Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Wing Commander R. G. Spencer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Mercantile Marine, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force

British War Medal 1914-20 (2 Lieut., R.A.F.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Robert G. Spencer); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2 Lieut., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, good very fine (7) £100-140

Robert Gidner Spencer was born at Driffield, Yorkshire in October 1897 and was educated at Bridlington School and Trinity House, Hull, prior to being appointed a Probationary Temporary Flight Officer in the R.N.A.S in February 1918, the same month in which he was posted to the R.N. College, Greenwich. Subsequently appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the newly established R.A.F., he was also onetime a member of the Mercantile Marine and obtained his Certificate of Competency as a 1st Mate for Foreign-Going Steamships in June 1919.

Between the wars he qualified as a teacher and was headmaster of Gembling School, near Driffield but he retained his interest in flying and became a pioneer of gliding, obtaining the Royal Aero Club’s certificate ‘No. 20’.

Appointed a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F.V.R. in February 1940, Spencer initially served in Coastal Command but later served in Burma and Ceylon on the H.Q. Staff of No. 222 Group, where he was in charge of the Air Sea and Jungle Rescue Services. According to accompanying obituaries, he was mentioned in despatches and credited with inventing a number of devices which were adopted by the R.A.F. and were responsible for saving the lives of many aircrews in distress. He was demobilised as a Wing Commander in December 1946, returned to his post as headmaster of the Gembling School and died in January 1982.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s letter of appointment to the rank of Probationary Temporary Flight Officer in the R.N.A.S., dated 17 February 1918; commission warrant for the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the R.A.F., dated 1 November 1918; Board of Trade Certificate of Competency for 1st Mate of Foreign-Going Steamships, dated 4 June 1919; British Empire (Royal Aero Club) Gliding Certificate (No. 20), issued on 24 August 1930, with portrait photograph, together with his private log book for flights undertaken out of Driffield & District Gliding Club in the same year; letter confirming his election to a Fellowship of the Royal Astronomical Society, dated 10 January 1930; commission warrant for the rank of Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R., dated 8 March 1940; R.A.F. Ceylon Pass, dated 16 July 1943, with portrait photograph; 1939-45 Air Council campaign medal transmittal slips; and a letter from the Goldfish Club confirming his election and forwarding his membership card and club tie, dated 4 June 1954.