Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

A Second World War B.E.M. pair awarded to Master Cooper G. W. Johns, Royal Victualling Yard, Deptford
British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (George William Johns); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (George William Johns, B.E.M.), together with related Central Chancery forwarding letter and certificate for the last, dated 17 December 1947, and addressed to the recipient’s widow, ‘Mrs. E. L. Johns, 52, Beechhill Road, Eltham, S.E. 9’, virtually as issued

The Second World War campaign group of four awarded to Flying Officer F. C. H. Johns, D.F.C., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was decorated for his gallantry as a Navigator in Mosquitos of No. 515 Squadron prior to being killed in action on an intruder mission over Germany in July 1944
1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, in their original Air Ministry card forwarding box, with issuance slip, addressed to the recipient’s mother, ‘Mrs. E. L. Johns, 52, Beech Hill Road, Eltham, London S.E. 9’, virtually as issued (6) £400-500

B.E.M. London Gazette 4 January 1944.

George William Johns was awarded his B.E.M. in respect of his services as a Master Cooper at the Royal Victualling Yard, Deptford. As such he would have been no stranger to enemy air raids, the dockyard not just taking severe punishment in the Blitz 1940-41, but again in 1944-45 with the advent of V-weapon attacks - in fact seven V1s and a V2 landed in the dockyard, or its immediate environs, within a matter of weeks.

Frederick Charles Haver Johns, the son of George William Johns, witnessed active service as a Navigator in Mosquitos of No. 515 Squadron and No. 23 Squadron 1943-44, and was killed in action on an intruder mission over Germany on the night of 24-25 July 1944, when his pilot was Squadron Leader P. W. Rabone, D.F.C., a veteran of the Battle of Britain and fighter ace. Johns was himself decorated for gallant deeds in No. 515 Squadron, being posthumously gazetted for the D.F.C. 1 June 1945, with effect from the date of his death in action.

It seems likely he first met Rabone during 23’s sojourn in Sicily in late 1943. Be that as it may, they had certainly teamed-up by the summer of 1944, and not without success, as verified by the following extract taken from a combat report dated 21 June 1944:

‘At 1515 hours when turning at Zuidlaarder Meer, at a height of about 300 feet, Mosquito espied a Me. 110 taking off from Eelde airfield. The enemy aircraft, which was quite oblivious of the lurking presence of the Mosquito, appeared to be fitted with A.I aerial and long range tanks. Mosquito, eager for a kill, made a sharp turn to the west by which time the Me. 110 was airborne with wheels retracted. Our aircraft came in from astern and slightly above (300 feet) and promptly gave the Hun a three second burst of cannon, but no strikes were observed. This was immediately followed up with a second burst of two seconds and strikes were seen on the starboard engine with pieces falling away. Before the hun got his breath back a delightful third burst of cannon presented at 50 yards range at a height of about 100 feet. This created havoc - the Me. 110’s starboard wing and starboard engine burst into flames, the port engine belched forth black smoke, and the enemy aircraft dived into the ground enveloped in a mass of flames, smoke and destruction. The attack and subsequent destruction occurred from 300-100 feet. No return fire was experienced ... Mosquito landed at Little Snoring at 16.30 hours, after a most enjoyable afternoon’s sport.’

As stated, Johns was killed in action in the following month, and is buried in Hanover War Cemetery. Rabone’s body was washed ashore on Heligoland Island three months later, and was afterwards interred at Hotton British Military Cemetery, Belgium; sold with a quantity of research, in which reference is made to an excellent photograph of Johns and Rathbone in Bowman’s and Cushing’s Confounding the Reich.