Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Please take a look at the pictures. This is a uniform named to Cpt. Marillier. It is a standard South African forces uniform with an RAF. The uniform has orange "abroad" tabs and captains pips. The ribbons on the front include the MBE, Africa Service Medal, George V jubilee (1935) and George VI coronation (1937). This is a very odd group of ribbons. In the sleeve and on the pants is a penned code: A1138 (I know, looks like a nine, but the pants are clearer). Don't know if it is some kind of service number. There are also museum codes. I am trying to find out any service history to this man. Any help out there from S. Africa?

http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/forum/CptMarillier.jpg
http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/forum/Nametag.jpg
http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/forum/SARAFTailor.jpg
http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/forum/SLEEVENUMBER.jpg

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Hi.
The only reference I can find is on p159 Eagle Srtike byJA Brown.
A lt RF Mariller of 4 sqdn was shot down and lost on 31 May 1942.
He was reported safe but probably a casualty of the land battle in the area later.
He does not appear on the Roll of Honour of 31, 34 sqdns.
Most of the books in S Africa are published without indexes so have no use for research.

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Dear Stefaan,

Thank you for your response. I have all the "Eagles" books. I did not find that reference so thanks for the sharp eye. Do you think it might be the same guy? I am perplexed about a man who was in the service as of 1935 and important enough to get a jubilee medal and a coronation medal. Must have some connections. Is he listed as a casualty somewhere per your reference to a land battle?

Cheers,

Tod

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Don't know if it could be of any interest but this is the record of the CWGC
1 MARILLIER, RONALD FORD Second Lieutenant 205546 31/05/1942 22 South African Air Force South African Column 268. ALAMEIN MEMORIAL

Definitely it doesn't seem a Captain.

Another Lieutenant Donovan Marillier was lost in 1944
Ludovico

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Hello Rathbone!
Firstly: Fantastic Museum! Congratulations!
Your man must be ERIC STANLY MARILLIER
Check out those dates and information:
25/07/1932 – Appointed by the King as Official Member of the Legislative Council of Northern Rhodesia
28/12/1934 – Made MBE as Controller of Customs ( N Rhodesia )
29/10/1935 – He appears to be …Marillier, Esq. OBE ( Controller of Customs ) – I do not know why OBE appears instead of MBE…

I checked the numbers 91138 and 11033 and found no matching to the name. I will try 1033 and check WW1 files.
Hope to have helped you so far on your search.
Friendly yours
Adriano ( Brazil )

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Sorry Rathbone!
On last post, please read STANLEY instead of Stanly. I wrote quickly and forgot the E.

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

I am back again!
I also found a FREDERICK MARILLIER HOLLOWAY ( 186553 ) on the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Actually, the number looks to me like P1138, which has the form of a South African service number.

Frank.

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Hi,

Just a note to say that from the CWGC site Ronald and Donovan were brothers.

Alex

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Hello Rathbone!
I do have been doing some researches for you.
Checked the number service P1138 and got no joy...
Checked WW1 files and found:
Sub-Lt Henry C. Marillier ( 26/10/1917 )

Another man was promoted Acting Captain on 02/11/1918 ( 3rd South African Infantry ). Later this same man, F L Marillier was Captain of the 2nd S.Afr.Inf from 1/2/1919 to 25/3/1919.

All I found about WW1...

My "guess" is that we are talking of ERIC STANLEY MARILLIER, as posted previously, but for an unknonw reason, he was given a Commission in the Royal Air Force and PERHAPS given the Command of an Air School during the 40´s. I remember several Mosquito airmen I contacted telling they had done their Basic Training at Rhodesia ( Elementary Flying Training School ). I would lead my researches this way: trying to find out which EFTS or FTS operated in Rhodesia at the time and check their Commanding Officers.

Hope to have helped so far...Good luck on your research and please inform us if you manage to find who he was.

Friendly yours

Adriano

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

PS: Anyone knows what the sigle Esq means? I do have found it after the name of Eric Stanley Marillier, Esq. OBE. Do not know! Any relations to the Royal Air Force - Esquadrille or Squadron ?
Thanks
Adriano

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Hi Tod.
I agree with Adriano.
His Uniform has two utensils not seen in WWII SAAF crew.
The Wings are not SAAF but RAF, making it WWI RFC origin.
The Cap was very unpopular and seldom used by flying crew.More WWI vintage. Is there a date of issue inside the cap?
The fact that he has an 'Ouma se Bandjie' means he signed the oath in SA as a S African at the outbreak of the War.
It is very possible that he was a base OC or Instuctor at a Flying School under the Empire Training Scheme in SA during the war.He may have worn his wings but never actually flew in WWII.
Hope it helps
Stefaan

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Hello all.

Thanks for all the help. I am still consuming all the information but I can fix some things right now:
- the cap has no bearing on the identity. The only original parts are the tunic and pants
- the number in the sleeve i believe is A1138. There is a better version inked into the other sleeve.
- I know he is not the two Marillier brothers. They died in 1942 and this tunic is dated 1943. their service does not match.
- I think Eric Stanley is the leading candidate so far. The question is, how did he qualify for the RAF wings? What WWI service?

Cheers,

Tod

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Hello,
From the book-
85 Years of SAAF.
2Lt. R. F. Marillier (k)
31.5.42
Tomahawk IIB
AN360
4 Sqd
S/d by Bf109

All that Air Britain AA100-AZ999 has is
AN360 4 SAAF - SOC as lost 6.6.42 NFD.

Alex

Re: Any info on Captain Marillier, SAAF?
 

Alex,

Thanks. I think that must be a different Marillier because he was killed in 1942 and was a Lieutenant at the time. The tunic I have is to a named as well as ranked captain in late 1943. Probably a different guy, right? I think it is Eric Stanley because the awards fit along the timeline. I just don't know how Eric Stanley got his wings.

Cheers,

Tod