The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

Thirteen: Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R.; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; Air Force Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Flt. S. Lt. E. J. P. Burling, R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Capt., R.A.F.); France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D.; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; French Croix de Guerre 1914-17; Royal Humane Society, Small Bronze Medal (Successful) (Flight Lieut., R.A.F. 12th Sept. 1922) complete with bronze ribbon buckle, the group on an original court mounting as worn, good very fine and a highly important group (13)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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See colour plate V.

D.S.C. London Gazette 20 February 1919: "In recognition of services during Naval operations carried out in conjunction with military operations in Palestine from October to December 1917. Flight Lieutenant (Acting Flight Commander) Edward James Pointer Burling R.N.A.S. (now Captain R.A.F.) carried out very successful spotting work in connection with the bombardment of Deir Sineid. During this work he was attacked by a very fast hostile aeroplane, and it was only due to the extremely clever handling of his aeroplane that the machine was not destroyed."

The following recommendation is taken from Admiralty records and gives further detail: "Flight Lieutenant Burling has carried out very successful pilotage and spotting work in connection with H.M. Monitors and the French Cruiser REQUIN off the Palestine Coast near the Wadi Hesy. During these flights he was constantly subjected to hostile anti aircraft fire and also attacks by fast hostile aircraft of the land type, one machine being hit in 36 different places. It was due to the photographs taken during these flights that the existence of the embankment which carried the railway line over the Wadi Hesy was discovered."

D.F.C. London Gazette 28 June 1918. The following recommendation was extracted from official records: "On 8 April 1918 Seaplane N1581 and Observer A.M.3 Crisp W/T,while on escort patrol sighted a periscope of a submarine about 3/4 mile away from the convoy entering the North Channel. An attack was immediately made, the first bomb dropping slightly on the quarter of the submarine which evidently upset her steering gear, as she turned sharply round with her periscope still showing. The Seaplane was then turned sharply round and the second bomb dropped just behind the periscope from a height of about 400 feet. The submarine disappeared immediately. This attack prevented any possible attack on a large convoy of ships proceeding to the entrance to the North Channel. This attack was carried out when Captain Burling had the bulk of the flying to do on Escort Patrols, in addition to organising a new Station under adverse conditions, daily patrols being carried out although the Seaplanes had been exposed in the open for nearly 3 months."

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 March 1929. The following recommendation was extracted from official records: "This Officer has been responsible for much of the pioneer work in connection with catapult flying since 1924. He carried out the initial trials in H.M.S. VINDICTIVE and was the first pilot to be launched by catapult from a ship under way. He also carried out catapult exercises with great success under active service conditions on the China Station during 1926-28. Considerable risk was attached to the initial trials, but by his outstanding devotion to duty, Squadron Leader Burling has brought the catapult up to a very high standard of efficiency."

M.I.D. London Gazette 20 July 1917, 14 June 1945 and 1 January 1946. Croix de Guerre London Gazette 22 February 1918.

Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal 6 February 1923: "On 12 September 1922 a Seaplane piloted by Flight Lieutenant Burling developed engine trouble and was forced to make an emergency landing off Swanage in a heavy sea, knocking out her bottom. Airman S. Preese became trapped and held underwater by the wreckage. Flight Lieutenant Burling and Lieutenant Burton left the cockpit and succeeded in pulling him clear and hauled him above the water-line until they were picked up by a boat." A duplicate of this medal was sent to Group Captain Burling, on prepayment, in December 1953.

Group Captain Burling was, as a Squadron Leader, second-in-command at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, Felixtowe, from 20 August 1928 until 30 September 1930. During this period several Royal Air Force pilots who competed in the Schneider Trophy races were stationed at Felixtowe, and Group Captain Burling undoubtedly flew with them.

The Carey Catapult
The catapult, designed by Mr F. Carey, of Lea-on-Sea, was constructed at Chatham Dockyard in 1925, and underwent trials there, and at Portsmouth in the same year. Late in 1925 the first catapult to be constructed in England was fitted on H.M.S. VINDICTIVE and trials were commenced. These initially consisted of launching various weights of sand and cast iron at various pressures and the acceleration of the trolley on which the machine rides was measured. When these trials had proved satisfactory, an old Fairey 3D machine with no engine, but weighing approximately 6000 lbs was fired off the catapult into the basin at Chatham dockyard on 25 September 1925. The machine rose on leaving the catapult and proved the catapult to be a working proposition. The VINDICTIVE now moved to Portsmouth where further similar trials were carried out. On 30 October 1925 Squadron Leader Burling made the first flight off an English catapult in Fairey 3D 9740. This historic flight fully demonstrated the ability of the catapult.

The group is accompanied by the original Log Book of the Carey Catapult aboard H.M.S. Vindictive, from 21 September 1925 until 26 April 1928, providing a complete record of the trials and flights made using the catapult, and consequent work and improvements made to it. Additional original items include several photographs and certificates for the 1937 Coronation medal and Royal Humane Society medal. Only three officers achieved the distinction of winning the D.S.C., D.F.C. and A.F.C.