A 'Sopwith Camel' pilot's Great War medal pair: Lieutenant Walter Ian Caven, 70th Squadron Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps

- British War Medal. Silver issue (Lieut. W. I. Cavan. R.A.F.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (Lieut. W. I. Cavan. R.A.F.)

Important: Medals are named with single typo 'A' sic, as second last initial of surname. The medals are officially impressed, without corrections, and exactly as issued from the Royal Mint, and as received - and never worn or returned - by the recipient. The medals pristine in their card boxes as issued

During the Great War, Lieutenant Walter Ian Caven - a Pilot aviator - was posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France, on 30 September 1918, joining 70th Squadron Royal Air Force, on, 7 October 1918, with which he flew Sopwith Camel fighters

Two sets of the recipients service papers, including 'Other Ranks' & Officer in Royal Flying Corps, & Royal Air Force (ref WO 339/116643, AIR 79/685) are extant & accessible at The National Archives

Walter Ian Caven, second son of John Caven (a Scottish born Manager for a photographic material manufacturer) & Florence Caven (nee) was a native of Clapham, London, England, where he was born on, 29 March 1899. The 1901 National Census for England and Wales records the Caven family residing at, 34 Roseberry Road, Calapham, Wandsworth, London, at which time the household comprised the parents, Walter and his two older siblings, brother & sister together with Walter's maternal Scottish Grandmother, Jeannie Caven. Prior to his enlistment in the Royal Flying Corps of the British Army during the Great War, Walter had been employed as a 'Shipping Clerk', employed on Leadenhall Street in 'The City' with the well known shipping insurance company 'Gray Dawes & Co'. Walter enlisted in the British Army on, 3 March 1916, and was posted to the Royal Flying Corps. He joined the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as a Cadet and was trained as a ‘Miscellaneous aviator’, being discharged with a good record (‘Keen and efficient’) as a 3rd Class Air Mechanic, to a Commission on 13 September 1917. A summary of Walters progression from Cadet to Pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, his posting to France as a Sopwith Camel Pilot and eventual retirement is provided below:

- Cadet 11 Apr 17
- 2 Officer Cadet Wing 14 May 17
- 2 School of Aeronautics, Oxford 27 Jul 17
- Temporary 2nd Lieutenant 13 Sep17
- 3 Training Squadron 16 Sep 17
- 1 Training Depot Station 08 Nov17
- 42 Training Squadron Wye 27 Dec17
- Appointed as flying officer 07Mar18
- Lieutenant (aeroplane & seaplane) 01 Apr18
- Since joining RFC flown Maurice Farman Shorthorn, de Havilland 6, Avro, Sopwith Scout & Sopwith Camel
- Shorncliffe 01 Jun 18: unfit any service 1 month
- Medical board 17 Jul 18: unfit general service 4 weeks; home service 2 weeks; fit light duties (F?)
- 2 Fighting School 27 Sep 18
- BEF as Camel pilot 30 Sep18
- 1 Aircraft Storage Depot 01 Oc t18
- Pupil Pilot Range 03 Oct 18
- 70 Sqn 07 Oct 18
- Home establishment 21 Feb 19
- Transferred to unemployed list 22 Feb19

The 1939 National Register for England & Wales records him employed as a 'Retired Egg Producer & Chicken Breeder' and residing with his wife, Lydia Caven, at Ridge End, Frisoton near Eastbourne, Sussex. Walter Ian Caven, died at, Eastbourne, England, on, 6 October 1970

The medals retaining their original long lengths of silk moire ribands, folded and never worn. The lot - choice - and pristine

Condition: EF

Code: 22507