#34 • British WWI Wounded Royal Flying Corps Soldier's Convalescent Craft Therapy Project Belt
Part of TRENCH ART & WWI Memorabilia (live auction by Bannerman Auctions)
High bid $425.00
Status: Sold
Category: Britain
British WWI Wounded Royal Flying Corps Soldier's Convalescent Craft Therapy Project Belt Colorful needlework belt features Royal Flying Corps wings in the center, flanked by biplanes on either side, with blocks showing the Red Cross insignia, and initials "P", "H", and "W". The belt is finished with leather end tabs fitted with two billet and buckle straps. Reverse is backed in drab cotton twill, inscribed "H. Woollin 8787 R.F.C." This belt appears in Jane Kimball's Trench Art reference on page 281, in which she notes that it is formerly of the Norm Flayderman collection. Since Jane's book was published in 2004, many records that were previously accessible only by researchers who traveled to the archives in which they were held are now searchable online. . . including some more clues about our wounded RFC man here. We now know that this is Herbert Woollin, born in 1894. I have yet to uncover a medal card - possible that it is out there under his service number from a different organization, if he transferred into the RFC as so many did. However, we do now know that he was qualified as a wireless operator, rated an Aviation Mechanic 1st Class, who joined Sept 16, 1915 for the duration of the war. He was promoted on December 1, 1916, though to what we do not know. This man was wounded in France on July 30, 1917, and listed in the London Gazette in August 1919 among "Cadets granted the rank of honorary Second Lieutenants" on 3 February 1919. One might infer from this that he served as an enlisted wireless operator in the RFC, was wounded, and after recovering from his injuries was in training to be a pilot. As more records become available (or someone else devotes more time than the 40 minutes I have spent having fun while chasing this), we will likely learn additional details! Estimate: $100 - $300
