Found dog tag

I found this dog tag at the weekend for a gentleman by the name of Mr J K Smallcombe number 1891853 any information would be great, thanks for reading

 

Google J K Smallcombe raf.
Three mentions of him in the gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49735/supplement/6811/data.pdf

 

Cheers for the reply RCG do you know what the MA after his name is please?

 

Uni qualification, Master of Arts.

 

M.A. Master of Arts
The basic graduate-level degree granted to grad students in fields in the humanities, social sciences or fine arts.

 

This was in the same box of bits

 

This was in the same box of bits

 

Makes sense he was at Cambridge uni 1960ish, fancied a career in RAF, so joined ATC.
RAF - Unexpected error

Pilot Officer to Flying Officer:
J. K. SMALLCOMBE, M.A. (1891853). 7th May 1966.
So would assume he was born in the forties and has died. hence the box of bits.

 

John K Smallcombe born 2Q 1925 Milton Kent
or
James K Smallcombe born 4Q 1933 Bristol

 

This is attached to the tag

 

That looks like some form of 'Put & Take' spinner to me.

 

Thanks for all the replys it just shows you what you can still find out there. This badge was in the boxes as well I don't know if it has any connection

 

Looks like it could be a US Distinctive Unit Insignia. I look and see if I can find a match.

 

Thanks Slipdigit any help would be great

 

Terra Mari Coelo - Land Sea Sky, so possibly some sort of Marine/Commando/Parachute specialist unit?

TD

 

I wonder if this is a spinner for helping with completing a football pools sheet.
Little woods or Vernon for example.
Regards
Tom

 

While this is generally correct, the subsequent Cambridge University link changes things.

Strictly speaking Cambridge and Oxford MAs are not qualifications at all but represent a historic status that anyone holding one of their first degrees can apply for seven years after matriculating i.e. commencing their degree, and as such, do not provide an indication of the subject studied. There was an attempt some years ago in Parliament to put an end to this custom but it was blocked. So where you see MA (Cantab) or MA (Oxon) these do not represent Masters degrees but first degrees (BA, BSc, LLB, BD, etc.) commenced at least seven years previously.

Where other universities award Master of Arts degrees, Cambridge and Oxford would typically award Master of Studies degrees.

 

This gentleman sounds like John K Smallcombe who was a geography master at my old school, Merchant Taylors' Boys School, Crosby, Liverpool for nearly 30 years. He was also an officer in the R.A.F. section of the C.C.F. at the school. He lived nearby the school, but sadly died about a year ago