Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The post-war K.B.E., Second World War C.B. group awarded to Air Marshal Sir Francis Fressanges, Royal Air Force, who served as C.-in-C. Far East Air Force, and British Military Adviser to S.E.A.T.O., 1954-57, at the time of the Malaya Emergency: he had earlier commanded No. 95 and No. 210 Squadrons during the Battle of the Atlantic, for which he won a “mention”, and served on attachment to the U.S. Navy, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, K.B.E. (Military) Knight Commander’s 2nd type set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, and breast star, silver, gilt and enamel centre, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (F./L. F. J. Fressanges, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.II.R. (Air Mshl. F. J. Fressanges, R.A.F.); Coronation 1953; United States of America, Legion of Merit, Legionnaire’s breast badge, gilt and enamel, mounted court-style as worn where applicable, minor enamel damage to the last, generally good very fine (11) £2500-3000

K.B.E. London Gazette 9 June 1955.

C.B. London Gazette 14 June 1945.

U.S.A. Legion of Merit London Gazette 15 October 1946. The original citation from the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C., states:

‘For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while serving on the Staff of the Commander Support Force from 20 March to 31 August 1941. Displaying exceptional initiative, tact and professional ability, Group Captain Fressanges acted in an advisory and liaison capacity in connection with the preparation of air units of that Force for escort of convoy operations in the North Atlantic and, by his tireless efforts and unfailing co-operation, contributed in large measures to the rapid development of air units for participation in safe delivery of vital munitions to the United Kingdom when the Support Force became actively engaged in escort operations. His sound judgement and conscientious devotion to the varied and complex details of his assignment were essential factors in the successful prosecution of the war.’

Francis Joseph Fressanges, who was born in February 1902, was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on graduating from the R.A.F. College Cranwell in August 1923.

Shortly thereafter he joined No. 27 Squadron in India, the commencement of extended service in that country which included operational employment as a Flight Lieutenant on the North West Frontier in 1930-31 (Medal & clasp).

Returning to the U.K. in late 1932, he was advanced to Squadron Leader and appointed to the command of No. 84 Squadron, but was serving as a Staff Officer, Directorate of Training, on the outbreak of hostilities.

In January 1940, however, in the rank of Wing Commander, he took command of No. 210 Squadron, a Sunderland unit of Coastal Command, in which capacity he was actively employed in the Battle of the Atlantic, but his subsequent mention in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1941, refers), may well have been in respect of a hazardous sortie flown to a lake at Biscarose in France as late as 19 June 1940, his V.I.P. passengers including the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Secretary for the Colonies, both of whom engaged in secret discussions with their counterparts in respect of the fate of the French Fleet. No. 210 moved to Oban in the following month, where it began to re-equip with Catalinas, and in January 1941 three of its old Sunderlands were ordered to West Africa to form No. 95 Squadron, which unit Fressanges briefly commanded before being attached to the U.S. Fleet on the Atlantic-run, which appointment, as cited above, led to the award of his Legion of Merit.

Back in the U.K. by early 1942, and by now an Acting Group Captain, Fressanges was appointed Deputy Director of Overseas Operations and, in December 1943, the Director. Then in June 1944 he was appointed A.O.C. of No. 47 Group, in which capacity he was awarded the C.B.

Post-war, he gained advancement to Air Commodore in July 1947 and, having attended the Imperial Defence College, became A.O.C. British Forces Aden, in the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, in 1950.

Having then served as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) from May 1952, Fressanges became C.-in-C. Far East Air Force, and British Military Adviser to S.E.A.T.O., in late 1954 - here, then, senior command at the time of the Malaya Emergency. He was appointed K.B.E.

Placed on the Retired List as an Air Marshal in October 1957, Sir Francis died in October 1975.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s K.B.E. and C.B. warrants, the former with a further warrant dispensing with the process of personal investiture, and the latter a copy of the Bath’s statutes; Coronation Medal 1953 certificate, together with related invitation to Westminster Abbey and admittance ticket; certificate of award for the American Legion of Merit, with related typed citation, the former signed by President Truman and dated 15 May 1946; Czech Pilot’s Badge certificate of award (No. 586), and a leather bound Visitors’ Book, covering the period March 1950 (i.e. his appointment as A.O.C. in Aden) to April 1978, when being used by his widow, the interim period witnessing hundreds of signed entries in respect of R.A.F. personnel, senior officers and V.I.Ps, among the latter Edwina, Countess of Mountbatten.