Talk:Arthur Rullion Rattray

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Not Alexander Baird Rattray[edit]

As can be verified by the sources for this article, the WWI flying ace was Arthur Rullion Rattray. A previous editor has insisted this ace is actually Alexander Baird Rattray--whoever that is. If Alexander Baird Rattray is notable for anything, he should have his own article. This article is about the flying ace who became an admiral.Georgejdorner (talk) 21:27, 6 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

@Georgejdorner: G'day, George, I hope you are well. I suspect that potentially there is some confusion in the sources, but I do not know how to resolve this, I'm sorry. While looking at Guttman's Reconnaissance and Bomber Aces of World War I, I notice that on p. 44 he mentions "Arthur Rullion Rattray", but then on page 45 and 90 he mentions an "Arthur B. Rattray" and an "A.B. Rattray". Thoughts? Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 04:44, 31 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Beats the heck out of me. If they are all names for the admiral, you have a mess to sort out.Georgejdorner (talk) 04:48, 31 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
I see a couple of mentions of Alexander Baird Rattray on the internet from non-RS sources: [1][2]. He seems to have a different date of birth (11 September 1898) to Arthur Rullion Rattray (2 May 1891 per our article at the moment), but Alexander Baird also seems to have served in No. 104 Squadron [3], which seems to be the same unit that Arthur Rullion apparently served in, according to the Aerodrome entry, at least [4]. The plot thickens, but it is beyond me how to resolve it at the moment. That will teach me for kicking over rocks. Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 05:37, 31 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
As I now recall, the difference in birth dates led me to conclude they were two different Rattrays. Could they have been related?Georgejdorner (talk) 17:14, 31 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
Alexander Baird Rattray was born 11 September 1898 the son of David Rattray of Glasgow according to his service record. It does mention he was posted to 104 Sqn and was "Injured in Battle (France)" on 12 July. He had been commisioned 2nd Lt and an Observer from 5 July 1918 a few days before his injury. Transferred to the unemployed list on 1 Apr 1919. He was a assistant cashier in Glasgow before joining up. He joined as an airman in March 1917. He appears to have been posted to the "Independent Force" at the end of July 1918 so may have not been on 104 at the time of the "ace" events. MilborneOne (talk) 17:57, 31 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
G'day, thanks for that information, MilborneOne. From this, I think they are two separate people and that most likely Guttman's mentions of Arthur B. Rattray and A.B. Rattray on p. 45 and 90 might be typos (I assume he means Arthur R. Rattray on p. 45 and A.R. Rattray on p. 90), but this is unfortunately just a guess on my part. Regards, AustralianRupert (talk) 02:37, 1 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]