WW1 / WW2 RAF RFC ROYAL AIR FORCE - FLYING CORPS MESS CLOCK No Key.

PER ARDUA AD ASTRA - "Through adversity to the stars".

Here is a fabulous old Royal Flying Corps or Royal Air Force clock, likely a mess clock and I absolutely love it.

It’s hugely frustrating because I don’t know the back story so I’m having to rely on instinct.

Here’s what I think but please study the images and make your own mind up.

It has all the hallmarks of a kind of trench art, in that it was most likely fashioned by a pilot or a member of the ground crew during a period of down time.

From the few markings (on the pendulum), I’m pretty sure the clock is French and from the later half of the 1800’s, with the crest and motto; Per Ardua Ad Astra, being added at a later date….but what date?

The crest may offer a clue? The eagle was adopted unofficially into the RAF badge in 1918 I believe, and then officially incorporated in 1923. The eagle shape (the albatross theory is I think a myth), and indeed the whole crest is not the classic later design which suggests to me it’s early, before it became more refined.

I’m guessing the clock was acquired somewhere near an airfield in France and then adapted for use. So to me, it has to be 1918 while the RFC was transitioning into the RAF, or perhaps 1944/45 when the RAF had moved operations to France after D-Day.

It has a Kings crown so it can’t be later than 1952. My heart tells me 1918 but to be honest my head is spinning!

Whatever, it’s fab!

I have a key for different clock so I have been able to wind it, just a few turns as I don’t know how many are needed. It runs for about a minute and then stops. It tries really hard but eventually just grinds to a halt.

I don’t think it’s run for years and the movement looks pretty gungy in places. Whether a good clean and an oil by someone who knows how will do the trick I don’t know, but it would be lovely for it to run again.

So, very few answers and lots of maybes. If you know different to the above by all means drop me a line and let me know, I’ll be very happy to be corrected.

Dimensions (all approx):

Height: 14”

Width: 7”

Depth: 4”

Weight: 1.6 kgs approx.

As I said, please have a good zoom in on the images for full details of style and condition and drop me a message if you have any questions.

Delivery is by confirmed delivery service.

Thank you for looking.