A rare Second World War A.F.M. group of five awarded to Air Sergeant N. H. O’D. Robson-Garth, South African Air Force
Air Force Medal, G.VI.R. (97353 VT/Air Sgt. N. H. O’D. Robson Garth, S.A.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these last four officially inscribed ‘97353 N. H. O’D. Robson-Garth’, the first with corrected initials, good very fine, together with related 1939-45 War period badges (5), comprising S.A.A.F. cap badge; Radio Operator’s half-wing; S.A.A.F. Radio Operator’s half-wing (bi-lingual type); S.A.A.F. shoulder title and S.A.A.F. 22 Squadron badge (10) £1200-1500

A.F.M. London Gazette 3.1.1946. The recommendation states: ‘Air Sergeant Robson-Garth has over 3700 hours flying to his credit during the course of which he has proved himself an extremely efficient and reliable Wireless Operator. He has always carried out his duties in a most efficient and willing manner and has proved himself time and again in conditions of bad weather flying to be an invaluable asset to the crew in obtaining navigational aid, etc., to overcome this difficulty. It is strongly recommended that he be awarded the Air Force Medal.’

Niell Hugh O’Doherty Robson-Garth was born in Durban, South Africa in June 1919 and enlisted in the the Union Defence Force in June 1940. Already on the S.A.A.F. Reserve, he was posted to a Radio Signalling School and thence to No. 50 and No. 51 Flights, following which he commenced flying duties with No. 5 Wing, S.A.A.F. in 1941. Qualifying for his S.A.A.F. Radio Operator’s Air Badge in the course of 1942, Robson-Garth more or less served in No. 5 Wing until the end of the War, service that took him to East, West and North Africa, and which witnessed time with No. 22 Squadron S.A.A.F. in 1943. He was discharged at the end of 1945.