A Great War O.B.E., M.C. group of six awarded to Major V. A. Albrecht, Manchester Regiment, later Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who Commanded 97 Squadron on the Western Front and later on the North West Frontier of India, and is credited with starting the first ‘Air Mail’ service on the Indian Sub Continent, between Karachi and Bombay

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with copy clasp (Lieut. V. A. Albrecht. Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Major V. A. Albrecht. R.A.F.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Capt. V. A. Albrecht. Manch. R.) mounted court-style for wear, all heavily plated and lacquered, good very fine (6) £1,800-£2,200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.
The original Recommendation states: ‘Formed and brought out 97 Squadron, which he has commanded with the greatest success. Thanks to his efficiency and tirelessness, the squadron was able to do work over the lines in a remarkably short time, and its subsequent success is very largely due to Major Albrecht’s energy and good work.’

M.C. London Gazette 14 January 1916.

M.I.D. London Gazettes 1 January 1916 (Manchester Regiment); 1 December 1916 (Royal Flying Corps); and 6 January 1919 (Independent Force, France).

Vaudrey Adolph Albrecht was born at Worsley, Manchester, on 13 April 1888. He was educated at Rossall School and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment (on probation) on 19 February 1910. He landed in France with 2nd Battalion on 14 August 1914 and was by now a Lieutenant. Less than six weeks later, he was reported as wounded at Ypres and evacuated to England. After recuperating he trained as a pilot and gained his aviator’s certificate in September 1915 and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He became Commandant of 97 Squadron in April 1918, serving operationally on bombing missions on the Western Front and Germany, with he himself writing the operational history of the squadron. He later served in 97 Squadron in India and on the North Western Frontier (Waziristan) in operations in support of the Third Afghan War in 1919 and is credited with starting the first ‘Air Mail’ service on the Indian Sub Continent, between Karachi and Bombay.

Albrecht was seriously injured in an mid air collision when flying a Sopwith Snipe at Duxford on 3 March 1924, which resulted in his resignation from the Royal Air Force on health grounds. He was commissioned again in the Second World War as Flight Lieutenant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve until invalided out of the service. He died at his Derbyshire home in Littleover on 7 September 1944.

Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.