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An attributed 'Mohmand Operations' North West Frontier service D.F.M. group of 9 x miniature medals: Flight Lieutenant V.E.M. Watkins, M.B.E., D.F.M., Royal Air Force
- The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Members (M.B.E.) badge 2nd Type (Military)
- Distinguished Flying Medal. GVR coinage head
- India General Service Medal 1908. With clasp 'North West Frontier 1935'
- India General Service Medal 1936. With clasp 'North West Frontier 1936-37'
- 1939-1945 Star
- Africa Star Bar. With clasp 'North Africa 1942-43'
- Defence Medal
- War Medal. With 'Oakleaf' on riband to denote a 'Mention-in-Despatches'
- Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. GVI first issue
Important: The group also sold with a silver hallmarked and NAMED 'Royal Air Force Halton Barrington Kennett Trophy medallion', reverse engraved: V. WATKINS. Member winning Rugby Team 1927 - 28
- M.B.E. LG: 1/1/1951
- D.F.M. LG: 8/5/1936
- M.I.D. LG: 8/6/1944
Vincent Evan Morgan Watkins, a native of Pontardawe, Swansea, South Wales, was born on 24 March 1910. He nlisted as an 'Aircraft Apprentice' on 29 September 1925. He commenced 'Adult' service on 24 March 1928, as a 'Fitter' of aero-engines. First active service was in India, in which country he served from 16 October 1931 to 7 April 1937. During his service in India he qualified as an 'Air-Gunner'. Promoted Serrgeant 10 June 1937. Between April 1932 to October 1938 he flew operationally with 608 Squadron flying in 'Westland Wapiti Aircraft', during which he saw active service on the North West Frontier of India. His Distinguished Flying Medal was an award for his gallantry during the Mohmand Operations of 1935. Further overseas service took him to the Middle East and Mediterranean. He received an Emergency Commission in 1940 and served with the Royal Air Force through to retirement on 31 March 1959
The group mounted court-style. The reverse metal brooch bar retaining the long hinged pin and casp fitting
Condition: GVF |
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| Code: 11961Price: |
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An attributed Great War Military Cross group of 4: Captain William Birnie, M.C., 5th 'Caithness' (Territorial Force ) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
- Military Cross. GV first type
- British War Medal. Silver issue
- Interallied Victory Medal, with M.I.D. 'Oakleaves' emblem
- Defence Medal
Important: Recipient is a unique name / rank in the Medal Index Card file series
The award of the Military Cross was published per London Gazette 3 June 1919. The original recommendation states:
QUOTE,
‘During the operations from 21-28 July 1918, north-west of Epernay, this officer did splendid work and was of the greatest assistance to his Commanding Officer. The duties of Adjutant were ably carried out by him in the midst of heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and frequently adverse weather conditions, when the only cover available were shell holes. The devotion to duty displayed by him materially assisted in the success of the operations. During the advance on 28 July 1918, when one of the companies came under heavy machine-gun fire and shell fire, he assisted in manoeuvring the company in such a manner that casualties were avoided and order restored amongst the men who had been slightly disorganised by the suddenness of the heavy fire opened upon them.’
UNQUOTE.
The award of the Mention-in-Despatches was published per London Gazette 28 December 1918. The original recommendation states:
QUOTE,
‘For continuous good service during the period 17 September to 11 November 1918. Captain Birnie has always performed his duties as Adjutant, whether in or out of action, with conspicuous success and with untiring energy. Both tactically and administratively his services have been invaluable. In particular on 12 October at Avesner-les-Sec, he made a personal
reconnaissance under heavy fire and brought back valuable information as to the situation. His gallantry in the forward area on this occasion greatly assisted in restoring a somewhat critical situation.’
UNQUOTE.
William Birnie, a Scot from Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, was born in July 1889 and pre-war worked as a travelling secretary to Sir Thomas Lipton (the Scottish buisnessman and first British 'Tea Tycoon'). Enlisting in the Seaforths (Territorial Force) shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion in April 1915 and was first embarked for France in March 1918, where, in the temporary rank of Captain, and latterly as Adjutant, he won his M.C. and “mention”.
The medals mounted swing-style, 'as-worn' by the recipient suspended from a pin-back brooch bar with contemporary ribbons
Condition: GVF
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| Code: 11835Price: |
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An unusual attributed World Wars group of 7 to a confirmed clandestine operations S.O.E. Officer: Lieutenant Simon Vass, Special Operations Executive late Cameron Highlanders
- 1914-15 Star
- British War Medal. Silver issue
- Interalled Victory Medal
- Defence Medal
- War Medal
- Imperial Service Medal. GVI first type
- Efficiency Medal. GV issue 'Territorial' suspender
Simon Vass a native of Cawdor, Nairn, Scotland, was born on 12 December 1892. Prior to the Great War he had enlisted as a 'Regular' for service with his local regiment the 'Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders'. He was serving at Poona, India when the Great War started and later transferred to United Kingdom and thereafter first entering a theatre of war, when he landed in France on 20 December 1914 with 2nd Battalion Cameron
Highlanders
Evidently soldiering appleaded to Simon as in the post-war era he continued to serve in the Territorial Army as a senior N.C.O. with the 4th Battalion Cameron Highlanders and earning his Efficiency Medal some time before 1937.
Simon Vass was described as being a Civil Servant and residing at 8 View Road Nairn at the start of the Second World War
Commissioned as Lieutenant in 1940, Simon Vass was granted the War Substantive rank of Lieutenant with effect from 9 December 1941, serving as Lieutenant and Adjutant Quarter Master with the clandestine Special Operations Executive, or S.O.E., becoming the well known and respected charcter codenamed 'Faither' at Special Training School Headquarters and at two of the most important S.O.E. Special Training Schools vis 'Inverlair' and 'Rhubanna Lodge' part of the Arisaig Group set up for special operations paramilitary training within the 'Protected Area' of Invernesshire during the war years. It was in that area where the Norwegian Commandos were trained for their subsequent attack and destruction of the German Heavy Water plants in Norway, and much else besides. At Inverlair in particular much of the equipment needed for the special operations was forged and manufactured under the watchful eye of 'Faither' including, grapnels, climbing hooks, boathooks and other impedimenta
Medals mounted in 'swing-style' with pin-back brooch bar suspended form contemporary ribbons
Condition: GVF |
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| Code: 11834Price: 110.00 GBP |
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An attributed and well documented inter-war 'Iraq Active Service' campaign and long service group of 6 x miniature medals: Squadron Leader William Charles Hewltett, Royal Air Force
- 1939/45 Star
- Africa Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal (uni-face)
- Royal Air Force LS&GC Medal. GVI 1st type
- Iraq: Active Service Medal 1928. No clasp
Unnamed as issued
William Charles Hewlett a native of South Wales was born 29 May 1907 and educated at Abertillery County School, Monmouthshire. He was residing at 108 Oak Street, Abertillery when he entered the Royal Air Force in September 1923 as an aircraft apprentice at RAF Cranwell passing out as an AC1 in July 1926 with the trade of Fitter Aeroengines. Posted to No 2 Flying Training School at RAF Digby he was later posted to Iraq where he regularly flew as a fitter / crewman on the Vickers Valentia aircraft of No 70 (Bomber Transport) Squadron. Awarded the Iraq Active Service Medal for flights in support of the operations in Southern Kurdistan 1930-31 he completed his overseas tour at the Aircraft Depot, Aboukir. His flying log book recorded his first flight as being on 15 December 1929. The entry for 23 June 1930, states strong head winds force landing on mud flats with dud starboard engine on way to fetch 'King Faisal' and his entourage to take them on to Egypt in place of other passengers. 24 June 1930 with King Faisal on board to Abou Suir, port engine banking, leads fallen off, rewired ok. 24 June 1930 to Aboukir having 'dumped Faisal' tied aircraft down for stay at Depot. 22 July 1930 force landing at Daratu with broken con rod No 4 cylinder starboard engine, engine out by night, new engine in and run up to Hinaidi, slept most of the way. 6 September 1930 return from Rayah with 'Prime Minister' of Iraq and his wife on board landed at Baghdad. 11 October 1930 Mosul to fetch stretcher case Flight Lieutenant Bund in serious condition raced bach at full throttle but he died the next day. 30 October 1930 forced landed at Amman starbooard engine thrust siezed and burnt out sent for new engine installed the next day. 1 November 1930 forced landing at Rutbah port engine failure, 26 November 1930 while returning from Rutbah crash landed with a stretcher case a lady injured in an accident overland, many transport trips with stores and personnel last flight 23 February 1934 totalling over 502 flying hours with an impressive two hundred and sixty one sorties
Commissioned into the Technical Branch as Flying Officer from Flight Sergeant 10 December 1942 (London Gazette 26 January 1943 refers), Flight Lieutenant 27 September 1946 Hewlett retired with the rank of Squadron Leader 7 January 1956 (London Gazette 14 February 1956 refers)
The group mounted 'as-worn' in the swing-style. Suspended from comtemporary old silk ribbons. The mounting bar retaiing the long hinged pin and casp fitting
The 'Iraq' medal being a scarce miniature on the market
Condition: GVF |
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| Code: 11962Price: |
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