Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Lieutenant-Colonel W. T. Coles, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, late Lieutenant and Pilot, Royal Air Force - shot down and held as a prisoner-of-war in the Great War; awarded the U.S.A. Medal of Freedom for services in Italy with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in the Second World War

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; U.S.A. Medal of Freedom, 3rd Class, reverse inscribed, ‘W. Turner Coles’, with bronze palm, mounted for display, nearly very fine and better (8) £1000-1200

William Turner Coles was born in London on 25 February 1893. He entered the Great War as a Lieutenant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Gained his Aviator’s Certificate (No. 2808) at the Military School, Thetford, on 24 April 1916. Coles then joined No. 56 Squadron R.F.C. (A. Ball’s and McCudden’s squadron).

On 7 June 1917, flying a SE5 (A.8922) he reported:

‘On patrol I came down to about 2,000 feet and fired on the trenches East of the Oostaverne line. Just before the patrol was over I lost the SE.5 formation amongst the clouds, which were pretty thick between 3,000 and 10,000 feet. Whilst looking for SE.5 formation I came on four two seater E.A. about 2,000 feet below me; I was then about 5,000 feet. My Vickers jamed. I dived on the first E.A., which was coming straight towards me, firing about one drum (from his Lewis gun). E.A. then went down in a pretty steep dive. The other three E.A. went straight on into the clouds. This was over Gheluvelt.’

On 14 June 1917, flying a SE.5 (A.8922) he reported:

‘When on patrol at 15,000 feet between Ypres and Menin I saw our Anti-Aircraft bursting over Armentiers, and saw a two-seater E.A. at 15,000 feet. I followed Capt. Bowman towards E.A. The E.A. put his nose down and Capt. Bowman dived after it. I then saw another E.A. just below to my left at 9,000 feet, and dived firing about forty rounds at 100 yards range at E.A., who went down in a steep dive North of Quesnoy, seemingly O.K.’

On 17 June 1917 his patrol was attacked by 18-20 enemy aircraft and Coles was shot down by German ace Fritz Krebs of Jasta 6. The casualty report reads, ‘Pilot left aerodrome 8 a.m. to go on patrol & was last seen engaged with E.A. over Hanbourin, fate unknown.’ No. 56 Squadron lost two men that day - Lieutenants Coles and Spearpoint - both became prisoners-of-war. Coles was repatriated to England on 30 December 1918.

Coles entered the Second World War as a Lieutenant in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. As a Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in the regiment, he was awarded the U.S.A. Medal of Freedom, with Bronze Palm (London Gazette 23 May 1947) ‘for exceptionally meritorious services in Italy from September 1943 to May 1945.’ Lieutenant (War Substantive Major) Turner-Coles relinquished his commission on 21 December 1949 and was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

With copied photographs of the recipient and his crashed aircraft of 17 June 1917; copy birth certificate; m.i.c. (confirming pair); Gazette extracts; combat reports; and other research.