A Fabric Inspector in WWI

[Tony Walker]

RNAS Fabric Inspector

I acquired this cover some 17 years ago in a Cavendish Auction and have never seen or found any reference to such a naval rank in the intervening years.

The OHMS cover has a Manchester cds of 7 July 1915 and a fine strike of R.N.A.S. / FABRIC INSPECTOR within a circle.  It is addressed to the Fleet Paymaster, Royal Naval Air Service at Dewar House, Haymarket, London.  There are no marks on the reverse.

'Fabric' in WWI was a fast developing material used in aircraft and balloons particularly, and no doubt elsewhere, but the origins of this mark are obviously naval.

As far as I know this is the only example recorded to date  - a fatal statement to make, so I will be delighted to hear of the several examples held by members and what they can tell me about it.

Cheers
Tony