Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare campaign service group of seven awarded to Corporal W. E. Turk, Royal Air Force, late Royal Marine Light Infantry, including the Northern Kurdistan clasp

1914-15 Star (Ch. 758 S. Pte. W. E. Turk, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. 758 S. Pte. W. E. Turk, R.M.L.I.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Southern Desert, Iraq, Northern Kurdistan (347326 Cpl. W. E. Turk, R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., coinage bust (347326 Cpl. W. E. Turk, R.A.F.); Coronation 1937; Iraq, King Feisal’s War Medal, with clasp, minor official correction to number on the second, contact marks, generally very fine (7) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Coldstream Guards, R.F.C., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F. formed by the late Tom Baugh.

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William Edward Turk was born in Devonshire in September 1893 and enlisted in the Royal Marines in May 1915. Posted to the R.M. Brigade in France shortly afterwards, he remained on active service until invalided home with trench feet in November 1917, having in the interim been attached to 176th Tunnelling Company. Demobilised in early 1919, he sometime thereafter joined the Royal Air Force and most likely served in either 30, 55 or 70 Squadron during the Southern Desert, Iraq operations in January-June 1928, and the Northern Kurdistan operations in March-June 1932, just 66 officers and 279 airmen being awarded the latter clasp. Turk added the L.S. & G.C. Medal to his accolades in September 1935.