Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Flight Lieutenant R. T. Nevill, Royal Air Force and Royal Flying Corps, late Bedfordshire Regiment, who went out to France on the strength of 3 Squadron in August 1914

1914 Star, with clasp (1364 2/A.M. R. T. Nevill. R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. T. Nevill.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Kurdistan (F/L. R. T. Nevill. R.A.F.); Coronation 1911, mounted for wear, generally good very fine (5) £500-600

Richard Thornton Nevill was born in Llanelly, Carmarthenshire, in July 1892. He was the son of F. R. Nevill, JP, and was employed as a Premium Apprentice with Great Western Railways in Swindon. He enlisted as a Trooper in the Wiltshire Yeomanry in 1909, and his pupilage came to a conclusion in January 1914. Nevill enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in August 1914, and was posted for operational service with 3 Squadron, Amiens, France, 12 August 1914. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, in October 1914, and advanced to Temporary Captain in July 1915.

Nevill was appointed as Brigade Machine Gun Officer in August 1915, and was attached to 15 Company, Machine Gun Corps later the same year. Subsequent appointments included as Intelligence Officer and Assistant Instructor at the Machine Gun School. Nevill advanced to Captain and briefly returned to his parent regiment, before being posted as Assistant Instructor in Gunnery at the Royal Flying Corps Armament School, July 1917. He returned to the UK, and was posted to the Experimental Station at Orford Ness prior to being posted to the Air Experimental Station at Martlesham Heath, in January 1918.

Nevill transferred to the Royal Air Force as a Captain (Technical Officer) in April 1918. Subsequent postings included the Central Flying School, Pool and with the Experimental Squadron, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough in April 1919. Having advanced to Flight Lieutenant (Technical Officer), Nevill was posted to 45 Squadron, Alexandria, Egypt, in June 1921. Nevill served with 47 and 55 Squadrons, and Iraq Group Headquarters, on all on Air Staff Intelligence duties throughout 1921-1922. He relinquished his commission in August 1923 on compassionate grounds.

Returning to the UK, Nevill joined the Reserve of R.A.F. Officers, and the Royal Aero Club in July 1924. He was employed as a Director of the South Wales Tinplate Corporation, and resided at Aberdaiden, Govilon, Abergavenny. Nevill died in Cardiff in February 1935, was buried at the Holy Trinity Church, Felinfoel, Llanelly.

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