British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The extremely rare North Russia 1919 operations D.S.O., East Africa operations 1916 operations D.S.C. awarded to Acting Squadron Leader N. G. Stewart-Dawson, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1914; 1914-15 Star (Flt. S. Lt. N. G. Stewart-Dawson, R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Major N. G. Stewart-Dawson, R.A.F.); Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, large-sized neck badge with swords, 63 x 58mm., silver-gilt and enamel, arms enamelled both sides, unmarked; Russia, Order of St. Stanislaus, breast badge with swords, 39 x 39mm., bronze-gilt and enamel, unmarked, left-hand side inter-arm eagles and swords lacking as a result of their removal for mounting purposes; Russia, Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class breast badge with swords, 40 x 40mm., silver-gilt and enamel, unmarked, with bow on riband, mounted court-style as worn where applicable, the whole displayed in an old and impressive folding leather case, with glazed compartments containing his original D.S.O. warrant and two M.I.D. certificates, D.S.O. obverse centre loose and somewhat recessed, some enamel damage to the larger Stanislaus piece but generally good very fine (8) £12000-15000

D.S.O. London Gazette 18 November 1919:

‘He has successfully led raids with great success during the operation with Syren Force in North Russia from June to September 1919, notably in the attack on the enemy at Koikori on 7th September. Flight Lieutenant Stewart-Dawson has displayed exceptionally good qualities in leadership during these operations in the air, and equally distinguished services in ground-work organisation, where the difficulties were many.’

D.S.C. London Gazette 15 June 1917:

‘In recognition of services with the East African Military Forces ... Flight Lieutenant Stewart-Dawson carried out a reconnaissance over difficult country on 30 May 1916, when he was obliged to land in the bush.’

Norman Gordon Stewart-Dawson, who was born in December 1890 and completed his education at Heidelberg University, served in the 5th Hussars as a 2nd Lieutenant from September 1914 to March 1915, prior to being appointed a Flight Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service in July of the latter year.

Having attended a navigation course at Victory, and R.N.A.S. Chingford, where he qualified for his Aviator’s Certificate in September 1915, Stewart-Dawson was assigned to the R.N.A.S. in East Africa. And during the course of his lengthy service in that theatre of war, he was mentioned in despatches by General Smuts (London Gazette 6 February 1917), in addition to being awarded the D.S.C. - as verified by his service record, he would appear later still to have been recommended for the M.C. by the C.-in-C. ‘For conspicuous good work in reconnaissances for the Massanga Column, his flight work marked by both skill and daring’.

Judging by the official reports written by his C.O., Flight Commander Eric Nanson, R.N., the regular bombing and reconnaissance patrols carried out by Stewart-Dawson and his fellow pilots throughout 1916 were indeed of a perilous nature, their aircraft often coming under heavy fire. In his summary of events for the summer of 1916, Nanson stated:


‘I wish to bring to your notice the excellent work which has been done by the officers and ratings under my command. Flights over three hours duration have been carried out during adverse climatic conditions and over country which offers no possibility of making a safe landing, frequently through gorges enfiladed by machine-gun fire and flanked by mountains. Over 13,000 miles have been flown in enemy country since 1 June.’

While the following patrol report, dated 16 December 1916, is typical of many such operations undertaken by Stewart-Dawson, and pertinent to the period of operations that led to the above mentioned recommendation for the M.C.:

‘Aeroplane proceeded to Kabesa. Kabesa and the surrounding country was thoroughly reconnoitered. Aeroplane proceeding in direction of Kissangira. The villages of Massanga, Wissiga, Hui and Fulwe were in flames but no enemy was observed. The country between Massanga and Kissagira was reconnoitered, and small villages were observed to be in flames. Extremely heavy rain storms made further observation impossible. Aeroplane landed at Manamanga at 8.50 a.m. A telephonic communication was received from the O.C., Massanga Camp, urgently requesting an aeroplane to reconnoitre the destroyed villages. These were observed still burning. Troops were observed under a large Mango tree. Troops opened fire in volleys upon the aeroplane thus disclosing their position to our troops who were in the bush close by. This reconnaissance took place in heavy rain and successful observation was practically impossible. Aeroplane landed at Manamanga, then proceeded to Dar-es-Salaam.’

Returning to the U.K. in early 1917 to take up an appointment at Calshot, where he flew ‘all types of machines ... including Shorts, F.B.A. Flying Boats and Sopwith Baby Seaplanes’ (his C.O’s report, dated 6 May 1917, refers), Stewart-Dawson was shortly afterwards recommended for promotion to Acting Flight Commander and assumed command of R.N.A.S. Newlyn in September. Meanwhile, he suffered from recurring bouts of malaria.

Confirmed in the rank of Flight Commander in December 1917, he remained employed in the U.K. until the War’s end, following which, in the summer of 1919, he was embarked for Murmansk in North Russia in the seaplane carrier Nairana, where he served with distinction with Syren Force until the end of the year, latterly in the acting rank of Squadron Leader. And, in addition to the award of his D.S.O. for the above cited deeds, received the Russian Orders of St. Stanislaus, 2nd Class, with swords and St. Vladimir, 4th Class, with swords, as well as another “mention” (London Gazette 22 December 1919 refers).

Finally demobilised in March 1920, Stewart-Dawson was recalled on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, when he was appointed a Flying Officer, but he died on 15 October 1940, aged 49 years.