First World War British War Medal - Air Mechanic 2nd Class William Frederick Page, Royal Air Force
William Frederick Page was born on 27 January 1898 in Bromley, Kent, the son of William Page and Charlotte Hems. He was baptised the following month, on 20 February 1898, at Bromley St Leonard’s. By 1901 the family was living in Poplar, East London, where his father worked as a labourer, and William was still living in Poplar at the time of the 1911 census.
Before the First World War, William was employed as an electrical examiner for the General Post Office (G.P.O.), a skilled civilian trade that would later determine his military role.
He enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service (R.N.A.S.) on 29 January 1917, giving his occupation as Electrical Examiner GPO. His service record notes that he was 5 ft 9 in tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was posted to HMS President II on 30 January 1917, then to HMS Daedalus from 1 February 1917, serving in the trade classification of Electrician.
On 1 April 1918, when the R.N.A.S. and Royal Flying Corps were merged, Page was automatically transferred into the newly created Royal Air Force, retaining his service number 225377 and holding the rank of Air Mechanic 2nd Class, later reclassified Air Mechanic 3rd Class. His record shows overseas service in France, first posted there on 16 April 1918 and remaining until 20 February 1919. He was discharged from the RAF to the reserve on 24 April 1919 and finally released from reserve obligations on 30 April 1920. His medal entitlement of the British War Medal was authorised on 15 February 1922.
After the war, Page returned to civilian life, resuming his electrical work. He married May Fox in London in 1922, and the couple had one son, William John Page, born in Poplar in April 1923. By the time of the 1939 Register, William was living with his wife and son at 133 [street number only recorded] Poplar, London, employed as Inspector Supervisor of Electrical Tester.
William Frederick Page died in June 1966 in the Barking registration district, aged 68.
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