The Great War Memorial Plaque to Major P. J. V. Lavarack, who was awarded the M.C. and Bar for his gallant services in No. 12 Squadron, R.F.C. in 1917

Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (Philip James Vaughan Lavarack) extremely fine £250-300

Philip James Vaughan Lavarack, who was born in 1890, was educated at Aldenham School prior to being appointed a Temporary Inspector of Works, R.E., in the honorary rank of Lieutenant, in December 1914. Having then served in that capacity out in France in 1915-16, he applied for pilot training in the Royal Flying Corps and was appointed a Flying Officer on gaining his “Wings” at the end of the latter year. Shortly thereafter, Lavarack was posted to No. 12 Squadron, a B.E. 2c unit in France, and quickly saw action, a case in point being the damage sustained by his aircraft in a combat on 23 April 1917, when the main spar was shot through, forcing him to make a crash-landing back at base. In fact, Lavarack served with great distinction and was awarded a brace of M.Cs:

M.C. London Gazette 26 May 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘Lieutenant Lavarack, with his Observer, Lieutenant L. Baker-Jones, have done consistently good work both in artillery observation and photography and have shown the greatest courage and perseverance throughout. Three times they have been attacked by hostile aircraft and each time beat off the attack and completed their work. On the last occasion, they brought down the hostile aircraft in flames.’

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 18 October 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘For skill and gallantry on 15 September 1917, when on artillery patrol over Drury, his machine was attacked by eight enemy aircraft. Capatin Lavarack succeeded in driving down one of the enemy completely out of control, and the rest were driven off east. Three scouts attacked him later and were driven off, one being obviously badly hit but it could not be followed down owing to clouds. Captain Lavarack returned to his aerodrome to replenish his ammunition and immediately went up again.

On 20 September 1917, his machine was attacked by four hostile scouts, into one of which he fired a long burst of fire. Flames were seen but appeared to die out. The enemy machine was followed down to 2,000 feet when another scout attacked and Captain Lavarack lost sight of the first one. When last seen it was completely out of control and emitting a large cloud of smoke. Captain Lavarack has during the last month fought and driven off enemy aircraft on seven occasions, and afterwards completed his work.’

As evidenced by the above recommendations, Lavarack patently claimed several victories, and accompanying research would suggest a tally of four confirmed “kills” prior to him being posted back to the U.K. for duties as a flying instructor at the end of 1917 - he was advanced to Major about the same time. Sadly, however, on 15 May 1918, he was killed in a flying accident at Cramlington Aerodrome in Northumberland, while attached to No. 120 Squadron. He was 28 years of age, had recently been married, and was buried in St. Andrew’s and Jesmond Cemetery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.