Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War pilot’s D.F.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant W. E. Palk, Royal Air Force, late South Wales Borderers and Royal Flying Corps, who was decorated for a 10 day spate of successful bombing and strafing sorties in Camels of No. 46 Squadron in October-November 1918: ‘All the attacks were carried out under very heavy machine-gun fire from the ground and at tree-top level, and Lieutenant Palk’s machine has been hit on almost every occasion … A few days ago his rudder, and today one wing were so shot through that they had to be replaced’

Otherwise ‘a well known Brecon footballer and sportsman’, Palk was killed in a motor-cycle accident in August 1921

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2317 Pte. W. E. Palk, S. Wales Bord.), ’S. Wales’ of unit double-stamped; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. E. Palk, R.A.F.), together with Brecknockshire Battalion, S.W.B. Football League Prize Medal 1915-15, silver, named, good very fine (5) £2800-3200

D.F.C. London Gazette 8 February 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘I beg to recommend the above named officer for the immediate award of the D.F.C.

On 3.10.18 Lt. Palk on a line led by Lt. Sanderson, dived with him on 4 horse drawn vehicles on the Catillon-Mezier road. He fired at these, scattering the men in all directions, killing some horses, and thus bringing this lot to a standstill. He was then fired on by 6 or 7 machine-guns, so dived on one of these (which was in the open) and with Lt. Sanderson’s help, succeeded in silencing it.

On 4.11.18 Lt. Palk dropped 4 bombs on transport parked south of the Landrecies -Maroilled road. Then in company with Lt. Sanderson, he attacked about half a battalion of infantry retiring in good order, these two officers dived right down to no higher than the tree tops and got in many effective bursts, scattering the infantry, and turned their hitherto orderly retirement into a complete rout.

In the afternoon of 4.11.18 Lt. Palk in a patrol led by Lt. Sanderson, attacked German batteries entering Prisches from the S.W. Bombs were dropped from a very low height, two being observed to burst on the road alongside the timbers, and two just off the road. They then attacked these guns with their machine-guns, killing horses, scattering the men, causing a panic, and bringing the whole to a halt. Lt. Palk then joined Lt. Sanderson in a fresh attack on a column of horse transport on the Le Nouvion-Beaurepaire road. This attack was equally successful, as the men panicked, horses were shot, and the column stopped.

On 5.11.18 Lt. Palk assisted Lt. Sanderson and Dowler (k. 10.11.18) to carry out a low reconnaissance of the Army front. This was done in a high wind, with low clouds and poor visibility. The only way that the enemy could be discovered was by drawing their fire. They returned in a steady drizzle and brought back a good report.

On 8.11.18 Lt. Palk in company with Lt. Sanderson and Dowler, attacked infantry, guns and transport retiring N.E. from Avesnes. They caught one company of infantry in close formation, caused complete panic and very heavy casualties by their machine-gun fire. They then attacked a column of 4 guns and transport diving at them killing men and horses, scattering the rest, and stopping the column completely.

On 9.11.18 Lt. Palk, on a patrol led by Lt. Sanderson, dropped two bombs on about 30 motor vehicles on the roads W. of Chimay. Very good results were observed, three direct hits on lorries and three on the road alongside the lorries, although it was impossible definitely to state which pilot dropped these bombs.

Lt. Palk has only done 27 hours flying but, in the recent operations, he has backed up his leader Lt. Sanderson, in a most gallant manner. All the above attacks were carried out under very heavy fire, from the ground and at tree top level, and Lt. Palk's machine has been hit on almost every occasion. A few days ago his rudder and today one wing were so shot they had to be changed.

He has shown great dash throughout, and the very successful results of Lt. Sanderson's low flying attacks have been largely helped by his good backing.

He is always with his leader, and in the right place at the right time. His conduct, especially in the last few days, has been a very fine example to the Squadron.’

William Eustace Palk was born in July 1893, the son of Thomas Palk, the Governor of H.M. Prison Brecon. On leaving school, young William found work at Messrs. Nott & Co. Motor Engineers.

Enlisting in the 1/1st Brecknockshire Battalion, South Wales Borderers in September 1914, he witnessed active service in Aden and India and, on attachment to a Wireless Signal Squadron in the Royal Engineers, in Mesopotamia in 1916.

In May 1917, Palk transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and, having gained his pilot’s certificate, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in January 1918. Posted to No. 46 Squadron in France early October, he was - as cited above - quickly in action in the unit’s Camels; so effectively, in fact, that the recommendation for his D.F.C. was submitted after just 27 hours of operational flying.

Returning to the Home Establishment in March 1919, Palk was transferred to the Unemployed List that August and resumed his former employment as an agent for Messrs. Nott & Co. Motor Engineers. Sadly, however, as stated, he was killed in a motor-cycle accident on the night of 27 August 1921, while returning from a football match. He was buried in Brecon (St. David) Churchyard.

Sold with an old photographic postcard, circa 1916, with group image of South Wales Borderers in India, including the recipient; sold with copied research, including relevant Squadron Record Book entries.