Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Air Commodore Alexander Andrew Gordon Corbet, Royal Canadian Air Force

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, with overseas clasp; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oakleaf, Canadian issue in silver; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Canada, these all unnamed; Canadian Decoration, E.II.R. (A/C A A G Corbet); Czechoslovakia, Medal of Merit, 1st Class, silvered metal, bronze star on ribbon, mounted court style for wear, good very fine and better (7) £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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Alexander Andrew Gordon Corbet was born in St. John, New Brunswick on 6 February 1906. He was educated at St. John High School and at McGill University where he graduated with a B.A. in 1927, and later a M.D. and C.M. Specialising in Paediatrics, he practiced in St. John, the Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, and at the Sick Children’s Hospital, Toronto

Corbet joined the Canadian Militia as a Private in 1923, becoming a Staff Sergeant in 1933. He was granted a commission as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Army Medical Corps, Canadian Militia on 22 April 1933. He served in No. 14 Field Ambulance whose H.Q. was in St. John. He was promoted to Captain in April 1935 and to Major in 1940. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force Medical Service on its formation in November 1940 and was appointed a Pilot Officer in the Medical Branch. Further promotions followed, being appointed Temporary Squadron Leader in November 1940; Wing Commander in June 1941, and Group Captain in June 1944. Corbet served throughout the World War. He held various appointments, and finally that of Director of Medical Services (Overseas) R.C.A.F. He returned to Canada in December 1945 and was appointed Director-General Medical Services (Air) in 1946. He attained the rank of Air Commodore in January 1952. He retired from the service in 1961

During the war, he assisted in the trials of Flying Clothing and equipment by operational flying in the Atlantic on anti-submarine patrols from Newfoundland, Labrador and Iceland. For his wartime services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 14 June 1945) and awarded the Czech, Medal of Merit 1st Class (Canada Gazette 24 January 1948). Additionally Corbet was appointed an Officer (Brother) of the Order of St. John (London Gazette 5 January 1951) and later promoted to Commander (London Gazette 7 January 1955). As Director-General of the Medical Services, R.C.A.F., he was appointed Honorary Physician to the Queen on 1 June 1953, and again on 1 June 1956. Corbet was a Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, 1932; a Member of the Canadian Medical Association; a Member of the Aeronautical Medical Association; a Fellow of the Canadian Aeronautical Institute, 1955; a Fellow in Aviation Medicine, 1948; Member of the Military Surgeons of the U.S.A.; President of the St. John Branch, Red Cross. Air Commodore Corbet died in December 1965, aged 59 years. Sold with a quantity of copied research including photographs.