Miniature Medals

A Great War ‘Salonika’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain (Pilot) H. J. Scales, No. 47 & 150 Squadrons, Royal Air Force, formerly City of London Yeomanry, killed whilst flying in 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (2290 Pte., C. of Lond. Yeo.); British war and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.) Victory Medal officially re-impressed; together with related group of three to Lieutenant J. W. H. Scales, Royal Air Force, comprising: 1914-15 Star (2833 Pte., C. of Lond. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medal (Lieut., R.A.F.) generally nearly extremely fine (7) £600-800

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazette 28 November 1917 (British Salonika Force).

Captain Herbert James Scales enlisted into the City of London Yeomanry as a Private, in 1915, with which regiment he saw service in Gallipoli. He received a commission in the 11th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment on 24 May 1916, serving in Macedonia. The following February Scales was appointed a Temporary Second Lieutenant (Pilot), with No. 47 (later No. 150) Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, serving with them in Salonika.

The following operations flown by Scales are extracted from the squadron War Diary and combat reports:

1 May 1917: ‘With Second Lieutenant Wheatley to range the guns of 138th Siege Battery on hostile gun emplacements. An ammunition store was apparently blown up as two large explosions were observed. When the smoke had cleared away the gun emplacements had completely disappeared and only a mass of shell holes were visible.’

9 May 1917: ‘With Second Lieutenant Wheatley, while doing artillery cooperation were attacked by two Halberstadts, but after two drums had been fired the observer was wounded in the leg and the fight had to be broken off.’

8 June 1918, Combat report, by Captain H. J. Scales (Pilot): ‘I left the ground in response to a Zepp message to the effect that 2 E.A’s. were over Lake Ardzan at 12:20 hours. I proceeded straight to the lines and picked up the machines at about 14,000 feet. I climbed to within 1,000 feet of one of the machines when the observer opened fire. I side-slipped away as I did not consider I was close enough to engage successfully. When I reached E.A’s. height I attacked from the right flank, but had great difficulty in getting guns to fire and when they did it was very fitful until they stopped altogether. The E.A. was firing at me so I had to break off. I then endeavoured to get my guns right, meanwhile climbing to 18,000 feet, but was unsuccessful. I had about 500 feet in height above E.A. so I dived on him three or four times but as I could not get guns to fire I turned to our lines. E.A. went down to Hudova aerodrome. Upon landing I examined my C.C. gear and found that the solder making joint between copper pipe and trigger motor had cracked and admitted air. The fact that my propeller was shot through proves that to be the cause of the failure.’

12 June 1918: ‘Captain H. J. Scales left the ground as escort to a bomb raid. While gaining height near Kirec aerodrome the machine suddenly crashed to the earth, the pilot being killed.’

The Squadron History Over The Balkans reports his death thus ‘Captain H. J. Scales was killed as a result of a flying accident in June 1918. His loss was keenly felt by all those in ‘47’ who had flown with him. Tall, always immaculate, generous to a degree, and a keen flier who sought the most dangerous jobs, Captain Scales was a loss to the Air Force.’

Lieutenant John W. Henry Scales enlisted into the City of London Yeomanry as a Private, in 1915, with which regiment he saw service in Gallipoli. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (Pilot) in the Royal Flying Corps on 27 September 1917. He was shot in the leg by machine gun fire on 27 September 1918, whilst serving with No. 52 Squadron. Sold with a quantity of copied research material.