Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Great War Dardanelles bombing operations D.S.C. group of four awarded to Flight Commander A. M. Waistell, Royal Naval Air Service

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Flt. S. Lt. A. M. Waistell, R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Flt. Cr. A. M. Waistell, R.N.A.S.), mounted as worn, good very fine (4)
£3000-3500

D.S.C. London Gazette 22 February 1918:

‘For determination and pluck shown by him in carrying out a bombing raid on Chanak on the night of 17 October 1917. In spite of the fact that there was no moon and that the weather conditions were so adverse that the other pilots were unable to reach the objective, he succeeded in reaching Chanak and in dropping his bombs. On the return journey he hit the side of a mountain, being unable to see it on account of the darkness, his machine catching fire on crashing. Although severely injured about the face and knee, he was able to climb out of the machine and eventually reach the aerodrome, having ridden 10 miles over extremely rough country with a badly lacerated knee.’



Alan Murray Waistell, who was born in Northallerton, Yorkshire in January 1889 and educated at Haileybury, was commissioned in the 4th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment direct from the O.T.C. in August 1914, but transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in the following year and was confirmed in the rank of Flight Sub. Lieutenant in August 1915, after taking his aviator’s certificate in a Maurice Farman Biplane at Farnborough. Thereafter, as cited above, he won an immediate D.S.C. for his gallant attack on Chanak in October 1917 - an area of forts and other strong defences on the Asiatic side of the Narrows, guarding the entrance to the Sea of Marmora.

Advanced to Flight Commander in January 1918, Waistell ended the War on the Staff of the Naval Air Division at the Admiralty, and relinquished his commission in the Royal Air Force on account of ill-health in July 1920 - he had been in receipt of a pension for his wounds since October 1918. He died in the Isle of Wight in late 1952.