1918 RAF/RFC document

[pfrost]

I picked this up this morning. It is the appointment of an Edward Lionel Pape (Rape, Pare???, it is hard for me to read the script). It has the official RAf embossed seal at the bottom.

I also believe that is is signed by King George V in the corner.

Can anyone give me an idea on this document. Rarity, value, who signed the document, etc? Also, any way I can find anything about Lt Pape.

It is rather large, and my scaner can't handle the whole thing at once. So, I scanned it in bits.

Thanks

Patrick Frost

[pfrost]

Close up of the signatures at the bottom. Anybody famous? It looks like W S Draucker?

[pfrost]

The very top. Says "Temporary" in red.

[pfrost]

Finally, in the upper left hand corner is King George V's signature. I am not an expert but it looks like it is a signature, not an autopen.

In any case, I paid 25$ for the thing (the frame is worth that much). So, I figure I can't go wrong.

Any feedback--good, bad, or ugly will be appreciated.

[leigh kitchen]

The name looks like "Pape", it's a "commission" appointing Pape an officer, he is made a "Temporary Gentleman" in the parlance of the time - he has a war time commission - 10 days before the end of the war.

[pfrost]

Thanks Leigh

It looks like he was appointed on April 1, 1918, but made official in November based on my reading of the commission. Or maybe it was made retroactive back to April?

Is there anyway to find out more about Pape?

Thanks

Patrick

[leigh kitchen]

Sorry - I was hurrying out & did'nt notice the April date.

Yes, it's possible to research this officer, but I'm not at all clued up on researching RAF, I can check through a book or two that will tell me, but I suspect that somebody who knows the subject will provide advice first - if not then I'll drag the books out.

Researching this man is going to cost more than you paid for the document though.

The document is ceratinly worth what you've paid, it's value could be increased by a number of factors including whether this officer was killed or awarded gallantry medals etc.

He's not listed as a fatality on the CWGC site - there are only 2 WWI & 1 WWII "E. Pape" fatalities listed there.

[John Wright]

Commissioning Doc to the RAF which was formed April 1st 1918 from the RFC and RNAS most likely a regulization of his previous position.

John

[pfrost]

I did a bit of searching on the internet and found a Lionel Pape who was an actor during the 20's. He was born in 1877 as Edward Lionel Pape (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660402/) in the UK and died in the 1940's in the Los Angeles. This document came from Los Angeles. Could this be him? Perhaps a bit to old to be a pilot.

Patrick

[Gary Cain]

Hi Ptrick,

I agree with you that he would have been a trifle too old for that young mans game, but t could certainly have been his father. I think it is worth lookin into further.


Cheers
Gary

I did a bit of searching on the internet and found a Lionel Pape who was an actor during the 20's. He was born in 1877 as Edward Lionel Pape (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0660402/) in the UK and died in the 1940's in the Los Angeles. This document came from Los Angeles. Could this be him? Perhaps a bit to old to be a pilot.

Patrick

[Ken MacLean]

Patrick,

I believe the two signatures at bottom are those of Major-General William Sefton BRANCKER, appointed as MASTER-GENERAL of PERSONNEL, Royal Air Force, 24 August 1918, and

William Arthur ROBINSON C.B., C.B.E., Permanent Secretary to the Air Council, appointed 22 February 1918.

Both of these names are appropriate to a commissioning scroll at that time.

Ken

[pfrost]

Hello

Thank you very much Ken. I had been trying to figure out the other two signitures and had no luck.

I am still researching Edward Lionel Pape. I think that he was an actor (acted under the stage name Lionel Pape). He was a stage actor before WWI (stopped acting during the war, so I suspect he was in the military). After the war, he came to Hollywood and was a character actor in the 20-40's (typically as an English gentleman or military officer). He died in 1944 in California--not to far from where I got this at a flea market.

If these two guys are the same, then he would have been in his late 30's early 40's in WWI, perhaps a bit to old to be a pilot?

I haven't been able to find any information at all about his military service during WWI or if he had any family as of yet. I think the next stop is the Los Angeles Times to look up his obituary. It just seems that the circumstantial evidence at this time suggests the name on the document is the same as the actor, Lionel Pape.

Again, thanks so much for your help gentlemen. As I learn more, I will share if you are interested.

Best regards

Patrick

[Ken MacLean]

Hi again Patrick,

Your link to the movie database furthered my interest due to the fact that he was in 56 films between 1915 and 1942 with no listings for 1916, 17, 18, or 19 which would agree with him being in the service during those years.

So, I had a look in the London Gazette and the London Times and got a few hits on Edward Lionel Pape.

LG 30 Aug 1916 - to be 2nd Lt. (on probation) 11 Aug 1916, R.F.C.
LG 29 Nov 1916 - appointed Balloon Officer 17 Aug 1916.
LG 1 Dec 1916 - confirmed in rank of 2nd Lt.
LG 27 Oct 1917 - promoted Lt. 1 Sep 1917.

Now for the juicy parts!

London Times:- On 21 Dec 1917, Lts. Edward Lionel Pape and Cyril Frederick Upton were in court, named as co-respondents in a divorce action petitioned by Harry George Franklin Bellamy, a pilot in the R.F.C., on grounds of adultery with his wife Jeannie.

During cross-examination Lt. Pape was identified as being an actor in civilian life who had returned to England in July, 1916 from America and obtained a commission in the R.F.C. in August of that year.

The jury found that Pape had not committed adultery, and Upton admitted to the affair with Jeannie, testifying that he did not know she was married. Divorce was granted.

Always a story behind every piece of paper

[pfrost]

Thanks so much Ken! I owe you a beer!

I had just gotten Lionel Pape's obit from the LA Times, but it said nothing about his military service. The next stop was the London Gazette, but you beat me to it.

Thanks again.

Patrick

[Ken MacLean]

Patrick,

My last visit to L.A. was in 1980 when I was taking a course at Lockheed, Burbank.

"Miller" was my favourite at that time, with a Jack Daniels chaser. If I am ever in town again, I'll take you up on the offer