Auction Catalogue

4 July 2001

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Miniature Medals

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 954

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4 July 2001

Hammer Price:
£390

Four: Corporal G. Whitehead, Royal Flying Corps

1914-15 Star 5521 2-A.M., R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (5521 Cpl., R.F.C.); Belgian Croix de Guerre, extremely fine (4) £200-250

Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 15 April 1918. A copy of a letter addressed to the Officer Commanding No. 59 Squadron commending Corporal Whitehead for his gallant conduct is included with the lot. This states ‘...as a further recommendation to draw your attention to the following instance in which this NCO displayed great courage and devotion to duty. On the morning of 29 November 1917 several items of equipment were required by various Batteries in order to enable them to be ready for action, among these was a tuner for a Siege Battery in La Vaqueire. On arriving in the vicinity of La Vaqueire it was seen that not only the battery position itself, but the roads round about the battery were being heavily shelled. This NCO nevertheless proceeded to the battery and delivered the tuner at very great personal risk. This NCO has always shown great coolness in visiting batteries under fire and a fine sense of duty in his work.’

George Whitehead, a native of Gorton, Manchester was killed in action on 28 March 1918 whilst serving with No. 59 Squadron, Royal Air Force. He is buried at Bienvillers Cemetery, France. Sold with a file of copied research detail.