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Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 60

Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from

Schätzpreis
3.000 £ - 3.500 £
ca. 6.066 $ - 7.077 $
Zuschlagspreis:
4.500 £
ca. 9.099 $
Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 60

Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from

Schätzpreis
3.000 £ - 3.500 £
ca. 6.066 $ - 7.077 $
Zuschlagspreis:
4.500 £
ca. 9.099 $
Beschreibung:

Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte The Great War D.S.C. group of five awarded to Squadron Commander W. H. “Old Bill” Wilson, Royal Naval Air Service, late Imperial Yeomanry, a veteran of the fledgling R.N.A.S’s Dunkirk-based operations in 1914, when he gained a reputation for engaging enemy pilots and observers with his ‘pet rifle’: he went on to collect the R.H.S. Medal in bronze for saving his observer after coming down in the drink during the Gallipoli operations, and his D.S.C. for the period ending December 1917 Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. W. H. Wilson, Imp. Yeo.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Flt. Lieut. W. H. Wilson, R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (Sq. Cr. W. H. Wilosn, R.N.A.S.), very fine and better (5) £3000-3500 Footnote D.S.C. London Gazette 1 May 1918: ‘To officers of the Royal Naval Air Service for zeal and devotion to duty from the period 1 July to 31 December 1917.’ William Hayland Wilson, who served as a Lieutenant in the 25th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, was a pre-war member of the fledgling Royal Naval Air Service who qualified for his “Wings” in August 1914 (Certificate No. 875). Quickly ordered to Dunkirk, where he joined the the Eastchurch Squadron, under Commander C. R. Samson, the famous aircraft pioneer and pilot, who would shortly establish the R.N.A.S. Armoured Car Section, Wilson rapidly established himself as a determined and fearless aviator, or certainly according to his C.O’s memoirs, Fights and Flights: ‘Some new pilots arrived shortly after we were installed at Dunkirk, and although at first they were treated with suspicion by old hands, we soon found them to be real stout-hearted fellows: Hayland Wilson, G. L. Thomson, and Butler were the newcomers, each of whom has written his name in large letters in the annals of the Royal Naval Air Service ... Hayland Wilson, who for some reason was called “Old Bill,” developed a great keenness to be taken up as a passenger with his pet rifle to shoot a Hun. He was popularly supposed to be a great big-game shot, and many was the flight we did with him and his rifle patrolling over Dunkirk waiting for a German to come. It was a cold job in winter flying at about 7,000 feet insufficiently clad, and the pain on alighting whilst the blood started to circulate once more to one’s frozen extremities was intense. One day we did come across a Hun, but Bill was too frozen to shoot. The Maurice Farman was then refilled with petrol, and as other German aeroplanes were reported to be crossing the lines, I ascended as soon as possible, carrying Hayland Wilson armed with a rifle. I sighted seven Huns, and after engaging one which was already over Dunkirk and considerably above me, I got across the bows of two more, and gave chase, engaging each in turn. Their superior speed enabled them to get past me. I then climbed and took up a position to intercept two more who were over Dunkirk. I could not get very close to one of them; but I got directly over the other at very close range, and we had a rifle duel. We were certain that we had hit the observer, as he ceased to take any further interest in affairs. The Biche pilot put his nose down and dived for the lines; I followed; but a Maurice Farman is not a rapid aeroplane at that type of work, and the Hun got away. The Germans had only hit our aeroplane three times. As soon as I landed the old Farman was got ready again with bombs put on it; and Collet with Wilson as passenger went to Ostend to pay a return compliment to the Germans with eighteen 16lb. bombs and some rifle grenades. They unloaded their cargo on the docks and railway stations of Ostend. I was always a great believer in quick retaliation. Collet came down fairly low, and had a hot time with “Archie” ... ’ By April 1915, Samson and his pilots we

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 60
Auktion:
Datum:
13.12.2007
Auktionshaus:
Dix Noonan Webb
16 Bolton St, Mayfair
London, W1J 8BQ
Großbritannien und Nordirland
auctions@dnw.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7016 1700
+44 (0)20 7016 1799
Beschreibung:

Exceptional Naval and Polar Awards from the Collection of RC Witte The Great War D.S.C. group of five awarded to Squadron Commander W. H. “Old Bill” Wilson, Royal Naval Air Service, late Imperial Yeomanry, a veteran of the fledgling R.N.A.S’s Dunkirk-based operations in 1914, when he gained a reputation for engaging enemy pilots and observers with his ‘pet rifle’: he went on to collect the R.H.S. Medal in bronze for saving his observer after coming down in the drink during the Gallipoli operations, and his D.S.C. for the period ending December 1917 Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1918; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. W. H. Wilson, Imp. Yeo.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Flt. Lieut. W. H. Wilson, R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (Sq. Cr. W. H. Wilosn, R.N.A.S.), very fine and better (5) £3000-3500 Footnote D.S.C. London Gazette 1 May 1918: ‘To officers of the Royal Naval Air Service for zeal and devotion to duty from the period 1 July to 31 December 1917.’ William Hayland Wilson, who served as a Lieutenant in the 25th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa, was a pre-war member of the fledgling Royal Naval Air Service who qualified for his “Wings” in August 1914 (Certificate No. 875). Quickly ordered to Dunkirk, where he joined the the Eastchurch Squadron, under Commander C. R. Samson, the famous aircraft pioneer and pilot, who would shortly establish the R.N.A.S. Armoured Car Section, Wilson rapidly established himself as a determined and fearless aviator, or certainly according to his C.O’s memoirs, Fights and Flights: ‘Some new pilots arrived shortly after we were installed at Dunkirk, and although at first they were treated with suspicion by old hands, we soon found them to be real stout-hearted fellows: Hayland Wilson, G. L. Thomson, and Butler were the newcomers, each of whom has written his name in large letters in the annals of the Royal Naval Air Service ... Hayland Wilson, who for some reason was called “Old Bill,” developed a great keenness to be taken up as a passenger with his pet rifle to shoot a Hun. He was popularly supposed to be a great big-game shot, and many was the flight we did with him and his rifle patrolling over Dunkirk waiting for a German to come. It was a cold job in winter flying at about 7,000 feet insufficiently clad, and the pain on alighting whilst the blood started to circulate once more to one’s frozen extremities was intense. One day we did come across a Hun, but Bill was too frozen to shoot. The Maurice Farman was then refilled with petrol, and as other German aeroplanes were reported to be crossing the lines, I ascended as soon as possible, carrying Hayland Wilson armed with a rifle. I sighted seven Huns, and after engaging one which was already over Dunkirk and considerably above me, I got across the bows of two more, and gave chase, engaging each in turn. Their superior speed enabled them to get past me. I then climbed and took up a position to intercept two more who were over Dunkirk. I could not get very close to one of them; but I got directly over the other at very close range, and we had a rifle duel. We were certain that we had hit the observer, as he ceased to take any further interest in affairs. The Biche pilot put his nose down and dived for the lines; I followed; but a Maurice Farman is not a rapid aeroplane at that type of work, and the Hun got away. The Germans had only hit our aeroplane three times. As soon as I landed the old Farman was got ready again with bombs put on it; and Collet with Wilson as passenger went to Ostend to pay a return compliment to the Germans with eighteen 16lb. bombs and some rifle grenades. They unloaded their cargo on the docks and railway stations of Ostend. I was always a great believer in quick retaliation. Collet came down fairly low, and had a hot time with “Archie” ... ’ By April 1915, Samson and his pilots we

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 60
Auktion:
Datum:
13.12.2007
Auktionshaus:
Dix Noonan Webb
16 Bolton St, Mayfair
London, W1J 8BQ
Großbritannien und Nordirland
auctions@dnw.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7016 1700
+44 (0)20 7016 1799
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