Orders, Decorations and Medals

A C.B. and Great War D.F.C. group of eleven awarded to Air Commodore J. C. ‘Paddy’ Quinnell, Royal Artillery, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) neck badge in silver-gilt and enamels, in case of issue; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (2.Lieut., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Major, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence & War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Iraq, Active Service Medal, with clasp for Southern Kurdistan 1930-31, the last ten mounted as worn, nearly very fine or better (11) £1800-2200

C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1943.

D.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917.

Air Commodore John Charles ‘Paddy’ Quinell was born in 1891 at Tralee, Kerry, and was educated at the Royal School, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone. Gazetted Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in 1914, he volunteered for the R.F.C. and underwent pilot training at the Military School, Shoreham, graduating on 23 March 1915 with Aviator’s certificate No. 1175. In July 1915 he was posted to 10 (Corps Reconnaissance) Squadron in France and, promoted Flight Commander on 1 January 1916, was later wounded whilst serving with No. 7 Squadron.

Following recuperation in England, he was assigned to training duties and was promoted Squadron Commander on 1 December 1916. Having formed No. 83 Squadron, he was appointed to the command of 63 Squadron (R.E.8’s) and fully expected take it to France, but to his to fury was ordered at the last moment to the Persian Gulf. At Basra the squadron was decimated by blistering heat and disease, and later when still debilitated and operating from Bagdad, it lost three R.E.8’s in rapid succession over Turkish lines. On 21 October Major Quinell relinquished command on being posted to the U.K. where he formed No. 104 Squadron at Andover at the end 1917. He observed that: ‘The man power of England was feeling the stress of war. There was difficulty in getting suitable personnel for the Flying Service‘ and that ‘A number of these people came from a category that had rather vague ideas of honour. They were attracted to the Flying Corps by the pay. Their one idea seemed to be to draw their pay and avoid service in France.’ Quinell, himself, went back to France in 1918 with No. 104 Squadron which he commanded in the Independent Bombing Force until the cessation of hostilities.

Granted a Permanent Commission in the R.A.F. in 1919 with rank of Squadron Leader, he served in India during 1920 and following an appointment at H.Q., Inland Area, passed the R.A.F. Staff College, Andover, in 1923. He was promoted Wing Commander the following year successively served at 7 Group Headquarters, 10 Group Headquaters, the Air Ministry, and Headquarters Iraq. He was advanced to Group Captain in 1931 and Air Commodore in 1935 whence he successively became A.O.C., 1 Air Defence Group, A.O.C., 6 (Auxiliary) Group, S.A.S.O. Advanced Air Striking Force, France, 1939-40; and A.O.C. ‘A’ Group, 1942 to retirement in 1945.

Sold with a quantity of copied research including a copy of a paper, ‘Student’s War Experiences’, written by Quinell whilst at the R.A.F. Staff College in 1923.