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Lot

№ 264

.

7 December 2022

Hammer Price:
£240

Six: Chief Technician W. H. A. P. Smith, Royal Air Force

Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (534468 Sgt. W. H. A. P. Smith. R.A.F.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, South Arabia (C0534468 Ch. Tech. W. H. A. P. Smith R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue (534468 Sgt. W. H. A. P. Smith. R.A.F.) mounted as worn, good very fine and a scarce combination of awards (6) £260-£300

William Henry Astle Petty Smith was born in Northampton on 24 August 1917 and enlisted into the Royal Air Force on 2 September 1936. Employed as a Parachute packer, he served in Fighter Command (U.K.) and Australia Command during the Second World War, and with the Mediterranean/ Middle East Command during the conflict in post-War Palestine. He was advanced Chief Technician on 8 June 1956 and later served with A.F.M.E. Command in Aden during the 1960s. He was finally discharged on 24 August 1972, and was subsequently employed by the Ministry of Defence as a Professional Technical Officer. He died in Kettering, Northamptonshire, on 24 October 1986.

Sold with various badge and insignia, including two scarce Gregory and Quilter (GQ) Parachute Badges; an Irvin Parachute Badge; and a Royal Air Force Parachute Test Unit Badge; together with copied record of service and other research.