Sidney Ivor Kerslake No 5 RAF Armoured Car Company
- Steve Johnson
- Dec 7, 2025
- 1 min read
Another photograph has come to light of Leading Aircraftman Sidney Ivor Kerslake who lost his life on the 5th July 1925 when the Lancia Royal Air Force Armoured Car in which he was driving overturned due to a puncture at Baiji, 85 miles south of Mosul. The lates photograph was sent to me by Phil Smith, whose grandfather knew Sidney's father. In comparing this photograph with the others on my website ( https://www.stevebusterjohnson.com/lac-sidney-kerslake ) I would say that it was taken shortly after Sidney gained his observer 'wings' in 1921 when he was nineteen years of age (with the Armoured Car Companies being part of the Royal Air Force, even ground observers were recognised by being awarded the single wing, just like their air force counterparts who observed from the air. Phil Smith is of the opinion that the other man in the photograph is Sidney Kerslake's younger brother as there is a definite familial resemblance.
That is a really good 'clean up' of the original photograph, well done ! It's a shame that the photograph is not dated and further research has shown that the studio where this was taken operated from 1910 till about 1926. A bit of further research has found that Sidney had a younger brother, Arthur, who was born in 1902. I would hazard a guess that it is Arthur in the photo with Sidney. Regards, Phil.
Sidney looks much too young to be in the RAF . Wonderful photo