orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

439
A Fine ‘Civil Division’ C.B.E., Great War Fighter
Ace’s 1917 M.C. Group of Five to Captain W.T.
Price, 48 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and Royal
Warwickshire Regiment, Who Having Shot Down
2 Enemy Scouts, 9.5.1917, Became Lothar von
Richthofen’s 22nd Victory on the Same Day
a) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire,
2nd type, Civil Division, Commander’s (C.B.E.) neck
Badge, silver-gilt and enamel
b) Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued
c) British War and Victory Medals (2/Lieut. W.T.
Price. R.F.C.), rank officially corrected on BWM
d) Coronation 1937, generally good very fine, with
named card boxes of issue for campaign awards (5)
£4,000-5,000
C.B.E. London Gazette William Thomas Price, Esq., M.C.,
Principal, Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport,
Shropshire
M.C. London Gazette 18.7.1917 Temp. Lt. William Thomas
Price, R. War. R., and R.F.C.
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His
machine being disabled by fire, and his gun out of action, he
managed by skilful handling to effect a safe landing, thus
saving the machine and his passenger from capture. He has
previously done fine work against hostile aircraft.’
The Recommendation, from the Officer Commanding 48
Squadron, dated In the Field, 13.5.1917, states: ‘May I bring
to your notice the good work done, successful patrols and
combats carried out, and devotion to duty displayed by 2/Lt.
W.T. Price 13th Royal Warwicks and R.F.C. and 2/Lt. M.A.
Benjamin R.F.C. (S.R.) Observer in the same machine. These
two Officers working together have on a great many
occasions successfully engaged Hostile Formations. By their
pluck and daring in action at all times have set a magnificent
example to other pilots and observers. Lt. Benjamin’s
cheerfulness and stoicism on the ground at all times and
especially when casualties were heavy went a long way to
maintaining the spirits of others.
On 6.4.1917 an Albatros Scout was driven down out of
control.
On 9.4.1917 while on O.P. and after having fired a green
light to signify engine trouble and their intention to return to
our lines, H.A. were seen and without hesitation attacked;
diving from 12,000 to 2,500 feet at which height H.A. was
destroyed and seen to crash. This subsequently confirmed by
A.A.
On 25.4.1917 three hostile scouts were engaged, one of
which was destroyed and the remainder dispersed.
On 27.4.1917 two large two-seater H.A. were seen being
escorted by 3 H.A. scouts; without hesitation and in spite of
superior numbers and low altitude 3,500 feet, they attacked
by diving on one 2-seater H.A. which also dived steeply, the
fight finished at only 400 feet and not until H.A. was seen to
crash into the River Scarpe.
On 7.5.1917, dived from 10,000 to 2,500 feet after a twoseater
which was forced to land in a field.
On 9.5.1917 in company with another Bristol Fighter Lt.
Price with another Observer dived from 8,000 to 1,200 feet
on 2 L.V.G.’s one of which was forced to the ground and
there again fired at and ultimately left when no movement
orders, deCoratioNs, CampaigN medaLs aNd miLitaria
A FINE SELECTION OF FLYING AWARDS FROM
THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE ARTHUR JONES ESQ.
The majority of the following 59 Lots come with a large quantity of copied research material.
WWW.spiNK.Com
Captain W.T. Price
was observed in hostile machine on ground as it was
presumed both occupants were killed. The other H.A. was
driven East.
On 9.5.1917 Lt. Price (with Lt. Claye as Observer this time)
engaged H.A. which, according to reports received from
Machine Gunners in the trenches, they destroyed. During
this fight a vital part of Lt. Price’s gun broke and he and his
passenger were wounded. His machine was put out of action.
But in spite of these disabilities Lt. Price successfully
manoeuvred his machine, landing this side of the line,
thereby saving his machine, his passenger and himself from
falling into the enemy’s hands.
Lt. Price was the best exponent of flying on a Bristol Fighter
in the Squadron and probably the Corps. His demonstrations
to and with new pilots as passengers over the aerodrome
instilled great confidence in young officers, besides showing
them how the machine could and should be handled; an
example which most of them followed with excellent results.’