Three photographs of unknown provenance, relating to the Royal Flying Corps. || Three photographs relating to Royal Flying Corps. || || Photograph || Royal Flying Corps || Photographs, of unknown provenance, relating to Royal Flying Corps.

Samuel Whitehead's RFC pin

My uncle Edward Whelan 1897 - 1935 from Dublin, Ireland, joined the British Royal Flying Corps 1914-1918 (which later became the RAF) as a reconnaissance photographer or possibly more correctly called an Air Observer. I do not know exactly when he enlisted but given his probable date of birth of 1897, it may have been at the start of the war. He was about 16 years older than my father (his brother) and information about him is very limited as he was the oldest in the family. I was told that he married but did not have any children. Family photographs show him in formal uniform with Royal Flying Corps visible on the upper sleeve of his great coat. There are two other photos of him, one in military uniform but no insignia and one of him casually sitting on the steps of a military carriage/mobile office. The back of the latter photo is inscribed Russia. I have not been able to find any military records for him and these photos are the only records I have of his involvement in WWI. It would be nice to be able to trace records of his involvement or to learn more about how many Irish men joined the RFC. My father said that Eddie was a keen photographer and passed on this interest to my Dad. Eddie died from TB and was buried on Christmas Eve 1935. || Photograph x 3 of Edward Whelan in the Royal Flying Corps uniform. || || Edward Whelan RFC uniform || Edward Whelan Royal Flying Corps || Photograph || || My uncle Edward Whelan Royal Flying Corps || Edward Whelan || Photograph || || Rear of this photo says Russia. || Edward Whelan Royal Flying Corps || Edward Whelan || Photograph