B F Saul (Royal Flying Corps)

Would any one have information about B.F. Saul who served in the R.A.F. probably from the first months of WW1? Before he joined the service he lived at 18 St Georges Road. For some unknown reason, the Mayor sent him a telegram, almost certainly on December 17th 1914 while he was at Rouen, France. My assumption was that he had been injured but by September 1918 he was competing athletically at a high level. Not many Coventry citizens can have been members of the R.A.F. in the first world war?

Apologies. I should have added that one source has him as Corp. B.F. Saul, 2nd Kings Royal Rifles awarded the 1914 Star (which means he was in France Aug to Nov 1914), and the British War Medal. Godiva Harriers club records and newspaper cuttings record that he was in the R.A.F., hence my appeal for information as I am somewhat confused!!!!

Especially as the RAF wasn't founded until 1918! Before that it was the Army's Royal Flying Corps.

This is an article from The Midland Daily Telegraph dated 3rd November 1914, he was at that time in the 2nd Royal Rifles

Thank you both. If the R.A.F. was a late war time creation, it would make sense if one assumes that Saul served his time in the army then started in the R.A.F. near the time of his discharge. Any ideas how this would come about? Did service men volunteer or were they selected having demonstrated a particular aptitude?

This one is from July 1916, he must have transferred to the Royal Flying Corps

If they could take-off, fly a left-handed circle and then land again (in one piece), they qualified as a pilot!

Medal card ! Transferred !