Beschreibung:

A most interesting and poignant Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. Powell Royal Flying Corps, late Intelligence Corps - with which unit he embarked to France as a founder member in August 1914: a three time Boat Race winning Cambridge Blue, Olympic Bronze medallist, accomplished artist and mountaineer, ‘a man of genius which showed itself in many fields’, he was tragically killed together with three fellow Eton masters climbing in the Swiss Alps in 1933 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918; 1914 Star (2. Lieut: E. W. Powell ; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. E. W. Powell R.A.F.), together with London Olympics 1908 participation medallion, white metal - pewter, good very fine (5) £1,800-£2,200 A most interesting and poignant Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. Powell Royal Flying Corps, late Intelligence Corps - with which unit he embarked to France as a founder member in August 1914: a three time Boat Race winning Cambridge Blue, Olympic Bronze medallist, accomplished artist and mountaineer, ‘a man of genius which showed itself in many fields’, he was tragically killed together with three fellow Eton masters climbing in the Swiss Alps in 1933 The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918; 1914 Star (2. Lieut: E. W. Powell ; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. E. W. Powell R.A.F.), together with London Olympics 1908 participation medallion, white metal - pewter, good very fine (5) £1,800-£2,200 O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919 - Egypt: ‘In recognition of distinguished services rendered during the war’ Eric Walter Powell was born on 6 May 1886 at The Vicarage, Holy Innocents, Hornsey, London, the son of Rev. Robert Walter Powell and his wife Mary Caroline Hankey. He was educated at Eton, where he became an accomplished oarsman, and Trinity College, Cambridge, gaining his rowing Blue and enjoying victory in the Boat Race as a member of the Cambridge eight in 1906, 1907 and 1908. Powell also participated in the 1908 London Olympic Games when Cambridge University made up a boat rowing in the eights and won a bronze medal for Great Britain. At this time, 3rd place rowing crew members did not receive a bronze medal each, rather, the prize bronze medal went to the team captain (presumably for the clubhouse), however, they were presented with their ‘participation’ pewter medals and a 3rd place certificate. Having returned to Eton in 1910, now as a master, Powell won the Diamond Challenge Sculls, seen as the pinnacle of amateur individual rowing, at Henley Royal Regatta in 1912. On the outbreak of the Great War, Powell’s expertise in languages saw him invited to join the newly created Intelligence Corps under its first Commandant, Major T. G. J. Torrie, 17th Light Cavalry, Indian Army. He was swiftly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and embarked overseas on 8 August 1914 as one of this new unit’s 13 founder officers. In France, the work of the Intelligence Corps in the area of aerial reconnaissance photography analysis and signals interception soon led to a close relationship with the Royal Flying Corps whose main role in the early days of the war was the provision of such information. It was in these circumstances, then, that Powell discovered an interest in flying and he successfully qualified as a pilot on 29 May 1915. Having transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as a specialist in Intelligence Corps work, the following June he was posted to No. 13 Squadron, an artillery observation and photo-reconnasissance squadron flying RE8s on the Western Front and on 8 December 1916 he was promoted Captain and Flight Commander. Whilst on the Western Front he painted various aircraft scenes. Powell returned to the Home Establishmen