then. Chosen because there was a huge supply of that colour material in stock. Originally intended for the Cossacks but not required due to the war ending.

[whitej]

Thank you John and all other posters.

1919 eh and RAF ... we don't know of any family in the RAF at that time. Still it could be a family friend.

[MaxD]

Additional snippet - the cap badge, which I agree is RAF,  has a disc (probably white) behind it.  While I can find no period reference, the white disc behind a beret badge was/is a designator for cadets which would support the "joined as a boy" reference.  He certainly has a youthful look.

MaxD