From TF to RAF

[Terry]

The recent acquisition of a 1914 Star trio named to 2287 Pte.W.J.Dooley, 4/Suffolk R. (Lieut.,RAF on pair) resulted in a search of the London Gazette website. I found four entries for Dooley. 1 Jan.,1916= Lance Corporal William John Dooley to be Second Lieutenant 15 Dec.,1915.; 22 Jan.,1918= promotion to lieutenant 1 July,1917; 5 March,1918= Lieut.W.J.Dooley Suffolk Regt resigns his commission on account of ill health caused by wounds received on active service, and is granted the hon. rank of lieutenant; and finally, 26 July,1918= W.J.Dooley (late Lt.,Suffolk R. TF) is granted a temp. comm. as 2nd Lt.(KB) and is to be hon.lt. 20 July,1918.

Can anyone tell me what "KB" indicates on his RAF entry?

[Terry]

I have answered my own question. In looking through H.J.Williamson's 1989 book "Collecting and Researching The Campaign Medals of the Great War", I came across the following: "A number of abbreviations are used, eg. O= Observer, KB= Kite Balloon..."

So it would appear that Dooley was involved in balloons for the last part of the war.