The superb and extremely rare Great War ‘Bristol Fighter Observer Ace’s’ D.F.M. and Second Award Bar group of three awarded to Sergeant Mechanic A. Newland, 20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force - 1 of only 2 D.F.M. and Bars awarded for services in the Great War.

Newland achieved “Ace” status in under a fortnight, being finally accredited with 18 enemy aircraft destroyed, 1 shared destroyed and 3 forced down out of control. He shot down 2 aircraft in 1 aerial combat on 5 separate occasions, and managed 3 aircraft in 1 dogfight whilst flying with the Squadron’s leading ace - Captain D. Latimer, M.C., D.F.C. ‘The teamwork of a Bristol pilot and gunner, forged in the heat of combat, was probably the finest combination of the air war - and it was a team of such “combinations” which made 20 Squadron the top-scoring unit of the war in the air.’

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (67162 Sergt. - Obsr. Newland, A. R.A.F.) suspension slack; British War and Victory Medals (67152 Sgt. A. Newland. R.A.F.) generally very fine (3) £12000-15000

D.F.M. London Gazette 21 September 1918:

‘He is an excellent shot, and has done remarkably well as an observer, gaining the confidence of the pilots with whom he has served. He has personally assisted in shooting down five enemy aeroplanes.’

D.F.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 3 December 1918:

‘This non-commissioned officer sets a splendid example of courage, skill and determination to the other non-commissioned officers of his squadron. During the month of August, he crashed six enemy machines.’

Arthur Newland was born in Enfield Wash, Middlesex. He enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps as Air Mechanic 3rd Class, in March 1917. Newland advanced to Air Mechanic 1st Class later that year, and was posted for operational service as an Observer and Air Gunner to 20 Squadron (Bristol F.2b’s), Ste, Marie Cappel in March 1918.

The month of Newland’s arrival ‘began slowly but once the massive German land offensive began, the squadron were quickly in the thick of the fighting. Actual air combats were less for this month and April for the Bristols who became heavily engaged in bombing and strafing of ground targets in direct support of the Allied infantry. During the retreat of the Allied armies in the south and along the Somme, 20 Squadron, still based at Marie Cappel, participated on low-bombing and machine-gunning enemy troops and transport, flying to Bray each morning at daybreak and operating from the forward airfield there until dusk when they returned to base.’ (Top Scorers by N. Franks & F. Bailey refers)

“Ace” in under a fortnight

In April two American brothers, August and Paul Iaccaci, joined 20 Squadron as pilots. The two New Yorkers were to form impressive partnerships with their shared observer, Arthur Newland. The latter flew as Observer with P. Iaccaci as his pilot, 18 May 1918, when they opened their account by forcing a Fokker DrI down out of control south-west of Nieppe. This was the first of 22 aircraft which Newland was involved in the destruction of over a five month period between 18 May - 27 September 1918.

Newland flew the next day with August Iaccaci, adding to his score and starting the American’s, by destroying a Pfalz DIII south of Vieux Berguin. The Combat Report provides the following details:

‘While on Offensive Patrol of 11 Bristol Fighters, about 20 E.A. were engaged. The pilot of C859 gave the observer the opportunity to fire on one E.A. underneath, in a climbing turn. The observer emptied one magazine at close range and the E.A. spun down, leaving behind a trail of smoke, and was seen to crash just to the left of the road S. of Vieux Bergquin.’

Continuing to fly with the same pilot, Newland accounted for another two enemy aircraft destroyed on the 22nd and 27th May. The Combat report for the latter date provides the following details:

‘While returning from Offensive Patrol, Machine No. B1114 (Pilot - Lieut. A. T. Iaccaci, Observer - A M. Newland A.) was attacked from above by 8 Pfalz Scouts. In the running fight that ensued towards our lines, the Observer put a full drum into one of the Pfalz Scouts and he was seen to go down vertically with large volumes of smoke coming from him.

The location was along the road about 3 miles S.W. of Neuve Eglise. At the time the Observer fired, the E.A. was approximately 100 yds. away.’

It was with Paul Iaccaci, however, that Newland managed to destroy two enemy aircraft in one dogfight and achieve “Ace” status. On 31 May 1918:

‘While on Offensive Patrol with 9 Bristols Fighters, 15 E.A. were attacked S.W. of Armentieres. Bristol Fighter B1122 (Pilot - Lieut. P. T. Iaccaci. Observer - A.M. A. Newland) saw another of the formation diving down on one Pfalz Scout. 5 Albatros Scouts then dived on the Bristol Fighter. Lt. Iaccaci went down to the assistance of the Bristol Fighter and succeeded in driving the E.A. off. At this time several more E.A. attack them. The Observer (A.M. Newland) put about a drum into a Pfalz Scout and it burst into flames and, after gliding a moment, went out of control and crashed just E. of Merville.

The Observer then put a full drum into an Albatros Scout and it went into a vertical dive, flattening out just before crashing on the Canal Bank S. of Merville. Both machines were fired at about 150 yds. distance.’

Top Scorers by N. Franks and F. Bailey records, ‘thirty five victories claimed for June [by 20 Squadron] and many of the increasingly successful pilots and observers became prominent in this month. Two brothers from New York, August and Paul Iaccaci, both scored regularly.... Observers Godfrey, Hardcastle, Deighton and Newland came well to the fore in the scoring two.’

In June 1918, Newland added three enemy aircraft destroyed to his score. All three were accounted for whilst flying with August Iaccaci as his pilot. The Combat Reports for each is given below:

‘8 June 1918 - Railway N. E. of Wervicq - While on Offensive Patrol near Wervicq the formation engaged 7 Pfalz Scouts at same level. The Observer (Cpl. Newland) in Machine C892 (Pilot - Lt. Iaccaci) put 2 drums into 1 E.A. about 100 yards below and he was seen to stall and go into a vertical dive and crash near the Railway N..E. of Wervicq at approximately 5-20pm.

17 June 1916 - Between Armentieres & Boesinghe - While on Offensive Patrol with 15 Bristol Fighters several small formations of E.A. were encountered at different times. The E.A. were split up more than usual and offered good targets.

Machine No. C892 (Pilot - Lt. A. T. Iaccaci, Observer - Cpl. A. Newland) dived on a Pfalz Scout and, waiting until close up, fired about 200 rounds into it. The E.A. turned slowly over and went down, eventually seen to crash near Hounthem....

30 June 1918 - Comines - Wervicq - Staden. - An Offensive Patrol of 14 Bristol Fighters attacked first 9 E.A. then 7 E.A. The first fight started at 10,000 feet and the second at 5,000 feet.

The leader of the Bristols (Capt. Middleton - Pilot, Capt. Godfrey - Observer) in Machine C951 dived on a Black Enemy Triplane, firing 200 rounds at it, pulling out of the dive the Observer (Capt. Godfrey) was able to fire a whole drum at it and the E.A. then fell over and over and was watched to the ground, where it crashed, E. of Comines.

Later 8 Pfalz Scouts were attacked. One was engaged by the Observer in C951 and, as it spun down, Capt. Middleton followed it and fired 100 rounds into it. This E.A. continued to go down and crashed just W. of Wervicq. Capt. Middleton saw two other E.A. go down and crash during the Patrol, one near Staden and another near Wervicq.

Machine No. C892 (Pilot - Lt. A. T. Iaccaci, Observer - Sgt. A. Newland) dived on a Pfalz Scout and the pilot fired a burst at it from the front gun. The Observer then fired two drums at it. The E.A. went down spinning slowly and diving with clouds of smoke coming from it. This E.A. crashed near the Canal W. of Halluin.’

3 “Victories” in a day

In August 1918, Newland was crewed with a new pilot - Captain Dennis Latimer. In the space of a week they had accounted for a further five enemy aircraft destroyed - two on 14 August, and three on 21 August. The flight commander, who normally flew with Lieutenant T. C. Noel, quickly struck up a deadly understanding with Newland:

‘14 August 1918 - Courtrai - Menin - Dadizeele. - While on Offensive Patrol with 9 Bristol Fighters, the formation dived on about 15 E.A. just below... Machine No. D7993 (Pilot - Capt. D. Latimer, M.C., D.F.C. Observer - Sergeant. A. Newland, D.F.M.) dived on a Pfalz Scout and fired about 200 rounds at about 30 yds. range. It went down completely out of control and was seen to crash near Dadizeele.

The Observer in the Bristol Fighter fired about 150 rounds at a Pfalz Scout at about 40 yds. range which was stalling underneath. It went down out of control and was seen to crash near Dadizeele.

21 August 1918 - Menin - An Offensive Patrol of 11 Bristol Fighters, after dropping bombs on Comines Railway Junction, met 15 E.A. over Menin. The leader of the Bristol Fighters led his patrol into the E.A. and attacked. During the fight the leader, Capt. Lale (Pilot) and 2/Lt. F. J. Ralph (Observer) in Machine No. E2467 dived on a Pfalz Scout and, after the second burst, the right wings of the E.A. crumpled up and 2/Lt. Ralph saw it crash N.E. of Gheluwe. Immediately after Capt. Lale dived on an Albatros Scout which, after 100 rounds were fired at it, fell out of control but was not watched to the ground.

Capt. Lale was then attacked from above by 7 Fokker Biplanes and his Observer (2/Lt. Ralph) fired about 100 rounds with double Lewis Gun at the nearest. This E.A. turned over and fell, crashing west of the Menin-Roulers Railway. The rest of the E.A. were at that time being engaged by other Bristol Fighters in the formation.

Capt. D. Latimer and Sgt. A. Newland (Machine No. D7993) flew straight at a Pfalz Scout which was flying at him and, after firing about 150 rounds, the E.A. suddenly fell, obviously out of control, and was seen to crash... A little while later Sergt. Newland engaged a Pfalz Scout which was climbing under the tail of Bristol Fighter D7993, and after firing 200 rounds at it, the E.A. went down in a steep dive and was seen to crash...’

Latimer and Newland destroyed two, and shared in the destruction of one of the above aircraft with Lale and Ralph. The following day Latimer reunited with Noel, and Newland went up with Lieutenant G. E. Randall, ‘eight victories came [for 20 Squadron] on August 21, but on the following day Dennis Latimer and T C Noel were brought down, Noel being killed and Latimer surviving as a prisoner. Latimer’s score by then had reached about 30, which made him 20 Squadron’s most successful pilot in terms of enemy aircraft destroyed and brought down. Noel, his observer, was credited with more than a dozen kills before his untimely death.’ (Top Scorers by N. Franks and F. Bailey refers)

Newland’s foray with Randall on 22 August was rewarded with another enemy aircraft destroyed:

‘Comines - While on Offensive Patrol with 12 Bristol Fighters, about 25 - 30 E.A. attacked the formation from all directions. Four attacked Machine No. E2158 (Pilot - Lt. G. E. Randall. Observer - Sergt. A. Newland, D.F.M.) and the Observer fired at each in turn as it dived. Only one E.A. then kept attacking and was shot down by Sergt. Newland and was seen to hit the ground E. of Comines.’ (Combat Report refers)

In September, Newland was reunited with August Iaccaci and a ‘purple patch’ ensued. On 6 September they forced down out of control a Fokker DVII over the Cambrai - St. Quentin area, and 25 minutes later destroyed another over the same area. They accounted for another two Fokker DVII’s destroyed on 15 September, and yet another the following day. Newland and Iaccaci recorded their final victories of the war on 27 September, when they destroyed a Fokker DVII and forced down another out of control north of Bernot. It was a good month for the Squadron, during which ‘Lale, the Iaccaci brothers and W. M. Thomson were all prominent in the scoring lists during September... D.F.C. awards to personnel included Capts. Godfrey, Middleton, Lale and Lts. Groom, Hardcastle, T. C. Traill, Paul and August Iaccaci, Thomson, R. W. Turner and A. Mills. Sgt. Newland received a D.F.M. and Bar; while Sgt. F. Johnson was awarded a Bar to his D.C.M....’ (Top Scorers by N. Franks & F. Bailey refers)

Newland, having advanced to Sergeant Mechanic, continued to serve with 20 Squadron in France until 18 October 1918. By the end of October the Squadron had claimed over 600 air combat victories, ‘with the Bristols - aptly named “King of the Two-seaters” - once crews had learned to use them to full advantage, the squadron found it could take on almost any odds and give a good account of itself. The teamwork of a Bristol pilot and gunner, forged in the heat of combat, was probably the finest combination of the air war - and it was a team of such “combinations” which made 20 Squadron the top-scoring unit of the war in the air.’ (Ibid)

Newland was employed by the London Postal Service after the war, and he received the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement in 1959. He died in Edmonton, London, in 1964.

Only 2 D.F.M. and Second Award Bars were awarded for services during the Great War, and 4 Second Award Bars in total were awarded between 1918-1939.

Sold with the following original related items and documents: General Officer Commandings’ Certificate of Congratulation on the occasion of the award of the D.F.M., dated 23 July 1918; another on the occasion of the award of the Bar to the D.F.M., dated 13 October 1918 - both framed and glazed; Army Orders by General Sir H. S. Rawlinson, Bart. G.C.V.O., K.C.B., K.C.M.G., Commanding Fourth Army, announcing the award of the Bar to Newland’s D.F.M., this framed and glazed; named Certificate of Honourable Discharge due to being disabled in the Great War, dated 8 July 1920; portrait photograph of recipient in flying jacket and a framed and glazed painting of a small child with toy - signed ‘Arthur Newland 1931’