Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.F.C. group of three awarded to Lieutenant D. S. Carrie, Royal Air Force, late Army Service Corps and Royal Flying Corps, who flew some numerous sorties as a pilot in No. 10 Squadron - the last of them at 11 a.m. on the 11 November 1918

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Lt. D. S. Carrie, R.F.C.), these two much later but official replacements stamped ‘R.’, together with two R.F.C. badges, extremely fine (3) £800-1000

D.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

Douglas Scott Carrie was born in Woodstock, Ontario, in October 1895, and was educated at St. Thomas Collegiate Institute and Toronto University (Medical School), where he broke off his studies to travel to England to enlist.

Duly appointed a Driver in the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) in December 1915, he went out to France in March 1916, where he witnessed action on the Somme and at Ypres.

Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in the course of 1917, he qualified as a pilot and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and, in the following year, joined No. 10 squadron out in France. Remaining similarly employed for the remainder of the War - he was up in the air at 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918 - Carrie flew numerous sorties in two-seater Armstrong-Whitworths, and was twice compelled to carry out crash-landings near the front line. An excellent summary of his operational career in September-October 1918 formed the basis of the recommendation for his D.F.C.:

‘This officer is responsible for a large amount of most valuable artillery and low-flying work, which he has always carried out with the greatest keenness, particularly during the earlier part of the recent battle.

On 2 September he carried out a useful contact patrol, locating our men along three trench positions, and also locating three enemy positions under heavy machine-gun fire.

On 3 September on a C.A. patrol at 100-1000 feet, he located our men at nine points and enemy machine-gun fire from two points.

On 4 September on flash reconnaissance he located seven active enemy batteries which he reported by zone call, results being seen on two of these targets.

On 1 October on a C.A. patrol he located our troops at 10 points and the enemy at seven points. He fired 160 rounds into machine-gun posts which were holding up our advancing troops. G.F. call sent on three M.T. and G.S. wagons. One W.P.N.F. call sent. He also reported on the condition of bridges at Bousbecque.

On 6 October he took 18 photographs of the Messines area, fired 100 rounds into the Oostaverne battery positions from 2500 feet and dropped two 20lb. bombs on Hollebeke.

On 7 October he carried out a successful knock-out shoot of 120 rounds, causing three explosions and a fire in the enemy battery. He also dropped two bombs on this same target.

On 14 October on a C.A. patrol he located enemy troops in several places around Gulleghem and fired 50 rounds of Lewis at these causing casualties. He was fired at by seven enemy planes on the enemy line, but our own troops were located along a 4000 yards line. He then reconnoitred the enemy trenches and shell-holes in front of our line, and dropped two bombs on Bisseghem and reported a V bu wireless.

On 15 October he carried out a successful shoot and re-ranged, causing continuous large fires and explosions on his target and also in a neighbouring enemy battery position close by. He also dropped two bombs near this target.

On 16 October he carried out two successful knock-out shoots in the same flight, with one re-ranging, causing three fires and some explosions.

On 17 October - a very excellent C.A. patrol report - he located our own troops on 10,000 yards front south of the Lys and located enemy transport S.E. of Courtrai, engaging with 100 rounds from 800 feet. Enemy troops also found east of Courtrai and he reconnoitred a large area south of Courtrai in front of our troops trying to locate the enemy. He also reported on bridges over the Lys and dropped bombs on farms south of Lauwe.

On 23 October he carried out a successful shoot of 130 rounds, causing six large fires and one explosion round the O.K. point. He also fired 75 rounds into Oostaverne Battery.

On 25 October he took 36 photographs over the Hollebeke area and chased an enemy balloon down.

On 26 October he went up to give general ranging of a long range gun on Gheluwe, observing good results - he reported four active enemy batteries and later attacked and fired 200 rounds at an enemy balloon which was hauled down.

On 27 October he carried out a successful shoot with re-ranging on a hostile battery.

On 28 October on a C.A. patrol on the first battle day, he located our troops at six points - reported by wireless telephone four G.S. wagons at six points, fired 400 rounds at more transport and also 200 rounds at various other parties of enemy troops seen.

On 29 October on contact patrol, he located our troops at 13 points in shell holes. He also located the complete enemy outpost line. Observing a number of enemy troops in a trench, he and his Observer attacked them with machine-guns, causing several casualties, and chased the remainder towards our own troops, who captured them, the officer in charge waving in acknowledgement of the aircraft. More enemy machine guns and posts were located and fired at. One G.F. call was sent and answered with good effect. G.F. call sent on a column of wagons. Height 50-1000 feet.

Carrie returned to Canada in April 1919, and resumed his studies in medicine at Toronto University, and went on to become a noted surgeon at St. Thomas-Elgin Hospital. He retired from practice in December 1963 and died in December 1984, aged 89 years; sold with a video recording of an interview with Carrie in old age, regarding his time in the R.F.C., together with a file of research, including photographs.

Another group is known to exist to this officer together with Log Book and copied photographs