Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: 2nd Lieutenant J. N. Lellyett, South African Air Force, a Mustang pilot who was killed on active service in Korea in 1952

South African Korea Medal (2/Lt. J. N. Lellyet); U.N. Korea 1950-54 (2/Lt. J. N. Lellyet; South Korean Government Medal, together with U.S.A. Divisional Citation Badge, extremely fine

Pair: Private I. E. R. P. Lellyett, 3rd South African Infantry, late South Africa Medical Corps

British War Medal 1914-20 (Pte. I. E. R. P. Lellyett, 3rd S.A.I.); Bilingual Victory Medal 1914-19 (Pte. I. E. R. P. Lellyet, S.A.M.C.), good very fine (6) £600-800

Irvine Ellis Ross Parker Lellyett served in the 4th Field Ambulance, South African Medical Corps in East Africa 1916-17. Discharged in the latter year on account of his suffering from malaria, he was awarded the Silver War Badge, but later re-enlisted in the 3rd South African Horse.

Jack Norton Lellyett, Irvine’s son, was born in Springs in the Transvaal in March 1929, and was educated at Springs High School. When he joined the South African Air Force in February 1951, he already held a private pilot’s licence. Appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in No. 2 Squadron, S.A.A.F., a Mustang unit, he departed for Korea in February 1952 but was killed in a flying accident near Chongdo on the 29th. The first report received in Pretoria in respect of the accident stated:

‘2nd Lieutenant Lellyett, while undergoing pre-operational training was flying in No. 2 position on a simulated railway interdiction exercise led by Captain Leathers. He did not recover during a dive during the attack. His aircraft was seen to crash, explode and burn out. The Flight searched the area but did not observe any movement near the scene of the crash. A search party was despatched to the scene of the crash and recovered the body of 2nd Lieutenant Lellyett. He will be buried in the United Nations Military Cemetery at Tanggok.’

In writing to Lellyett’s mother, the C.O. of No. 2 Squadron, S.A.A.F., said:

‘In the short time he was with us, Jack’s attractive personality won him our respect and friendship. I was struck by his high principles and his deep regard for the sacred and spiritual virtues of life, together with his practical and level-headed outlook. My God’s comfort be with you in the loss of your fine young son.’

Of the 200 or so South African aircrew who served in Korea, 34 paid the supreme price; sold with copied research.