Erks (1 Viewer)

[RAMC]

[FONT=Book Antiqua[SIZE=6][/SIZE]]Evening chaps

Well glad to see Johns first British ground crew set. I would like the views of the collective on the uniforms of the Erks. Would the blue uniform under the leather jerkin date this chap as post RFC. The RAF addopted the now famous blue as it was no longer required for the Imperial Russian forces due to the revolution.

Regards

RAMC
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[Evzone]

I wondered if the figure was post 1 April 1918, but second thoughts are for him wearing overall/coveralls?

 

[Maj. Duncan Heyward]

RAMC,

My sources tell me that the blue overalls were established in 1912, and were actually phased out in 1915 in favour of Khaki overalls.

So in fact either Blue or Khaki both fit into the timeline of the RFC, with Blue being the original uniform.

Perhaps someone has access to this Osprey for more information?
http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/British_Air_Forces_1914_18_1.html?id=QFuJwubp7DcC&redir_esc=y

 

[lancer]

RAMC,

My sources tell me that the blue overalls were established in 1912, and were actually phased out in 1915 in favour of Khaki overalls.

So in fact either Blue or Khaki both fit into the timeline of the RFC, with Blue being the original uniform.

Perhaps someone has access to this Osprey for more information?
http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/British_Air_Forces_1914_18_1.html?id=QFuJwubp7DcC&redir_esc=y

I do have this book. The blue overalls, name 'Pattern 1912-Suit, Combination, Jean, Blue', was an all-in-one garment with a shallow stand collar, an adjustable half-belt across the back, side pockets, and a patch pocket on left breast. The word 'jean' referred to the fabric type and was colored a darkish Royal Blue. No badges of rank worn. It was superseded in 1915 by the Pattern 1915 garment, similar in cut, but in brown cotton drill material. September 1916 saw a white kersey material garment introduced and in January 1917 another version for winter made of overcoat material. A khaki color in cotton drill also came into use in March 1917. All the overalls were of similar cut. The early blue version would have been worn until worn out before it was replaced by the later versions, so some could have labored on for quite a while alongside the 1915, '16, and '17 versions. One final note was that the blue, brown, and khaki variants are almost impossible to tell apart in the period photos. -- Al