Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.M. awarded to Sergeant S. Bull, Royal Flying Corps, who later flew as Air Gunner in a D.H.9 against the last Zeppelin raid of the war

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1857 Sjt. S. Bull, R.F.C.) toned, nearly extremely fine £1200-1500

M.M. London Gazette 3 June 1916.

‘5-6 August 1918. Lieutenant F. R. Bicknell and Sergeant Bull of R.A.F. No. 4 Group, Covehithe, flying in D.H.9 No. D1079 took part in one of 35 defence sorties against Navy Zeppelins L53, L56, L63, L65 and L70 whose target was the Midlands, resulting in no casualties and no damage [to our aircraft].’ (Air Defence of Britain, Cole & Cheseman, refers).

The following account of the destruction of Zeppelin L70 by Arthur E. Bensley is reproduced with grateful acknowledgement:

‘The August Bank Holiday during the summer of 1918 was, in fact, the best weather recorded for a bank holiday in seven years. The beach at Great Yarmouth was crowded with holiday makers enjoying the late afternoon sun. Crossing the North Sea at about 16,000 feet and heading towards the coast of Norfolk appeared five Zeppelins flying roughly in a V formation! These giant dirigibles must have been very impressive. L70 for instance was 693 feet in length. This was the first air attack in four months. One last effort, as it must have been obvious to the German high command that defeat was staring them in the face. On board L70 on this day was the Leader of Airships Fregattenkapitan Peter Strasser. Meanwhile, with the last rays of the sun reflecting from their hulls, they could clearly be seen approaching the coast. At the air station on the Denes at Great Yarmouth, a two-seater De Havilland D.H.4 was standing by awaiting its pilot, Major Edgar Cadbury, who with his rear-gunner, Captain Robert Leckie, were quickly in the air and climbing away from the enemy to gain height. It was just on dusk when Captain Leckie, approaching almost head-on, fired a long burst of explosive bullets from his Lewis machine-gun at 600 yards range, blowing a large hole in the fuselage. This in turn caused a fire in the fabric, which quickly ran the whole length of the airship, causing its nose to lift before plunging into the sea, taking the lives of the 21 members of crew, including Peter Strasser. The four remaining airships, their commanders stunned at witnessing the demise of L70, abandoned the operation and returned to their home base. On returning to the air station, 25 year old Cadbury, heir to the confectionary empire, and his gunner Robert Leckie were welcomed as heroes. On 7th August the skeletal remains of L70 were discovered on the seabed in 48 feet of water. During the next three weeks most of this was brought ashore and in the remains several bodies were discovered, including that of Fregattenkapitan Peter Strasser.’