Auction Catalogue

19 & 20 July 2017

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 386

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19 July 2017

Hammer Price:
£800

An unusual campaign group of eight awarded to Group Captain J. W. Turton-Jones, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, who flew as a seaplane observer over the Caspian Sea during the Allied Intervention in South Russia, 1918-19. He later qualified as a pilot, before commanding 19 (Fighter) Squadron, 1936-37, and 250 (Signals) Wing in North Africa during the Second World War

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J. W. Turton-Jones. R.A.F.) with official corrections to both; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. Oak Leaf; Coronation 1937; Royal Observer Corps Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Observer Officer J. W. Turton Jones), mounted as worn, generally very fine (8) £280-320

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 June 1942.

John Wyntoun Turton-Jones was born in Abererch, Carnavonshire, Wales, in September 1899, and joined the Royal Naval Air Service as a Probationary Observer Officer in September 1917. After carrying out initial training at Eastchurch he was posted for service with H.M.S. Vindex (seaplane carrier) in April 1918. Turton-Jones was posted in 1919, as part of 266 Squadron, to serve aboard the Russian vessel Orlionoch in the Caspian Sea. The latter was as part of the Allied intervention against the Bolsheviks, and the Orlionoch was equipped with two Short seaplanes. The Russian vessel, ‘hoisted out both her seaplanes at 1650 that evening [18 July 1919], N9078 crewed by Sadler and Lt. Turton-Jones and N9081 crewed by Lts. McCughey and Wake for an attack on enemy shipping at Lagan. Nothing was seen at Lagan except a sunken paddle steamer, and on the return flight to the ship a strong headwind was met. Underestimating the wind strength, and having missed Seal Island, the two seaplanes tried to reach Chechen before dark. However at 2030, as dusk fell, they landed and beached the seaplanes at Krynovka, where they all enjoyed an excellent meal in a fisherman’s house.

Orlionoch was sighted at 0400 next morning, and after calling her up by Aldis lamp both machines were taxied out to her and were hoisted inboard before she returned to Seal Island.... Sadler and Turton-Jones took off in N9078 next morning [22 July] at 0700, and in company with two CMBs again reconnoitered Dolgoi Island but nothing was observed. Landing again at 0835 the seaplane’s starboard float was damaged in the heavy swell then running. Orlionoch sailed at 2045 that evening for Seal Island where she arrived at 1900 on 23 July. Both seaplanes were hoisted out at 0530 on the 24th, each carrying one 100-lb and two 65-lb bombs, for a flight to Lagan lighthouse via the mouth of the Volga. Nothing was seen at Lagan and after coming under fire from a village near the lighthouse, Sadler and Turton-Jones in N9078 attacked an armed tug proceeding north-west. The tug returned fire with a machine gun while the seaplane was at 800 feet. One shot passed through the port lower mainplane.’ (Royal Navy Shipboard Aircraft Developments 1912-1931, refers)

Turton-Jones qualified as a Pilot after the war, and was injured with his Observer, when he crashed Parnall Panther N.7512 whilst attempting to land on H.M.S.
Argus, 8 May 1923. Between the wars he advanced to Squadron Leader, and commanded 19 (Fighter) Squadron at Duxford, 1936-1937. Turton-Jones was promoted Group Captain in March 1941, and appointed to the command of 250 (Signals) Wing in North Africa, July 1941. He was subsequently employed after the war as an Observer Officer with the Royal Observer Corps.