The particularly fine ‘Southern Desert, Iraq’ and ‘North West Frontier 1935’ campaign group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer, later Flight Lieutenant, C. R. Marshall, Royal Air Force, whose combination of awards are unique to the Royal Air Force

British War and Victory Medals (89800 A.C. 2. C. R. Marshall. R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq (89800 Sgt. C. R. Marshall. R.A.F.) suspension claw slack, and clasp facing slightly buckled on righthand side; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1935 (89800. F/Sgt. C. R. Marshall. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45 (F/Lt. C. R. Marshall R.A.F.) impressed ‘Boots’ style; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (89800. F/Sgt. C. R. Marshall. R.A.F.); Iraq, Kingdom, Active Service Medal, no clasp, mounted for wear, contact marks overall, nearly very fine £1,200-£1,600

Cyril Ransom Marshall was born in June 1900, and entered the Royal Flying Corps as a Boy in July 1917. The RFC - Boy Service (J. Ross) describes the kitting out and subsequent posting to North Russia of a group of boys on completing their 2 years training in July 1919, and in all probability Marshall was one of that contingent. His BWM and VM are named in the rank of A.C. 2, a rank not introduced into the Royal Air Force until 1 January 1919, confirming that prior to his probable service in North Russia that he had not served operationally during the Great War (this rank is rarely seen on Great War medals).

Marshall’s combination of ‘Southern Desert, Iraq’ and ‘North West Frontier’ is unique to any other rank. Indeed only Wing Commander J. W. S. Grigson is additionally entitled to this combination. Marshall’s additional combination of L.S. & G.C. and the Iraq Active Service Medal (for service in Iraq between 24 May 1924 - 30 September 1925) make this a unique group to the Royal Air Force. Marshall was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in 1936, and the unofficial R.A.F. Medal roll for the I.G.S. gives his entitlement to the I.G.S. with clasp ‘N. W. Frontier 1936-37’. It states that he served with 60 Squadron, and that the medal was issued for this airman, but was returned to the Mint for scrapping.

Marshall was promoted Warrant Officer in September 1939, and commissioned Flying Officer in the Technical Branch in March 1941. He advanced to Temporary Flight Lieutenant in July 1943, and retired in July 1947.

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