Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Flight Sergeant W. S. Lee, Royal Air Force, who was awarded the M.S.M. for services in Italy

British War and Victory Medals (12129 F. Sgt., R.A.F.); Royal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., coinage bust (12129 Flt. Sjt., R.A.F.), very fine or better and scarce (3) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the R.F.C. and R.A.F. formed by Wing Commander Bill Traynor.

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William Samuel Lee, a native of Plaistow, Essex, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in October 1915, and was embarked for France with No. 34 Squadron in July 1916, where the unit’s pilots carried out valuable artillery co-operation work on the Somme. When, in early 1917, the Squadron was re-equipped with R.E. 8s, Lee was transferred to No. 52 Squadron, another Army co-operation unit, but in October 1917 he rejoined No. 34 on it being ordered to the Italian front, and where for the remainder of the war its pilots carried out reconnaissance, photographic and bombing duties against the Austrians. Lee was subsequently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his services in this theatre of war (London Gazette of 3 June 1919 refers) and returned to the U.K. in February 1919. He was discharged in April 1920 in the rank of Flight Sergeant (Aero Rigger).