Auction Catalogue

5 July 2011

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 533

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5 July 2011

Hammer Price:
£150

The British War Medal awarded to Lieutenant F. W. Rushton, M.C., Royal Air Force, late Canadian Infantry, Royal West Kent Regiment and Royal Flying Corps, who was wounded while flying operationally as an Observer in May 1918

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. F. W. Rushton, R.A.F.), very fine £150-200

Frank Waddington Rushton, who appears to have enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force after the outbreak of hostilities, was later commissioned in the 11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, and was awarded the M.C. (London Gazette of 23 November 1917 refers):

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After an attack he took out a patrol and got in touch with one of the advanced posts. Having found the post, he took up water and rations to them under heavy fire, and remained there until next morning, when he returned with valuable information. He showed great gallantry and initiative.’

Subsequently transferring to the Royal Flying Corps as an Observer, he was posted to No. 7 Squadron out in France in December 1917, sometime thereafter removing to No. 10 Squadron, with whom he was wounded after his aircraft made a forced landing returning from an Artillery observation sortie on 18 May 1918. Invalided home, he was placed on the Unemployed List in May 1919; sold with additional research.