The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

A Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Major J. D. Drysdale, Royal Air Force, late Middlesex Regiment and Royal Flying Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (3777 2 A.M. J. D. Drysdale, R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major J. D. Drysdale), very fine or better (4) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 7 June 1918.

John Douglas Drysdale, who was born in 1884 and a motor engineer and driver by profession, originally enlisted in the 16th (Service) battalion, the Middlesex Regiment, but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in March 1915. Embarked for France that September, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant (Technical) at the end of the year, and gained a mention in despatches (London Gazette 20 May 1918 refers) and the O.B.E., prior to being placed on the Unemployed List in March 1919. Latterly having served as an Acting Major at the Air Ministry, Drysdale had at one point been attached to No. 16 Squadron and served in motor transport.