Halton Apprentices - The Gallantry Awards and Honours (Part 2)

A continuation of part one.

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Air Force Cross

The Air Force Cross was instituted in 1918. It is awarded "for gallantry while flying but not on active operations against the enemy"

335423 Sqn Ldr C E Ashdown (1st Entry) LG: tbn

335362 Sqn Ldr W T Jeffrey (1st Entry) LG: tbn

362786 Sqn Ldr Stanley Gordon Betty (2nd Entry) LG: 31 Mar 42

335699 Sqn Ldr E Goldsmith (2nd Entry) LG: tbn

335839 Sqn Ldr Lester Francis Humphrey (2nd Entry)

LG: tbn

335596 Flt Lt F J Poulter (2nd Entry)

LG: tbn

335596 W/O Frederick John Poulter (2nd Entry)

LG: tbn

361623 Wg Cdr E M H Slade (3rd Entry)

LG: tbn

83389 Flt Lt Frank Horatio Gledhill (4th Entry) LG: tbn

43927 P/O Lionel Edward Speer (4th Entry)

LG: tbn

43523 F/O James Sibley Simons (4th Entry)

LG: tbn

364783 Wg Cdr Harold Constantine Smith (4th Entry) LG: 08 Jun 44

362571 Sqn Ldr Ernest Charles Kidd (5th Entry)

LG: 10 Oct 40

362786 Flt Lt Stanley Gordon Betty (6th Entry) LG: 13 Mar 42 - Recommendation reads: For service at No. 8 SFTS Total instructional flying hours at time of recommendation 1560. This officer has been continuously engaged on instructional flying for the past 3 years and 8 months. He is a mature and reliable pilot with excellent qualities as an instructor. Despite the fact that he he has been engaged on instructional work over such a long period, Flight Lieutenant Betty has maintained his enthusiasm and freshness. Throughout, he has displayed great devotion to duty and has constantly set a high standard.

363436 W/O Frederick Albert Hedges (7th Entry) LG: tbn

364329 Flt Lt Reginald Heber Thomas (8th Entry) LG: tbn

364156 W/O Douglas James Pitcher (9th Entry) LG: tbn

364990 Sqn Ldr Albert Edward Rumble (9th Entry) In recognition of his sterling work which included appointment as Flying Instructor with CFS at Upavon; RAF Test Pilot with the AFDU Duxford; Test Pilot with Napier Luton; Chief Test Pilot with de Havilland Propellers Hatfield.

Flt Lt W R Tait (9th Entry [13th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

364374 W/O Jack Williams (9th Entry) LG: tbn

36105 F/O Jack Ethelbert Pebody (10th Entry) LG: tbn

365318 AVM Colin Scragg (10th Entry) AFC and Bar - LG and Citation tbn

365655 Wg Cdr James Seward Withers Bignal (11th Entry) LG: tbn

365733 W/O Arthur George William Gold (11th Entry) LG: tbn

36105 Sqn Ldr Wilfred William Loxton (11th Entry) LG: tbn

36031 Grp Cpt Donald Osborne Finlay (12th Entry) LG: tbn

366257 Wg Cdr Arthur Ernest Dale (12th Entry) LG: 01 Jan 48

366419 Plt Off Kenneth George Stodart (12th Entry) LG: tbn - for his part in the MacRobertson International Air Race England to Australia in 1934

Wg Cdr E G Masefield (13th Entry [9th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

Group Captain M L Gaine (14th Entry [10th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

Sqn Ldr E J Greenwood (14th Entry [10th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

Wg Cdr L B Noyes (14th Entry [10th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

560913 Sqn Ldr Kenneth James Sewell (14th Entry) LG: 01 Jan 47

Sqn Ldr G C Gilbert (15th Entry [11th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

43132 Grp Cpt Frank Reginald Carey (16th Entry) LG: 01 Jan 45

45448 Sqn Ldr Albert Leslie Collett (16th Entry) LG: tbn

561710 W/O Ernest Folley (16th Entry) LG: tbn

561905 Sqn Ldr Harold Shields (16th Entry) LG: 01 Sep 44

47746 Flt Lt Jack Steere (16th Entry) LG: tbn

44456 Grp Cpt Thomas Gilbert Mahaddie (17th Entry) LG: tbn

Sqn Ldr C V Haines (18th Entry [14th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

562564 Wg Cdr George Kennedy (18th Entry) LG: 01 Jan 45

36225 Flt Lt Glynn Ashfield (19th Entry) LG: tbn

45275 Flt Lt William Alfred Maurice Birt (19th Entry) LG: tbn

- W/O Arthur William Eade (19th Entry) LG: tbn

563257 Wg Cdr Joseph Northrop (19th Entry) LG: tbn

36127 Flt Lt William Joseph Carr (20th Entry) LG: tbn

563430 Flt Lt Philip Charles Anscombe (20th Entry) LG: 13 Jun 46

43145 Wg Cdr Reginald William Cox (20th Entry) LG: tbn

- W/O Robert Shaw (20th Entry) LG: tbn

563927 Flt Lt Francis Herbert Stubbs (20th Entry) LG: 14 Sep45

563933 Sqn Ldr Eric Franklin Thornicroft (20th Entry) LG: 01 Jan 48

564086 PO (Act Sqn Ldr!) Roy Anthony Bailey (21st Entry) LG: 08 Jun 44

564602 W/O Gilbert Ernest Dawe (22nd Entry) LG: tbn

564737 Wg Cdr Robert Thomas Langton (22nd Entry) LG: 01 Jan 45

47845 Flt Lt James Robinson (22nd Entry) LG: tbn

45973 Sqn Ldr Robert Thomas Langton (22nd Entry) LG: tbn

44547 Wg Cdr Joseph Roy George Ralston (22nd Entry) LG: 08 Jun 44

47188 P/O Reginald Arthur Studd (22nd Entry) LG: tbn

52561 F/O John (Spungy) Whelan (22nd Entry) LG: tbn

45546 Flt Lt Earnest Alfred Deverill (23rd Entry) LG: 01 Jan 44 (Awarded posthumously)

51845 Flt Lt Arthur Herbert Dorrien Pond (23rd Entry) LG: tbn

565491 WO George Edward Bailey (24th Entry) LG: 29 Dec 41 (KIA 21 May 44)

565503 Flt Lt Ernest Albert Deverill (24th Entry) LG: 01 Jan 44

48324 Flt Lt Charles Alexander Lyall Hurry (24th Entry) LG: tbn

566165 Wg Cdr Charles Ronald Alexander (25th Entry) 01 Jan 58

- W/O Eric Bell (26th Entry) LG: tbn

49994 Sgt Alfred Denmark Burt (26th Entry) LG: tbn

47416 Sqn Ldr Ronald Vernon Ellis (27th Entry) LG: 01 Jan 46

566372 Wg Cdr Percy Robert Hatfield (27th Entry) LG: tbn

45202 Sqn Ldr William Roy Greenslade (29th Entry) LG: tbn

567574 Sqn Ldr Jimmy Harrison (31st Entry)

LG: 1952 - In recognition of valuable service at RAE Farnborough as a test pilot.

50040 F/O Arthur Robert Burchett (33rd Entry) LG: tbn

570672 Master Signaller William John Ashcroft (34th Entry) LG: tbn

583275 Sqn Ldr Bernard James Noble (54th Entry) LG: 1969 - In recognition of valuable service at Boscombe Down as a test pilot.

583438 Flt Lt Paul Hobley (56th Entry) LG: tbn

Flt Lt David Westwood (56th Entry) LG: 07 Feb 67 - Citation reads, "Master Signaller Westwood was part of the rescue of four young people from a small yacht that was in difficulties in heavy surf at Bracklesham Bay, Sussex. Westwood was the winchman on this rescue and, having successfully winched up three of the survivors, during the lifting of the fourth survivor the winch cable was snagged by the rigging; the winch cable snapped and both were dropped into the sea. Westwood then had to swim ashore with the survivor who was unconscious."

685675 FO Brian William Skillicorn (93rd Entry)

LG: 16 May 67 - Citation reads: On 10th August 1966, Flying Officer Skillicorn was captain of a Whirlwind helicopter on an operational flight in Sarawak. As he reached a point about 250 yards on final approach to a hilltop landing site in trees on top of a hill at a height of 1,400 feet above the nearby plain, there was a loud bang from the engine followed by complete loss of power. He quickly turned the helicopter away from the hill, recovered the rapidly decaying rotor R.P.M. and established an autorotative descent towards the plain, which was covered with a mixture of primary and secondary jungle relieved by only a few very small patches of swamp and primitive cultivation. Flying Officer Skillicorn selected a clearing within his limited range and began his circuit. He then discovered that the clearing was obstructed by fallen trees and at almost the last moment had to change his approach to reach an even smaller clearing, about 75 yards long and 25 yards wide separated from his first choice by a screen of trees and limited further by a stream which cut it in two. Despite this setback and the fact that the whole incident, from engine failure to landing, occupied little more than one minute, Flying Officer Skillicorn transmitted clear correct distress calls and adjusted his approach to reach the second clearing. He cleared the screen of trees, but to do so had to manoeuvre the helicopter between two taller trees so close that the tips of the main rotor blades were slightly damaged. On landing, it was found that the ground was soft and the front wheels dug in, pitching the helicopter forward and breaking off the tailboom. Neither Flying Officer Skillicorn nor his co-pilot were injured. Flying Officer Skillicorn is 23 years old and is now in the second year of his first flying tour, in which he served initially with No. 225 Squadron, when he was mentioned in despatches. Since November 1965, he has served with No. 103 Squadron. Previous to the incident now reported, he once successfully landed a helicopter in a jungle clearing after a tail rotor failure and on another occasion landed safely on a beach after an engine failure. A pilot without Flying Officer Skillicorn's qualities of determination and skill would, in the circumstances he encountered on 10th August 1966, have had to accept a crash landing, with severe injuries or loss of life for his crew being the normally inevitable result, but, by his cool, courageous and skilful handling of the situation, Flying Officer Skillicorn ensured the safety of his crew and, but for the treacherous nature of the ground would have saved his aircraft even from the damage it sustained. In a Force whose bravery and professional expertise have aroused general admiration, his own record has been second to none. His fine example has been an inspiration and an encouragement to his fellow pilots, all too well aware of the hazards of flying single-engined aircraft over this inhospitable terrain.

49994 W/O Arthur George William Gold (11th Entry) Bar

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Air Force Medal

The Air Force Medal was instituted in 1918 and was (until 1993) awarded to personnel of the Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy".

335356 F/Sgt Jack Rawlinson (1st Entry Cranwell)

LG: tbn

335839 F/Sgt Lester Francis Humphrey (2nd Entry Cranwell)

LG: tbn

335871 Sgt Charles Albert Deakin (3rd Entry Cranwell)

LG: tbn

361911 Sgt Alfred Victor Bax (4th Entry Cranwell)

LG: 01 Jan 31 First Apprentice to be awarded the AFM

561238 Sgt Hector Bertram Gray (3rd Entry)

LG: 28 Apr 39 - Awarded whilst serving on the RAF Long Range Development Unit in recognition of services rendered as members of crew of two aircraft which having flown non-stop from Ismailia to Port Darwin on 5-7th November 1938 established a world's long-distance record. He was the only apprentice to be awarded the combination of the George Cross and the Air Force Medal.

362145 F/Sgt Hedley Picton Shippobotham (4th Entry)

LG: 11 Jul 40

362547 F/Sgt Thomas Arthur Newton (5th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 52

362571 Sgt Ernest Charles Kidd (5th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 33

362749 F/Sgt Robert William Jarred (6th Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 39

362998 F/Sgt John Harry Teel (6th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 36

363255 Sgt Jack Shearsmith (6th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 39

363261 F/Sgt William Edgar Sully (6th Entry)

LG: 06 Oct 33 - for distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in Northern Kurdistan during the period December 1931 to June 1932

363271 F/Sgt Jack Martindale Whitwell (6th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 39

363383 Cpl Gerald Francis Carnell (7th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 38

363448 F/Sgt Alfred Charles Leonard Munns (7th Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 39

363497 F/Sgt Reginald George Williams (7th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 39

363590 Cpl Victor Joe Carter (7th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 39

363618 Sgt Douglas Arthur Haydon (7th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 39

- F/Sgt William Christopher Maher (7th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 38

363522 F/Sgt Herbert William Waylen (7th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 38

363982 Sgt Herbert William Gill (8th Entry)

LG: 11 May 37

364051 F/Sgt Thomas Alfryn Howells (8th Entry)

LG: 01 Apr 41

364088 Sgt Reginald Charles George Harman (8th Entry)

LG: 11 Oct 40

364249 Sgt Edward Norman Rooms (8th Entry)

LG: 04 Jun 34 - Singapore re-inforcement flight

364374 F/Sgt Jack Williams (8th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 38

364477 F/Sgt John Edward Atkins (9th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 41

364506 F/Sgt Albert Stanley Blake (9th Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 38

364914 Sgt Edgar Nelson Lewis (9th Entry)

LG: 03 Jun 33

364766 F/Sgt John William Brodie Snowden (9th Entry)

LG: 21 Dep 41

364938 F/Sgt Rowland Parr (9th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 38

364969 F/Sgt Cecil Joseph Rose (9th Entry)

LG: tbn

365094 F/Sgt Charles George Wareham (9th Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 39

Wg Cdr H W Gill (10th Entry [4th Entry Flowerdown])

LG: tbn

365362 F/Sgt George Patrick Hall (10th Entry)

LG: 11 Jul 40

365505 F/Sgt Alfred James Morgan (10th Entry)

LG: 30 Sep 41

365920 F/Sgt John Nelson Ogle (11th Entry)

LG: 02.1.39

365923 F/Sgt Leslie Harry Poltock (11th Entry)

LG: 01 Apr 41

365988 Sgt John Peter Whitehead (11th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 38

366235 Cpl Richard Edward Wesson (12th Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 39

366336 Cpl Frederick Landrey (12th Entry)

LG: 03 Jun 35

560136 F/Sgt William Alfred Gray (13th Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 39

560310 F/Sgt George McPherson (13th Entry)

LG: 11 Oct 40

- Sgt Harry Graham Hastings (14th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 39

560876 F/Sgt Frederick William Otter (14th Entry)

LG: tbn

561238 Sgt Hector Bertram Gray (15th Entry)

LG: 28 Apr 39 - 'RAF Long Range Development Unit in recognition of services rendered as members of crew of two aircraft which having flown non-stop from Ismailia to Port Darwin on 5th -7th November 1938, established a world’s long-distance record’

561740 F/Sgt George Frederick Heayes (16th Entry)

LG: 17 Mar 41

561877 Sgt Thomas Pountney (16th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 38

561993 Sgt Walter Bartholomew Burden (17th Entry)

LG: 17 Mar 41

562031 Sgt George Henry Leonard Baker (17th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 39

562061 Cpl David Henry Davis (17th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 39 - This corporal air gunner has been largely responsible for the high efficiency maintained by his flight. He is an exceptionally good bomb-aimer and has proved himself to be a very good navigator. He has twice been employed as an air gunner on Singapore Reinforcement Flights. He has completed 1,255 hours of excellent and most conscientious flying as an air gunner. In addition this airman took a prominent part in blockade operations, and spent long hours of work in the air over inhospitable country where a forced landing would have had disastrous results, under hostile rifle fire. As leading air gunner in his flight he has also been largely responsible for the accuracy of attacks during punitive bombing’. 5.6.38 Remarks by Group Commander. ‘His work in peace and semi war time operations on the Frontier has been of a very high order. His cheerfulness and hard work under the most trying conditions has been a prominent factor in the efficiency of his flight.

562133 LAC Arthur Leslie Holland (17th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 38

562800 Engineer John Fred Grove Martin (18th Entry)

LG: 09.6.49

- Sgt Archie Edward Ballam (19th Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 39

563130 Sgt William Henry Cecil Gulliver (19th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 45

565712 Sgt Hugh Patrick Connolly (24th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 41

566076 F/Sgt Leonard Ollier (26th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 42

- F/Sgt Albert Edward Clarence Brookin (27th Entry)

LG: 12 Jun 47

- Sgt Ernest Frank Sly (28th Entry)

LG: 11 Oct 40

- LAC Surtees Elliott (29th Entry)

LG: Feb 1941 - 8 Sqn (Aden Protectorate) Vickers Vincent. On a routine flight to deliver spares to a detached flight in the Hadhramout region a wheel lashed to the starboard wing became loose and the slipstream of the very turbulent air forced the wheel against the hot exhaust of the engine resulting in the rubber tyre catching fire. Molten rubber then began spewing against the fabric of the fuselage and wing. Elliot seeing the danger clambered onto the wing (having first discarded his restrictive parachute pack) to pull the wheel clear of the exhaust and to resecure it to the wing strut; an operation which took him 30 minutes before he could return to the safety of the cockpit and for the pilot to be able to make an emergency landing. Citation reads: On his own initiative and without hesitation he climbed onto the wing to secure the wheel. He undoubtedly saved the aircraft from catching fire and the crew from serious injury.

569457 PO Francis Herbert Bloomer (33rd Entry)

LG: 08 Jun 50

569178 Wg Cdr Ronald Cyril Everson (33rd Entry)

LG: tbn

568982 F/Sgt James David John Villis (33rd Entry)

LG: 05 Jun 52

570070 F/Sgt William Charles Jenkins (34th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 52

570948 Sgt John Christopher Bowman (34th Entry)

LG: 21 Mar 52 - in recognition of Distinguished service in Malaya

- Sgt John Derek Perring (36th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 43

- Sgt Hugh William Price (36th Entry)

- Signaller John Blake Cameron Browne (36th Entry)

573567 Sgt Douglas Albert Cartwright (37th Entry)

LG: TBD

- Engineer Geoffrey Ernest Watts (37th Entry)

LG: tbn

57825 F/Sgt Godfrey Richard Duval (38th Entry)

LG: 05 Jun 52

574458 F/Sgt Frederick Charles Bernard Penny (38th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 52

574348 Pilot Donald Pow (38th Entry)

LG: tbn

574129 Flt Sgt Ian Lachlan Hunter(38th Entry)

LG: TBD

574514 F/Sgt Richard John Snell (38th Entry)

Awarded whilst serving at RAF Little Rissington as a Flying Instructor in 1949; two separate incidents. In the Mosquito incident, a mid-air collision resulted in half the port wing, including aileron, being cut off. Quote: "He took control of his aircraft which had been rolled automatically to the inverted and after judicious use of the engines and controls righted the aircraft and after checking the handling brought the Mosquito back and landed successfully on the airfield."

The second incident was in a Harvard aircraft at night when a fire developed in the engine bay. "Certain engine controls became ineffective and he was able by sheer skill to land his aircraft with his whole engine bay in front of the pilot on fire, on the runway, thereby saving the aircraft. Here he would have been justified in bailing out".

573824 Pilot Douglas Walter Raymond Thompson (38th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 51

- F/Sgt James Dougan (39th Entry)

LG: 01 Jun 53

576041 F/Sgt Walter Forster (39th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 53

575640 Pilot Duncan Stokes (39th Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 51

577081 F/Sgt Donald Victor Day (40th Entry) LG: 08 Jun 50

576764 F/Sgt David Benjamin James (40th Entry) LG: 08 Jun 50

- F/Sgt Cyril Thomas Rylatt (40th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 52

576880 Engineer Harold Robert Sinton (40th Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 49

576582 F/Sgt William James McClean Wilson (40th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 55

577661 F/Sgt Phillip Felix Fairweather (41st Entry) LG: 10 Dec 48 - For distinguished flying services in operating the Berlin Airlift

577917 Sig Royston William Marshall (41st Entry) LG: 10 Dec 48 - For distinguished flying services in operating the Berlin Airlift

578152 F/Sgt Donald Gordon Dickie (42nd Entry) LG: 09 Jun 49

578366 Engineer John Bowman Elder (42nd Entry)

LG: 16 Jan 45

578152 Signaller Royston Joseph Le Feaver (42nd Entry)

LG: 02 Jan 50

578190 F/Sgt Donald George Munro (42nd Entry)

LG: 07 Jun 51

578390 F/Sgt Gordon Acklam (43rd Entry)

LG: 07 Jun 51 and Bar 10 Jun 54

578490 Signaller D.A. Birchall (43rd Entry)

LG: tbn

578452 Signaller Ingolf Peter Frost (43rd Entry)

LG: 10 Dec 48 - For distinguished flying services in operating the Berlin Airlift

- Engineer Austen Brian Howes (43rd Entry)

LG: 01 Jun 53

576582 Signaller Thomas McMorran Rae (43rd Entry)

LG: 09 Jun 49

- Engineer Stanley Wright (43rd Entry)

LG: 10 Jun 48

579364 Sgt Neville Lawrence (46th Entry)

LG: tbn

- F/Sgt Stanley William Austin (52nd Entry)

LG: tbn

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Military Medal

The Military Medal (MM) was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land. The medal was established on 25 March 1916. It was the other ranks' equivalent to the Military Cross (MC), which was awarded to commissioned officers and, rarely, to warrant officers, although WOs could also be awarded the MM. The MM ranked below the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), which was also awarded to non-commissioned members of the Army.

560419 Flt Sgt Harold Theakston Gibbs (13th Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 22 May 42 - Whilst on 83 sqn; Airfield Defence Malta (buried there).

565019 Sgt Victor Thomas McFarlane (22nd Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 14 Jun 40 - Whilst on 12 sqn; evaded from France.

565278 Sgt Ernest Frederick William Russell (23rd Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 10 May 40 - Rearming aircraft under fire in Norway.

568967 - John William MacFarlane (33rd Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 20 Jul 43 - whilst serving on 10 sqn.

579104 - John William Frankish (43rd Entry) LG: 205 May 46 - for services in Indonesia.

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Conspicuous Gallantry Medal

The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) was, until 1993, a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Armed Forces (and from September 1942 to personnel of the Merchant Navy of rank equivalent to that of Petty Officer or Seaman) and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy at sea or in the air. The Medal was the other ranks' equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) when awarded for bravery to commissioned officers

565380 W/O Harold Vertican (23rd Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 07 Jul 43 - Awarded Whilst serving on 462 Sqn. Only apprentice to be awarded the CGM.

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Distinguished Service Medal

The Distinguished Service Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, up to and including the rank of Chief Petty Officer, for bravery and resourcefulness on active service at sea. The medal was established on 14 October 1914. It was the Other Ranks' equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, although it ranked below that decoration in order of precedence, between the George Medal and the Military Medal. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSM". In 1993, the DSM was discontinued, and since then the Distinguished Service Cross has been awarded to personnel of all ranks.

335602 Sgt William Herbert Holbrook (2nd Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 11 Jun 42

363999 Flt Sgt Montagu Leslie Josling Keam (8th Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 16 Jun 42

364794 Flt Sgt Arthur James Brett (9th Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 11 Jun 46

567651 A/Flt Sgt Robert Cambrai Goodfellow (31st Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 01 Jan 46

567971 Sgt Cecil Reginal Long (32nd Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 25 Aug 42

568205 T/ Sgt Harold William Perrett (32nd Entry) paver at the Halton Grove LG: 19 Jun 45

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Mentioned in Dispatches

Mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) is awarded to one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.

335612 AVM Leslie William Cannon (2nd Entry)

MiD x 4LG: tbn - 1. Kohat, India; 3 x during WW2 361636 LAC W.J.Singleton (3rd Entry)

MiD LG: tbn

361629 AM Sir Herbert Dorman Spreckley (3rd Entry)

LG: tbn - NW Frontier, India Campaign 1930

364705 Harold Constantine Smith (4th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 43

361632 H Stowell (4th Entry)

MiD LG: 1941 362480 WO Harold Stanley Haywood (5th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 42

362545 Sgt Richard Pikesley (5th Entry)

MiD x 2 LG: 05 Jun 43 and 08 Jun 44

362618 Wg Cdr Archibald Rossner (5th Entry)

MiD x 2 LG: 11 Jun 42 and 01 Jan 43

362795 Flt Sgt Donald J C Bracken (6th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 43

362870 Gp Capt Ronald Cleland (6th Entry)

MiD x 3 LG: 01 Jan 41 Retreat from France 1940; 14 Jan 44 Service at HQ SHEAF in preparation for D DAY 1944; 01 Jan 45 Service on HMS Hilary off Juno Beach on D DAY

362984 W O RJ Palmer (6th Entry)

MiD LG: 14 Jan 44

363011 LAC A Reeves (6th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 42

562997 Flt Sgt Alexander Cameron Thomas (6th Entry)

MiD x 2 LG: 11 Jun 42 and 02 Jun 43

361766 Sqn Ldr H A Wareham (7th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Feb 42

364529 PO E F Bailey (9th Entry)

MiD LG: 11 Jun 42

365289 R W J Moon (10th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 42

365403 Henry Cattell (10th Entry)

MiD x 2 LG: 01 Jan 42; 04 Jun 43

366030 Flt Sgt A F Bailey (12th Entry)

MiD x 3 LG: 01 Jan 43; 02 Jun 43; 01 Jan 45

366337 Flt Lt H T Legg (12th Entry)

MiD LG: 14 Jan 44

366205 LAC J A Talkington (12th Entry)

MiD LG: tbd - Awarded by His Excellency, the Commnander -in-Chief, India. For Gallant and Distinguished services in the field, North West Frontier of India (Mohamed Operations) 1935

366464 Vincent Evan Morgan Watkins (12th Entry)

MiD LG: 08 Jun 44

560256 Fg Off Terence Lawson Reeves (13th Entry)

LG: 14 Jan 44

560189 Sqn Ldr Johnston Bolton Robertson (13th Entry)

MiD LG:01 Jan 45

560749 WO Edward Dunglinson (14th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 44

560505 Flt Sgt Frederick Hanley (14th Entry)

MiD x 2 LG: 01 Jan 42; 01 Aug 42

560843 Ernest James Maddick (14th Entry)

MiD LG: 06 Feb 43

560067 Flt Sgt E Piercy (14th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Apr 44

561421 Arthur Witt (15th Entry)

MiD LG: 19 Apr 41

561516 PO Frank Reginald Carey (16th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 41

562137 R Harvey (16th Entry)

MiD LG: tba

561966 D Wares (16th Entry)

MiD LG: 14 Jan 44

561981 Flt Sgt Bernard Maurice Bannister (17th Entry)

MiD LG: 20 Feb 40

562304 PO Richard Bilney (17th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 40

562045 Sgt Leonard Edwin Cowan (17th Entry) LG: 24 Sep 41

562184 Francis Raymond Lucas (17th Entry)

MiD LG: 1943

44456 Grp Cpt Thomas Gilbert Mahaddie (17th Entry)

MiD x 2LG: 1942

Air Marshal Sir Kenneth Porter CB KBE (17th Entry)

MiD x 3 LG: 24 Sep 41; 11 Jun 42 and 01 Jan 46

562336 Flt Sgt Percy Edwin Taylor (17th Entry)

MiD LG: 14 Jan 44

562503 Flt Sgt Leonard George Cankett (18th Entry)

MiD x 2 LG: 01 Jan 42; 14 Jan 44

562564 Sgt George Kennedy (18th Entry)

MiD LG: 23 Dec 38

562826 Sgt Harry Kenneth Frank Marshall (18th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 41 - for distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations inWaziristan, North West Frontier of India, 17th January to 15th September 1937

562801 PO Denis Henry Allan Moore (18th Entry)

MiD LG: 11 Jun 42

562925 Sgt Leslie Arthur James Patey (18th Entry)

MiD LG: 17 Mar 41

562595 Flt Sgt Cedric Charles Pettit (18th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 46

562610 Sqn Ldr Edward Rowland Thorn (18th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 46

563034 Sgt Ernest Ronald Abbott (19th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 41

563040 Flt Sgt Alexander Bickerstaff (19th Entry)

MiD LG: 11 Jan 42

562973 Flt Lt Ralph Brown (19th Entry)

MiD x 2LG: 14 Jan 44; 14 Jun 45 (Sqn Ldr)

563046 Sgt Arthur Victor Clowes (19th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 41

563426 Flt Sgt Frederick George Berry (19th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Jan 41 - KIA, 01 Sep 40 - Hawker Hurricane I, P3276

565113 PO A F Bailey (20th Entry)

MiDLG: 01 Jan 43

563521 Flt Sgt George William Barkham (20th Entry)

MiD LG: 08 Jun 44

564490 WO Henry 'Doc' Watson (21st Entry)

MiD x 3 1 -LG: 01 Sep 41 - PO Ian Robertson of 83 Sqn recalls “I remember a very, very, brave armourer, Warrant Officer “Doc” Watson. I had just started to taxi out with a large load of 40 lb anti-personnel bombs for an intruder operation which was one of the first against the searchlight belt. Suddenly, one of the bombs fell from one of the wing carriers. I shouted to Doc Watson to get rid of it, and he was somewhat slow, I urged him on in no uncertain terms. As “Doc” ran off carrying the bomb I suddenly realised that it became live as soon as it had dropped from the carrier; luckily neither “Doc” or the bomb came to any harm”. 2 - LG: 14 Mar 42 3 - LG: 14 Jan 44

564737 Wg Cdr Robert Thomas Langton (22nd Entry) MiD x 2 LG: 08 Aug 44; 01 Jan 45

564953 PO F C Maddison (22nd Entry)

MiD x 2LG: 01 Jan 42; 01 Jun 42

562715 PO (Act Flt Lt) Frank Buckley (23rd Entry)

MiD x 2 LG: 01 Jan 44; 01 Jun 44

565310 John Russel (23rd Entry)

MiD LG: tbn

565194 Sydney Russell (23rd Entry)

MiD LG: tbn

565501 W.O. Allan Bartrop (24th Entry)

MiD x 3 LG: 1: TBA, 2: 01 Jan 46, 3: 29 Jun 46 (for service in Palestine)

565569 Sqn Ldr AWT Hills (24th Entry)

MiD LG: 14 Jan 42

565961 R R Stevens (25th Entry)

MiD LG: 1941

566835 Cpl Cliff Harris-Ward (29th Entry)

MiD LG: 11 Jun 42

567512 Flt Lt David George Dunphy (31st Entry)

MiD LG: tbn - Korea

568467 Flt Sgt Harold Augustus Collis (32nd Entry)

MiD LG: 14 Jan 44

568936 Sqn Ldr L Kendrick (33rd Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 46

570611 Wg Cdr Donald Biltcliffe (34th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 1943

570174 Plt Off Harry Ellison (34th Entry)

LG: 01 Jan 1943

570008 Cpl I A Neilson (34th Entry)

MiD x 2LG: 14 Jan 1944; 08 Jun 44

573748 F/Sgt Cyril Henry Webb (38th Entry) LG: 29 Oct 48 - for distinguished service in Palestine

578724 Sgt Philip Oliver Parr (44th Entry)

MiD LG: 01 Apr 52 - Korea

579262 Sgt William Geoffrey Holliday (46th Entry)

MiD LG: 31 Aug 51 - Korea

579749 Flt Lt Leonard Charles Swalwell (48th Entry)

MiD LG: 24 Apr 53 - Korea

584223 Cpl Frederick George Grogan (56th Entry)

MiD LG: 10 Nov 53 - Korea

690598 W.O. John Lawrie Mullen (113th Entry)

LG: Nov 94

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Foreign Awards and Honours

Iraq Gallantry Medal

The King Faisal I Medal for Gallantry (Nut al-Shuja'at al-Malik Faisal al-Awwal): instituted by King Faisal I on 15th May 1926 as a reward for acts of supreme gallantry in the face of the enemy. It was commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to Iraq. Obsolete 1934.

364393 LAC K S Rancombe (8th Entry)

364140 LAC C Adams (10th Entry) For gallantry in operations against SHAIKH AHMED OF BARZAN 1931-32, Rancombe and Adams were part of a column involved in the aforementioned operation when they succeeded in recovering, while under fire, mules (presumably carrying operational equipment or supplies) which had stampeded.

US ‘Soldier’s Medal’

The Soldier's Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving conflict with an enemy. (US equivalent to AFM)

365357 F/Sgt Richard Edwin Rennie (10th Entry)

06 Aug 43

574194 Cpl Cyril John Thorne (38th Entry)

06 Aug 43

Croix de Guerre

The Croix de Guerre is a French military decoration awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. It is also commonly bestowed on foreign military forces allied to France.

564450 Sgt Royce Clifford Wilkinson (21st Entry)

1942

Ceskoslovenský válecný kríž 1939–1945 (Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945)

The Ceskoslovenský válecný kríž 1939–1945 is military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for those who had provided great service to the Czechoslovak state (in exile) during the years of World War II.

44456 Grp Cpt Thomas Gilbert Mahaddie (17th Entry)

Jan 43