WW1 photo

[mtskull]

I happened upon this old photo whilst researching something else entirely. The website was concerned with the history of 3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, but I suspect that this particular photo is of a group of RFC pilots, judging by the very familiar figure seated on the left. Can anybody shed any light?

[f1steveuk]

I'm not convinced that is Malcolm, though it looks similar, but yes, Malcolm was in the RFC, and was a ferry pilot for most of WW1 before switching and being commended for setting up supply routes. Leo was also in the RFC as a fitter, at one time, at the same base as Malcolm. It's all in Leap Into Legend, but that was from memory.

[quicksilver-wsr]

I had the same feeling when I saw this picture. It didn't look like Malcolm to me, but I could be wrong.

For students of Malcolm's wartime exploits, his service in the Second World War was just as interesting. Check out his involvement with the SBS - forerunner of the SAS. Amongst other things, Malcolm invented a mini-torpedo for use by canoeists on sabotage missions. It seems as if the man rarely - if ever - had a dull moment!

Nigel

[mtskull]

I wasn't looking for anything Campbell related when I came upon this but I must say that I immediately thought that it was him. I have since made close comparison with several later photos of Sir Malcolm and, allowing for the fact that he would have been 10-15 years younger during the era when these photos were taken, I can't find any features that are inconsistent.
A shame that we shall probably never know for sure.

[Inspector Gadget]

I think there are many features that match, the hair, eyes, jowls, jawline, ears and the confident look do it for me, later photographs have the parting a bit higher ... maybe a fashion statement, I'd risk a tenner on it being him.