orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

449
A Scarce Great War 1918 D.F.C., 1919 A.F.C.
Group of Four to Handley Page Bomber Pilot,
Major T.A. Batchelor, Royal Naval Air Service and
Royal Air Force, For His Gallantry in Leading an
Low-Level Night Attack on the Zeebrugge Lock
Gates, 3.5.1918. A Noted Inventor, He Was Killed
in a Flying Accident, 22.4.1918, Whilst
Undertaking Experimental Night Flights
a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as
issued
b) Air Force Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued
c) British War and Victory Medals (Major T.A.
Batchelor. R.A.F), campaign awards lacquered,
generally very fine or better, with the following related
items:
- The recipient’s parchment Conduct Certificates,
1903-1917, bound in a book
- Congratulatory letter dated 13.5.1918
- A portrait photograph of recipient in uniform (lot)
£2,800-3,200
D.F.C. London Gazette 2.7.1918 Captain Thomas Archibald
Batchelor, Royal Air Force
‘Displayed great gallantry, determination and skill in a night
bomlbing raid under exceptionally adverse conditions. Two
machines set out on this raid, but an accident befell one of
them, which gave the enemy warning, and Capt. Batchelor’s
machine was accordingly subjected to very intense fire. He
continued his course, and dropped his bombs on a vulnerable
position in the enemy’s strong post from a height of 500 feet.
He was wounded in the arm, but managed with great
difficulty to return. The loss of blood consequent on the
wound made it very difficult to control his heavy machine,
the petrol tank of which had been hit. He invariably displays
great bravery and skill in action.’
The Recommendation (originally for a D.S.C.) states: ‘For
conspicuous determination and gallantry. On the early
morning of the 3rd instant he took off to Bomb Zeebrugge
Mole and Lock Gates, under the following circumstances:
The weather conditions on the night of the 2nd/3rd instant
were not good as the Moon was late and there was a ground
mist. It was decided, however, to undertake the operation.
He set out at 2.30am in company with another machine. The
other machine had engine trouble and returned after getting
over the objective and putting the enemy thoroughly on the
alert. Captain Batchelor, crossing the Mole at 500 feet,
released his bombs, coming under intense anti-aircraft and
machine gun fire. He was wounded in the wrist, but still kept
on and attempted to take the line over the Lock Gates. He
was unable to keep the machine on the correct course owing
to the wound in his arm and on account of being blinded by
searchlights.
The return journey was made under great difficulties. Capt.
Batchelor was in severe pain and suffering from loss of blood,
which made it particularly difficult for him to control the
heavy machine (a Handley Page) which he was flying. His
petrol tank also had been hit. However, by the exercise of
great determination and skill this was successfully
accomplished and he made a perfect landing.
He invariably displays great bravery and skill in action and his
presence of mind and determination on this occasion set a
very fine example to the pilots of his squadron.’
A.F.C. London Gazette 3.6.1919 Captain Thomas Archibald
Batchelor, D.F.C.
‘For distinguished service rendered during the war.’
orders, deCoratioNs, CampaigN medaLs aNd miLitaria
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Major T.A. Batchelor
Major Thomas Archibald Batchelor, D.F.C., A.F.C., born
Aldershot, Hampshire, 1886; served as Assistant Clerk, Royal
Navy, and was posted in that capacity to H.M.S. Wildfire,
July 1903; served as Assistant Paymaster and Additional
Secretary to Captain G.H.W. Moore, H.M.S. Dreadnought
(battleship), from April 1907; after serving as Paymaster at
R.N.A.S. Calshot he transferred as Acting Flight Lieutenant,
Royal Naval Air Service, 11.11.1915 (1914 Star Roll gives
entitlement to medal as ‘Asst. Payr. R.N. Compensation
Officer’ and that the medal was ‘Retd to R. Mint 1934’);
gained RAC Aviators’ Certificate in a Maurice Farman
Biplane, C.F.S. Upavon, 17.12.1915; served as Armament
Officer at R.N.A.S. Cranwell and at Freiston, March 1916 -
July 1917; served at Air Ministry (Hotel Cecil, Strand), July
1917 - March 1918; Flight Commander 31.12.1916; posted
as Pilot to 214 Squadron (Handley Page Bombers),
Coudekerque, April 1918; the squadron was tasked with
bombing raids and on 3.5.1918, he carried out a night attack
on the Zeebrugge Lock Gates with Captain C. Darley,
‘experimental night raid... using a silent gliding approach
from 9,000 ft. within 80ft. of the target; the aim was to
release simultaneously one bomb close to each lock and a
third midway between them, so that the combined underwater
blast would burst open the lock gates. For this
operation Captain Batchelor had designed a special lowaltitude
bombsight and had carefully rehearsed its use with
the aid of a full-scale model of the target marked out on the