Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Wing Commander R. G. Frith, Auxiliary Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, a Camel pilot in No. 45 Squadron who was shot down and taken P.O.W. in November 1917 - a short but gallant combat career described in detail in an article in the Cross & Cockade Journal

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. G. Frith, R.A.F.); Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Wg. Cdr. R. G. Frith, A.A.F.), very fine and better (3) £400-500

Roy Godfrey Frith, who was educated at Whitgift Grammar School, served in the ranks of the South African Scottish for a few months prior to being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the General List for duty in the Royal Flying Corps in May 1917.

Having then qualified for his pilot’s certificate, he was posted to No. 45 Squadron, a Camel unit operating out of St. Marie Cappel, near Cassel, in mid-October 1917, under Major A. M. Vaucour, M.C.

And, as described in detail in James Brown’s article “Fleeting Fighter” in the Cross & Cockade Journal (Volume 10, No. 3, 1979), he subsequently participated in numerous sorties prior to being downed in the following month, the whole in support of the recently launched Passchendaele offensive.

Thus his first encounter with enemy Scouts during a patrol flown on 18 October, when a brace of dogfights were played out over Moorslede and Becelaere, quickly followed by another combat on the 21st, with about 20 enemy Scouts near Houthulst, and, on the 22nd, a successful ground-strafing operation against enemy troops and transport, each of the Squadron’s Camels expending around 850 rounds.

On the 27th, Frith participated in no less than three operational patrols, all of which produced close encounters and combats with enemy aircraft, with both sides taking losses; so, too, in an attack on an enemy ammunition dump, which was left burning furiously. Then on the 29th, he was back in action in a dogfight with 16 enemy Scouts and two-seaters over Moorslede, while on the 30th, he fought an inconclusive combat with a two-seater in the vicinity of Westroosebeke.

But a few days later, on 5 November, Frith’s luck ran out, and he was shot down and taken P.O.W. while piloting Sopwith Camel B5175 on an observation patrol over Moorslede, most probably by Leutnant Paul “The Iron Eagle” Baumer of Jasta 2, who ended the War as a 43-victory ace and recipient of the Blue Max; but possibly, too, by Leutnant Kurt Wustoff of Jasta 4, a 27-victory ace, who also claimed a Camel in the same vicinity that morning. Be that as it may, Frith survived captivity and was placed on the Unemployed List in February 1919.

Subsequently joining the Auxiliary Air Force, he was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in July 1938, while serving in No. 903 (County of London) Squadron, a Balloon Section of the A.A.F., and to Squadron Leader in August 1939, and he was mentioned in despatches for his services in a Balloon Section during the War (London Gazette 8 June 1944 refers). Having then been advanced to Wing Commander, he received the Air Efficiency Award in May 1947.