orders, decorations, campaign medals and militaria - Spink

November 22, 2012 - LoNdoN
495
Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Ralph Neal
Cresswell), good very fine, placed in a wooden mount
£180-220
Lieutenant Ralph Neal Cresswell, born Wakefield,
Yorkshire, 1898; joined the Royal Flying Corps as a Cadet,
6.6.1917; commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant (On
Probation), 11.10.1917, after training he was posted as a
Pilot to 92 (Fighter) Squadron, Chattis Hill, December
1917; posted to 6 (Reconnaissance) Squadron (R.E. 8’s),
Longavesnes, France, 6.10.1918; on the 23rd October whilst
piloting R.E. 8 F6279, in his first operational flight,
Cresswell was shot down by Leutnant Hans Boes of Jasta
34b; Lieutenant Ralph Silk (his Observer) provided an
account of the action that was published in Tommy Goes To
War, ‘I had already made two flights over the enemy’s lines
that day, bombing, strafing and taking photographs, and had
retired to my tent for rest when the Squadron Commander
lifted the tent flap and said: ‘Silk, you will have to go up
again. The Huns are withdrawing their guns on the Le
Cateau road. I want you to blast the lot.’ Feeling
apprehensive, I remarked: ‘I feel I shall not return this time.’
‘Come, come,’ he said, ‘Your Guardian Angel will still look
after you.’ He gave me a gentle pat. ‘But who’s going to be
my pilot,’ I asked. ‘Creswell the new fellow.’ I shook hands
with him and rushed off to the waiting machine. Over the
lines a number of enemy Fokker machines swooped out of
the sun upon our four R.E. 8 machines, the air was full of
wings and bullets; when my machine gave a lurch, I turned
my head to my pilot, he had slumped over the controls
mortally wounded. Next I had a gun-shot wound in the head.
Lieutenant R.N. Cresswell
255
The machine went into a spin and finally crashed upon some
trees near Le Cateau. I can faintly remember being lowered
to the ground, then passed out.’ Silk was taken Prisoner of
War. Cresswell is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
496
Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Henry
Carbines), very fine
£80-120
Second Lieutenant Henry Carbines born Aintree, 1898;
educated at Preston Agricultural College; son of Major H.
Carbines, of Ilfracombe, Devon; initially a Private in the
Lancashire Hussars, he was commissioned Second
Lieutenant, 8th Battalion Liverpool Regiment, 29.5.1917;
served in the French Theatre of War, from 1917; attached
Royal Flying Corps, January 1918; after training posted as
Observer to 16 Squadron (R.E. 8’s), Complain l’Abbe,
19.3.1918; on 27.3.1918 whilst flying with Second
Lieutenant L. Playne in R.E. 8 B5028, ‘Machine left
aerodrome at 11.20am on Special Mission on Third Army
Front and was shot through petrol tank and forced to land on
84 Sqn’s aerodrome at about 3pm. Machine was repaired and
the pilot left at 6pm to fly back to the Squadron. Nothing has
been since been heard of the machine or personnel-believed
Missing’; both were later confirmed killed in action, and
having no known grave are commemorated on the Arras
Memorial.