By
Baldwins are excited to present another Medal Auction in the series "At Sea, On Land and In the Air." In this auction you will find a Waterloo Medal awarded to a man twice wounded in the Peninsula and once at Waterloo, a lovely group with original paperwork to the sinking of the Q Ship Bergamot, a rare 1st Class 1870 Iron Cross and the iconic Military Cross awarded on the 1st of July 1916 for the attack on Montauban. Also, a Royal Flying Corps Log Book to a Fighter Pilot who, in 1917, records in his Log Book an encounter with none other than the Red Baron! Comprising 248 lots of rare, unique and highly collectible pieces, the sale has been curated by militaria expert Mark Smith, and includes items starting from £10 to £10,000, appealing to all levels of collector.
Highlights of the auction include Lot 150, the incredible and rare Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) awarded to Sergeant Derrick John Allen, Air Gunner of 467 Squadron, who, on the 2nd of November 1944 returning from an Operation to Dusseldorf as the Mid-Upper Gunner of Lancaster DV396, was attacked several times by a night fighter which left the Lancaster almost uncontrollable and with an engine on fire. As the crew prepared to leave the aircraft it was discovered that the rear gunner was trapped in his turret. Sgt Allen immediately went to his aid, knowing that the bomber could break up at any moment. He used an axe to chop open the doors of the turret, having done this he succeeded in freeing the rear gunner and they made their way forward to bail out but before being able to do so the Lancaster broke up. Sgt Allen found himself in mid-air and pulled the parachute ripcord, landing in a tree after a very low descent. The Rear Gunner Flight Sergeant William John Lemin was killed when he hit the ground. Sgt Allen was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal Flying and this was presented by His Majesty the King George VI at Buckingham Palace on the 12th of March 1946.
In the ‘At Sea, On Land & In the Air’ auction at Baldwin’s Auction house on 24 September, the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal will be sold with a 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, 1939-45 War Medal, all unnamed ad issued, mounted for war, very fine. In addition, Sergeant Derrick John Allen’s Flying Log Book for Navigators, Air Bombers Air Gunners and Flight Engineers, MK4 Flying Goggles, Impellor of DV396 engine, Perspex from mid upper turret, Ball race from mid-upper turret, Perspex inspection hatch and landing light all recovered from the crash site of Lancaster DV396. A most comprehensive, poignant and incredible group, the extraordinary lot also comprises over 140 original photographs, 467 Squadron reunion material, original photograph outside Buckingham Palace, letters, cards and postcards, and together is estimated at £10,000 – 14,000.
Lot 94
Further highlights of the sale include:
Lot 148 – 102 Not Out!!
Incredible DFC, DFM group of 5 awarded to Flight Lieutenant William James Simpson, who as a Rear Gunner in Whitley’s, Halifax’s and Lancaster’s as a Pathfinder flew 102 Operational Sorties for Bomber Command between the 25th of June 1942 and the 24th of April 1945 damaging at least one German Night fighter in Combat over Berlin. Comprising Distinguished Flying Cross (1944), Distinguished Flying Medal, (999298 F/Sgt. W.J. Simpson. R.A.F.)1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued, extremely fine. Estimated £8,000 – 10,000.
“Probably the most incredible group is the DFC, DFM to the Lancaster Rear Gunner who claimed two night-fighter kills, was a member of a Pathfinder crew and completed 102 Operational Sorties with Bomber Command to all of the most heavily defended targets in Europe. His Service Dress unform is immaculate, still with the Pathfinder wings above the breast pocket but for me it is the 1943 dated RAF Battledress Blouse, covered in oil, ripped and stained, the actual jacket worn in that rear turret of his Lancaster. An incredible survivor from the night skies over war-torn Europe. ”- Mark Smith, Militaria expert and auction curator
Lot 94 – 124 year-old Rowntree chocolate + 7 clasp Queen’s South Africa Medal
The Kachin Hills, Relief of Kimberley Pair awarded to Private Charles Platts 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment who was present at the action in the Kachin Hills and earned a 7 clasp Queen’s South Africa Medal, sending his Queen Victoria 1900 Chocolate Tin, home to his wife “Marth” stating “I hope you will get this alright your affectionate Husband Charlie – You can do as you like with it.” Some she ate the remainder is still contained in the tin comprising, India General Service Medal 1854-95, one clasp, Kachin Hills 1892-3, (2474 Pte C. Platts. 2nd Bn Yorkshire Regt.),engraved naming, Queen’ South Africa Medal, 2nd type, ghost dates, 7 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, South Africa 1901, (2474 Pte C. Platts, Yorkshire Regt), impressed naming, very fine. Estimated £750 – 850.
Lot 148 – 102 Not Out!!
Incredible DFC, DFM group of 5 awarded to Flight Lieutenant William James Simpson, who as a Rear Gunner in Whitley’s, Halifax’s and Lancaster’s as a Pathfinder flew 102 Operational Sorties for Bomber Command between the 25th of June 1942 and the 24th of April 1945 damaging at least one German Night fighter in Combat over Berlin. Comprising Distinguished Flying Cross (1944), Distinguished Flying Medal, (999298 F/Sgt. W.J. Simpson. R.A.F.)1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star with France and Germany Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal, all unnamed as issued, extremely fine. Estimated £8,000 – 10,000.
Lot 151 - Shot Down a JU88 over Stuttgart – awarded the DFM
The Distinguished Flying Medal awarded to Flight Sergeant David James Myers, a Lancaster Mid-Upper Air Gunner with 49 and 106 Squadrons, who on the night of the 28th of July 1944 on a raid to Stuttgart drove off one night fighter and shot down a JU88, comprising, Distinguished Flying Medal, GVIR, (2207837 F/Sgt. J. Myers. R.A.F.), lightly toned very fine. Sold with original packet for the DFM, The Buckingham Place award notice, DFM Forwarding letter and a copy photograph of F/Sgt Myers in uniform, copy London Gazette entry, copy 49 Squadron Air Crew data sheet. All proceeds will be donated to the Ty Olwen Hospice who looked after David in his last days. Estimated £1,600 – 1,800.
Lot 15
Lot 191 – H Division – Whitechapel 1888
A Police Pair awarded to Police Constable Francis Symonds, H Division – Whitechapel who served in 1888 at the time of the Whitechapel Murders, comprising, Jubilee (Police) Medal 1887, (PC, F. Symonds. H. Divn), Coronation (Police) Medal 1902, in Bronze, (P.C. F. Symonds. X Div.), lightly toned very fine. Police Constable Francis Symonds Warrant Number 54716 joined H Division in 1871 and left on the 11th of May 1892. His name appears in the list of H Division personnel in “The Case Book of Jack The Ripper”.
Sold with a “The Metropolitan” Patent Whistle. Estimated £140 – 180.
Lot 196 – A Royal Air Force Waziristan Aircrew and Police Gallantry Group
A Royal Air Force, Waziristan Aircrew, World War Two, Borough of Hastings Police Royal Humane Society Gallantry Group awarded to Corporal/Chief Inspector Ernest William Metcalf, 31 and No. 5 Squadron Royal Airforce and Hasting Borough Police, who crashed badly on the 14th of July 1925 at Kohat in a Bristol Fighter the pilot, Flying Officer Livock losing his right arm and Metcalf damaging his right arm. And as Chief Inspector Hasting Borough Police rescued two persons who were in imminent danger of drowning in the sae at Hastings on the 13th of August 1957 comprising, Indian General Service Meda, 1908-1935, one clasp, Waziristan 1921-24, (326834 Cpl. E.W. Metcalf. R.A.F.), 1939-45 Defence Medal, unnamed as issued, Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, (Insp. Ernest. W.H. Metcalf)Royal Humane Society Vellum Certificate (Chief Inspector Ernest William Henry Metcalf), medals contemporarily mounted for wear, Velum Certificate framed and glaze, medals toned very fine (4). An incredible group, not only the medals and Fitter Flying Log Book, but his “A” Type Flying Helmet, Photographs Album, Vellum Scroll, Photographs, Discharge Certificate Police Badges and Buttons for Hampshire Constabulary, original letters, his Apprentice final exam models of tools original crash report and original photographs of Livock. Directly from the family. A magnificent group. Estimated £900 – 1,200.
