A post-war M.B.E., inter-war D.F.M. group of nine attributed to Flight Lieutenant V. Watkins, Royal Air Force

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue; India General Service 1908-35, no clasp; India General Service 1936-39, no clasp; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., together with related R.A.F. Halton Barrington Kennett Trophy Medal, 39mm., silver, hallmarks for London 1927, the reverse engraved, ‘V. Watkins, Member Winning Rugby Team, 1927-28’, generally very fine or better (10) £150-200

Vincent Watkins was born at Pontardawe, Swansea in March 1910 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in September 1925. Embarked for India in October 1931, where he remained actively employed until April 1937, Watkins qualified as an Air Gunner and served in No. 60 (Bomber) Squadron, flying in Wapitis, and was awarded the D.F.M. for gallant services on the North West Frontier (London Gazette 8 May 1936), not least in operations against the Mohmands in August-October 1935 - so, too, the “North West Frontier 1935” and “North West Frontier 1936-37” clasps to his India General Service Medals. Watkins witnessed further active service in the Middle East 1940-41, was commissioned in the Technical Branch as a Pilot Officer in April 1942, and was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in October 1946. Awarded his M.B.E. in 1951, he was placed on the Retired List in March 1959; his full-size Honours & Awards were sold by C.J. & A.J. Dixon Ltd. in 2002.