2 badge RAF beret

[Longvalley]

Hi Gents, Thankyou for your input and ideas ,We will probably never know for sure what the badge was ,Dad passed away suddenly last month and up until then I had never seen the photo before,I know he definately wasnt in either ATC or CCF before his National Service which began in 1950-51.He worked on the Southern Railway after leaving school in 1946,could the badge be trade associated as Dad went on to be a Safety Equipment Fitter in Egypt and back home he worked for BAC and the RAE with the likes of Brian Trubshaw the Test Pilot. many thanks Neil

[wardog]

Hello Neil. Sorry we have not been able to help you.
Anything is possible, but from the image you have, I still think we cannot be sure it is a badge. I think it very unlikely a young man in those days of National Service training would have added an unofficial item to his uniform out in the open and then stand at ease for a photograph. Only needs some 'Cpl Marsh' like drill instructor to come around the corner. If I was you, and wanted to display this picture I would be tempted to have a copy made with a small retouch to show him as he would have usualy looked in uniform. Best regards at this difficult time for you. Paul.
PS I've just found this site and it gives some interesting information about training insignia. Site confirms your father's trade training at St Athan at the correct time. http://29-30entry.org.uk/hats.htm

[SAS1]

Neil

The ATC and CCF were both school organisations, CCF only existing within schools, the ATC being both inside and outside schools. Although some remained as senior cadets and instructors, in most cases it was around the ages 12 to 15. My school had both ATC, and then overlapping that a CCF unit, initially Army only, then RN and RAF sections. As was often the case, in many school's it was near compulsory at that time to join. In my own school, we also had our own Scout troop (the first set up in a school anywhere in the world) and boys were expected to join either the Scouts or CCF. In a school of around 1000, behaps a handful avoided both, but in doing so forfeited any chance of becoming a Prefect, Head Boy etc, regardless of how good a student they were.

So your father working for Southern Railway after school would not particularly effect his involvement with CCF or ATC.

[wardog]

If you should find your father's service number, this may help you with where he did his basic pre trade training. Regards, Paul. http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...ervice-Numbers