Six: An interesting low level flying fighter pilot Distinguished Flying Cross (dated 1943) & Bar (engraved 1944), 1939/45 Star, Air Crew Europe "France and Germany", Defence Medal, War Medal and 1953 Coronation medal. Attributed to 106182 Flight Lieutenant Michael John Gray of 168 & 2 Squadron. D.F.C. correctly period dated 1943 and Bar 1944 respectively. Campaign medals unnamed as issued.
DFC London Gazette date 16th March 1943
"Act. Flt. Lt. M. J. Gray. R.A.F.V.R., No, 168 Sqn. This officer is a fine leader and a courageous pilot, who has completed many long-range reconnaissance in single-seater fighters. During sorties in search of enemy shipping along the Dutch coast he has located and reported accurately the position of numerous convoys. Flt. Lt. Gray has damaged eight enemy vessels and nine locomotives. No aircraft has been lost from any formation led by him. On a recent sortie he flew low through the streets of Ostend in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire."
Bar to the DFC. London Gazette date 14th November 1944
"Acting Squadron Leader Michael John Gray, D.F.C., (106182), R.A.F.V.R., 2 Sqn. This officer has displayed outstanding ability and zeal. He is a gallant and forceful leader, whose personal example has contributed materially to the high standard of efficiency of the squadron which has obtained much access. He has commanded the squadron for some nine months during which period the formation has completed many sorties, involving reconnaissance and attack on radio buildings and flying bomb sites. Squadron Leader Gray has taken part in many of these assignments."
Comes with two original flight photographs possibly low level flying through Ostend, Coronation certificate from Buckingham Palace named to Flt. Lt. Gray, period newspaper cut outs from a scrap book with hand written notes, Original London Gazette for the Bar to the DFC and congratulation letter on his DFC from Group Captain Geddes dated 1943.
Ex Glendining's 1992
SOLD
Outstanding POW DFC group to a Pathfinder Pilot and member of the Caterpillar Club who according to a newspaper report in 1965 flew an amazing 85 missions including Black Thursday
Six: Distinguished Flying Cross (dated 1944), 1939/45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal. All campaign medals correctly impressed to 403147 J. H. Nicholls. Along with correct period gold Caterpillar Club badge with red gem eyes engraved ‘F/L J. H. Nicholls DFC
DFC London Gazette date 2nd June 1944
“Numerous attacks on German & French Targets”.
At the time of listing these Flight Lieutenant John Harold Nicholl’s service records were still sealed. The following was taken from the WW2 nominal roll and various POW websites;
“Johnny” Nicholl’s enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force in Sydney, NSW on the 9th December 1940.
Posted to the UK Flight Lieutenant Nicholls did nearly all of his operational flying with 97 Sq (including Black Thursday) before moving with “C” flight to form part of the new 635 Squadron at Downham Market, Norfolk.
On the night of the 30/31st March 1944, F/L Nicholls piloting Lancaster JB706 took off on his 35th mission from RAF Downham Market, Norfolk, detailed to bomb Nuremberg (Operation: Nurnberg), but was hit by flak near Westerburg (Rheinland Pfalz, Germany). The aircraft crashed and two of the crew WO Jolley and Flt Sgt Whitehead were killed. The other five parachuted including Nicholls who earnt his Caterpillar Club badge in doing so. Once on the ground all five became Prisoners of War. The plane crashed at Mademühlen (Hessen, Germany), 2 km SW of Driedorf. Taking down the plane plane was also claimed by German night fighter (Felwebel Otto Kutzner, 5./NJG3).
Germany In a POW Report Flt Lt Nicholls stated; “An explosion in the fuselage set fire to the aircraft and damaged the elevator control and trim controls as well as loss of power in three engines. The aircraft was out of control and had commenced a stall spin with smoke issuing from the centre of the aircraft inside the fuselage. I gave the order to abandon but this was not acknowledged because the I/C was U/S. I bailed out at approx. 17,000 feet. There was no crew member injured and no crew member still in the aircraft as far as I know. The aircraft landed in a field 20 miles north east of Coblenz. I was captured 24 hours later by German farmers. I have no information re Jolley or Whitehead.”
Casualty enquiry, 18/01/1946.
“ … Questionnaires completed by F/S Ogilvie and Sgt. Smith on repatriation state that W/O Jolley bailed out but was killed to parachute failure. It was probable that F/S Whitehead did not leave the aircraft and they presumed he was killed on information given by Germans … “.
WO Jolley is buried in the Rheinberg Ware Cemetery, Locality Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfal, Germany. Flt Sgt Whitehead is buried in the Hanover War Cemetery.
Fl/Lt Nicholls spent the remainder of the as a Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft L1 Barth Vogelsang before being repatriated in 1945.
Discharged 26th November 1945, “97 Squadron” listed as unit on discharge.
Comes with cased unofficial Bomber Command Medal in case of issue and numbered “4610”.and original group of miniatures with miniature Pathfinders badge
Good VF SOLD
Six: Member of the British Empire (MBE) 2nd type Military, Pacific Star (small impressed), Defence, War and Australian Service Medal (all impressed) VX119275 P. R. GARRETT. Also, it is suggested he was able to wear the King Gustav Medal for sport (shooting awarded 1973) which accompanies the group.
Served in Coastal command RAA until joining the 2/9th BN AIF in June 1945 going on to receive a Gun Shot Wound to the knee in July. Interestingly he incurred an incredible number of minor charges recorded during his service.
MBE Civil awarded June 1981.-Shooting, having been in the German Olympics in 1972 and Canada in 1976
This group comes with a number of unofficial awards & decorations in both full size and miniature plus medallions, wall plaques and large silver plate trophy for Hobart 1958 for shooting. And 18 medallions and official shooting trophies.
Includes a number of original documents and certificates (5) plus original MBE warrant, An extremely scarce group to an Australian Olympic participant.
Gd VF ON HOLD
Six; 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal, War Medal, Australian Service Medal and Greek War Medal. Allk Australian medals correctly impressed to WX292 W. H. F. Clarke.
William Henry Francis Clarke a mill hand from Swanbourne, WA, enlisted on 7 Nov 1939. An original member of 2/11th Bn,
Private Clarke saw action at Bardia, Tobruk and Derna before the campaign in Greece.
On the 17th of April 1941 during a Luftwaffe airstrike on the withdrawal through Brallos Pass Private Clarke was tragically killed (being the first member of the Battalion killed in action in the Greek campaign). He was quickly buried by the side of the road and his body has not been recovered.
Private Clarke was later commemorated on the Athens Memorial, Greece.
Ex: Status International sale Oct 2009
VF SOLD
SOUTH AFRICA 1853 (Corpl. J. Bunting, 2nd 60th Rifles), China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Cr. Serjt. Josh. Bunting, 2nd Bn. 60th Rl. Rifles) officially impressed naming,
Joseph Bunting was born in the parish of Great Linford, near the town of Newport Pagnell. He originally enlisted into the Royal Marines 7 December 1842. He transferred into the 2/60th Rifles 1 July 1843 – indicating he was previously a sailor. With the Regiment he saw service during the third Kaffir war (medal verified on roll) before being promoted up the ranks to Colour Sergeant. During the later stages of the China campaign, he saw action at Taku Forts and Pekin in 1860 (medal verified on roll). This is Joseph Bunting’s full entitlement, no LSGC medal due to 13 entries in the Regimental defaulter’s book and two Court Martial’s by the end of his 21 years of service. The fact that he did not receive a LSGC yet still made it to the rank of Colour Sergeant suggests a good strong soldiers.
Contact marks, good, very fine $2250
South Africa: Prince Alfred’s Guard Helmet Plate 1874-1890. In white metal and complete with two lugs.
$275
$20
$20
$30
$30
Souvenir Guide of South Australia’s Fighting Men of the A.I.F. The history, achievements and colors of the various units. Compiled for the citizens and business men’s committee by SGT-MJR H. H. Hannam late A.I.F.
100 pages packed with interesting and important information to do with South Australian’s in the war. An absolute must for any South Australian collector.
SOLD
Standard original WW1 Rising Sun with slider (picture is a stock photo and badge may vary)
Standard original WW2 Rising Sun with two fixed lugs (picture is a stock photo and badge may vary)
Standard set of Rising Sun collars Pair
Suffolk Regiment Officer’s Blue Cloth Helmet 1902-12.
A good example, the skull is complete with gilt mounts, the frontal plate of crowned with laurel and Garter overlays, to the Castle and key with ‘Gibraltar’ and ‘Montis Insignia Calpe’ on black velvet ground, below title ‘The Suffolk Regiment’, complete with velvet backed chin chain, inner leather sweatband with crimson silk lining.
Good condition $2100
$20
C304 Sydney University Regiment 54mm Oxidised Hat Badge
