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THE BENTLEY PRIORY BATTLE OF BRITAIN TRUST APPEAL CHARITY AUCTION 12 12 The Second War Fighter Ace’s 1940 ‘Battle of France’ D.F.C. Group of Seven to Hurricane and Spitfire Pilot, Group Captain P.G.H. Matthews, Royal Air Force, Who Followed Up His Four Victories During the Battle of France With Three Damaged and One Destroyed in the Battle of Britain; A Squadron C.O. in North Africa, He Claimed Further ‘Flamers’ Before Being Shot Down Over the Mediterranean, 3.11.1942 a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1941’ b) 1939-1945 Star, with Battle of Britain Bar c) Air Crew Europe Star d) Africa Star, with North Africa 1942-43 Bar e) Italy Star f) War Medal g) Coronation 1953, good very fine, mounted as originally worn together with the recipient’s Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air emblem; with the following related items: - D.F.C. Royal Mint case of issue - The recipient’s three surviving Pilot’s Flying Log Book, covering the periods 27.6.1940-22.7.1952; 24.7.1952-12.9.1958 and 22.9.1958-2.9.1964 respectively, the first log book privately bound and annotated ‘Original Log Book lost during evacuation of B.E.F. from France on June 18th 1940’ - Commission appointing Peter Gerald Hugh Matthews a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force, dated 24.10.1937 - The recipient’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air Certificate, dated 2.1.1956 - The recipient’s Medical Certificates, Instructor Pilot Orders, Transition Certificates, Instrument Certificates, and Personnel Orders - The recipient’s Photograph Album, together with a large number of additional photographs of the recipient - A number of programmes for Wasps [Rugby] Football Club, featuring the recipient - The recipient’s Flying note-board, complete with card, together with his flying waist-coat - Various ties, badges, riband bars, rank insignia, and epaulettes - Various newspaper and magazine articles, including one from the Sunday Express magazine, 11.9.1988, featuring the recipient - Various invitations and programmes commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, 1990 (lot) £10,000-12,000 WWW.SPINK.COM
September 6, 2012 - LONDON Group Captain P.G.H. Matthews (on left) D.F.C. London Gazette 13.5.1941 Flight Lieutenant Peter Gerald Hugh Matthews (40247) - No. 1 Squadron ‘This officer has been engaged on active operations against the enemy over a long period. He has displayed high qualities of leadership and exceptional tactical ability. He has destroyed at least 4 enemy aircraft.’ The Recommendation, dated 23.4.1941, states: ‘This Officer has been employed on flying duties in an operational Squadron since September 1939. He has destroyed 4 and probably 7 enemy aircraft. This is by no means a full measure of his outstanding qualities of leadership and organisation, nor of the confusion he has brought to the enemy through his tactical ability and inspired leadership of his Flight. He has assumed command on several occasions when his seniors became non-effective through various reasons, and held the Flight together; particularly so during the strenuous period when covering the evacuation from France, and later when there was considerable action during the Autumn of 1940.’ Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air London Gazette 2.1.1956 Wing Commander Peter Gerald Hugh Matthews, D.F.C. (40247), Royal Air Force. Group Captain Peter Gerald Hugh Matthews, D.F.C., was born at Hoylake, on the Cheshire Wirrall, 8.5.1919, the son of Mr. H.T. Matthews, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Liverpool, and was educated at Quarry Bank School, Hoylake, and at Liverpool College, where he intended to train as a vet like his father. However, in August 1937 he joined the Royal Air Force, being commissioned Pilot Officer, 24.10.1937, and was posted to No. 5 Flying Training School, Sealand, before in June the following year joining the staff at No. 1 Air Armament School at Manby. Posted to No. 1 Squadron (Hurricanes), Tangmere, 20.8.1939, he went to France with the Squadron at the outbreak of the Second World War, and was billeted in a deserted nunnery at Le Harve. Promoted Flying Officer, 23.3.1940, his first notable contact with the enemy came on the 3rd April 1940: ‘Met 5 Me.109s near Thionville at 26,000 feet. After one diving attack 4 of them continued downwards and escaped. The remaining one was shot down. I did not get a chance to fire before the Me.109s ran away’ (retrospective entry in the recipient’s Flying Log book refers). Two weeks later, on the 16th May he finally got his chance: ‘6 Hurricanes sighted more than 200 German bombers escorted entering France near Vouziers- attacked 16 Me.110 escort fighters. 8 Me.110s shot down- 1 Hurricane lost. Shot both engines out of a Me.110 and killed a rear gunner, and pipped one engine in another. I Destroyed, 1 Probable.’ (ibid). On the 5th June he had further success: ‘12 Hurricanes intercepted about 150 bombers and escort fighters over Rouen. 8 enemy aircraft were destroyed...the bombers were turned and did not meet their objectives. Shot down 1 He.111 and badly damaged another probable’ (ibid). The Squadron returned to RAF Tangmere, 17.6.1940, and the following day, covering the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from St. Nazaire, Matthews chased and shared in the shooting down of a Ju.88, seeing the troopship Lancastrian sunk during the engagement. As he recalled many years later; ‘When the big Blitz started we got out in a hell of a hurry. I had to leave everything for the Germans- my saxophone, cameras, a very good record player with a wonderful selection of records, and my golf clubs’ (Article in the Sunday Express magazine, 11.9.1988 refers). No. 1 Squadron in the Battle of Britain Back on home shores at RAF Northolt Matthews was thrust straight into the Battle and on the 31st July: ‘Intercepted Do.17 eight miles south of Isle of Wight. Chased to within ten miles of the French coast. Damaged enemy aircraft but uncertain as to its destruction. Probable’ (Log Book refers). During the Battle of Britain he was to have further success, 69
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THIS EXQUISITE LIMITED EDITION BADG
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DATE SALE NO. Thursday 6 September
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4.3 Bidding as Principal When makin
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5.13.1.3 as soon as possible follow
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£25 © Copyright 2012 STAMPS COINS
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