Help needed in understanding a photo RAF

[ScouseBoy]

Elfinblues,   My uncle was a radar specialist during WW2,  and I have read  many books about the RAF during WW2  and been to many museums.
May I ask you what was the trade or profession  of your Grandfather before the war, and also after the war, please?

My research indicates that many men recruited into the RAF  on Wireless and Radar had been employed in similar fields  in Industry by such companies as the BBC, EMI, GEC,  Mullard BTH etc.

[Ruskie]

Good of you to bring this thread to rootschatter's attention Carol.

In the top picture of nine men,  they mostly seem to be age thirty or over, suggesting they were technicians with previous experience before joining the RAF

I disagree. I think about three of them may be in their 30s, but the others look younger. A couple of them look about 15! 

Can anyone say what the Specialist badges  denote, please?   Would they be Instrument mechanic   or  Wireless  or Radar mechanic?

   You cannot be serious (to coin a phrase from tennis)   Very unlikely to be as young as 15.
men and women engaged on Radar work  were told that it was extremely secret.

The OP has already said that his grandfather is in the photos and that he was a Wireless Mechanic.

Steve, further to Carol's question, do you have your grandfather's service record?

I'm sure that the military experts will be along soon to offer their opinions on your photos. Good luck.

I found your comment hiding in amongst the quote.

Yes. I was joking. 

[Ruskie]

Elfinblues,   My uncle was a radar specialist during WW2,  and I have read  many books about the RAF during WW2  and been to many museums.
May I ask you what was the trade or profession  of your Grandfather before the war, and also after the war, please?

My research indicates that many men recruited into the RAF  on Wireless and Radar had been employed in similar fields  in Industry by such companies as the BBC, EMI, GEC,  Mullard BTH etc.

I am not sure why you are asking about occupations - Steve is looking for suggestions as to what was going on the two photographs he posted. How will knowing his grandfather's occupation help you determine what event the photos might relate to? 

If you read Steve's initial post he does say "My grandfather is in the photos, and he was initially an accounts clerk and later a wireless mechanic with the RAF." Post war he does not specify an occupation, but how can that be relevant? 

[GMCT_archivist]

The top photograph does indicate some sort of badge immediately below the eagle but it's too indistinct to see exactly what it is.    The "sparky's" badge (a fist with zigzag lines coming from it) was worn, as another contributor has said, several inches below the eagle.  When I graduated from Hereford, the course photo was taken before rank badges were sewn on, so my guess is that this is graduation from either basic, or trade, training.

Forage caps were still worn in the 1990s.

[ScouseBoy]

It could be a course on new equipment.

[GMCT_archivist]

As Steve's grandfather was "initially an accounts clerk" and subsequently a wireless mechanic, I reckon this is a graduation photo from either basic training or trade training after the accounts course.  On graduation from trade training, you'd be promoted to LAC (Leading Aircraftman).  I would be very surprised if he was demoted back to AC (Aircraftman) on remustering to wireless mechanic.

Incidentally, is Steve still around or are we all talking to the ether, in which case the discussion is academic!

[MaxD]

Thank you GMCT for your sensible comments and essentially confirming my thoughts, precisely how I saw the progression and the absence of rank and trade badges.  You may wish to look for the small square VR badge which went under the eagle until 1943, not clearly visible but the right size and the right place.  There was also a "A" for Auxiliary.

I have PM'd the OP in the hope that we hear how he rates our efforts (or some of them).

maxD

[Treetotal]

Good Luck with that one then Max...he has several topics that he has not returned to..unless of course he is not getting email notifications.
Carol

[MaxD]

Thanks Carol.  He was on the site yesterday so is either overlooking his threads or not getting notifications, can the mods email direct?