orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

Lieutenant J.S. Ingleby
493
British War Medal (2) (Lieut. A.L. Crow. R.A.F.;
Lieut. J.S. Ingleby. R.A.F.), minor official correction
to first, generally very fine or better (2)
£100-140
Lieutenant Arthur Leslie Crow, born Canterbury, Kent,
1894; educated at the Simon Langton School, Canterbury;
enlisted as Private, 26th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers,
9.8.1915; advanced Sergeant, 14.4.1916, and served with
the British Expeditionary Force, 4.5.1916-1.2.1917;
commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant, 7th Battalion,
East Yorkshire Regiment, 29.5.1917; attached Royal Flying
Corps, October 1917, and after training was posted as Flying
Officer Observer to 35 Squadron (F.K. 8’s), Estree-en-
Chaussee, France, 14.12.1917; the squadron was mainly
tasked with photo reconnaissance and artillery co-operation,
and on 10.2.1918 Crow was flying with Lieutenant Williams
‘Arty Patrol - 4 25lb bombs dropped in Trench Junction...
with good effect causing hostile retaliation with M.G...
200rds (Vickers) fired into Bellenglise and Bellicourt main
streets from 1,000ft’ (Squadron Record Book refers).
Lieutenant John Seymour Ingleby, born Kingston-on-Hill,
1899; educated at Harrow, 1914-1917; commissioned Flight
Officer (On Probation), Royal Naval Air Service, 9.7.1917;
gained R.A.C. Aviators’ Certificate (No. 5619) in a
Cauldrom Biplane at Vendome, France, 23.10.1917; carried
out further training at Cranwell before being posted to
R.N.A.S. Eastchurch; Temporary Flight Sub Lieutenant,
January 1918; served as a Delivery Pilot with 14 A.A.P.,
Castle Bromwich, from May 1918; he was killed when he
crash landed a DH10, 11.6.1919 and is buried in Sonning
(St. Andrew’s) Churchyard, Berkshire.
494
British War Medal (Lieut. M. Gibson. R.A.F.),
naming rubbed, good very fine
£180-220
Lieutenant Max Gibson, born 1893; prior to the Great War
was employed as a Salesman in Toronto, Canada;
commissioned Flying Officer, Royal Flying Corps, 8.9.1917,
and was employed as an Instructor with 86 C.T.S., 43rd
orders, deCoratioNs, CampaigN medaLs aNd miLitaria
WWW.spiNK.Com
Wing, Texas; arrived in the UK, February 1918; posted as a
Pilot to 45 (Fighter) Squadron (Camels), Grossa, Italy, June
1918; flying on offensive patrol with another Camel,
6.8.1918, ‘Saw 6 E.A. (1 Aviatik 2/Str. 5 Scouts) at 10.50am
at 11,000ft vicinity of Segusino. 1 E.A. driven down and
crashed by Lt. James and 1 by Lt. Gibson. Confirmed by
both Pilots. 2 others possibly crashed by Lt. James (Squadron
Record Book refers); the Combat Report adds further insight,
‘While on Special O.P. ordered by telephone, Lt. James
sighted 5 New type scouts escorting an Aviatik 2/Str. at
11,000ft over Segusino. He signalled to Lt. Gibson the other
member of the patrol of their whereabouts but the latter did
not observe his signal and dived on the 2/Str. not seeing the
5 scouts. The 2/Str. did not seem to see him approaching
and he was able to get in two long bursts at very close range.
The E.A. turned over on its back and dived vertically down
absolutely out of control; Lt. Gibson followed it down to
7,000ft. and saw it crash N. of Alono. On seeing Lt. Gibson
attack the 2/Str. the 5 scouts immediately dived on him. Lt.
James at once attacked the scouts to guard Lt. Gibson who
was in a dangerous position, firing long bursts at close range
into each E.A. as they dived on him (Lt. Gibson). After firing
a long burst into the first one it dived vertically down out of
control. He then attacked the second E.A. and after firing a
long burst into it, it stalled and fell down out of control. He
fired long bursts at the third and fourth as they dived, but
they immediately turned away. Lt. James then singled out the
last E.A. and fired two long bursts at point blank range. The
E.A. stalled, turned over on its back and dived vertically down
with engine full on; he followed it down to 3,000ft. and
observed it to crash in the valley of St. Pietro. Lt. James was
unable to observe the crash of the first two scouts owing to
the remainder of the enemy patrol attacking Lt. Gibson but
strongly believes them to have crashed at Valdobbiadene and
Moriago respectively. Lt. Gibson’s machine was badly shot
about by machine gun fire’; Gibson was in the thick of it
again, when flying on close patrol with Captain J. Cottle and
Lieutenant E.H. Masters, 20.8.1918, ‘Saw 3 E.A. 2/Strs.
(type unknown) at 7.10pm at 14,000ft. S. Asiago. Capt.
Cottle shot one down. Lt. Masters shot one down. Lt.
Gibson shot one down’ (Squadron Record Book refers); once
again the Combat Report offers more detail, ‘While on No.
12 C.O.P. Capt. Cottle observed 3 2/Str. E.A. W.of Asiago
travelling S.E. Capt. Cottle climbed his Patrol into the sun
and cut them off from the rear.
Each member of the patrol singled out one E.A. and attacked
it at close range. Capt. Cottle getting on to the tail of one
E.A. fired several long bursts at very close range, and saw the
observer collapse, after he had fired several rounds. He
observed this E.A. to dive down through the clouds with
engine full on completely out of control at 7,000ft. over the
mountains towards our lines.
At the same time Lt. Masters attacked another E.A. which
immediately dived towards Mt. Forcellona. Obtaining a good
position he fired two long bursts at very close range after
which the E.A. seemed to explode and burst into pieces (Lt.
Gibson confirms). He was unable to ascertain where the
wreckage fell owing to the low clouds.
Lt. Gibson fired two long bursts at the above machine but
seeing the other E.A. attempting to escape, chased it
northwards. The E.A. immediately dived and Lt. Gibson fired
several long bursts at very close range, after which the E.A.
got into a spin with engine full on and dived through the
clouds absolutely out of control (Lt. Masters confirms).
Owing to very low clouds Capt. Cottle and Lt. Gibson were
unable to see their E.A. crash but the former believes the E.A.
which he attacked to have crashed on our side of the line’;
Gibson moved with the squadron to France, and operated
from Bettoncourt, September 1918; returned to Home
Establishment, 8.2.1919; posted to 186 Squadron,
13.7.1919; the latter was a development squadron based at
Gosport, tasked for naval co-operation duties; discharged
1920.