Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War casualty group of three awarded to Battle and Blenheim Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Flight Sergeant B. D. Davies, Royal Air Force, who flew operationally with 218 Squadron during the Battle of France, and was killed in action whilst serving with 88 Squadron over the North Sea, 26 August 1941

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, mounted for wear, with R.A.F. Cap Badge, generally good very fine £280-320

Basil Douglas Davies was born in Crumlin, Monmouthshire. He was educated at Cwmfelinfach School, Lewis’s School, Pengam, and Newbridge Secondary School. Davies joined the Royal Air Force in January 1937, and ‘fought in battles over France, and was a member of the first air crew to drop leaflets on Germany’ (newspaper cutting included with lot refers).

Davies served as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner with 218 Squadron (Battles), and moved with the Squadron to France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in September 1939. The Squadron suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of France in May 1940, and by early June no aircraft were left and the squadron personnel were evacuated to the UK. Davies was posted for operational service with 88 Squadron (Battles), Aldergrove, Northern Ireland in August 1940. The Squadron re-equipped with Blenheims, and moved to Attlebridge, Norfolk, 2 August 1941. He flew in sweeps and attacks on coastal targets, including 21 August 1941, ‘Bombed Railway Junction St. Omer (Escorted By Spitfires)’ (Log Book refers).

On 26 August 1941, Davies took off, with Pilot Officer Dunn as his pilot, for a sweep over the North Sea:

‘Before he started on his last flight, Basil wrote a letter to his father, and this he handed to the ground staff colleague who was starting the propeller, with an instruction to post it “if I don’t come back.”

Here is the tragic letter:-

“My dear Dad and all at home,

I am hoping that someone will find this and send it to you, if one day I should fail to return. At the moment of writing I am perfectly happy and in good health, with no thought of dying; only of those I love more than anything in the world.

I want you to know that I died fighting for something I believe in, and which I don’t mind dying for, if I must.

When this war ends, I hope that there will be no more wars, only peace and happiness for you all. No-one can help feeing a little scared at times. I’ve been scared many times, but on every trip I’ve made I’ve thought of you, and it’s made it all much easier.

I’ll be thinking of you on my last trip. For my sake do not grieve too much; I don’t want tears. It won’t be easy I know, but try to keep your chins up just as I have always asked you to do.

Remember what I said about the last champagne bottle, Dad? I asked you to keep it for the armistice. Well, take a good drink now, and one for me.

This isn’t the end. We’ll all meet again one day. Until then, all my love, and God bless you all.

Your loving son,

Bas.’

Davies was killed in action and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. A Memorial Service was held at his father’s hotel - the Navigation Hotel, Crumlin, and Davies is also commemorated on the War Memorial, Mining School Hill, Crumlin.

Sold with the following related documents: R.A.F. Observer’s and Air Gunner’s Flying Log Book (8 August 1940 - 26 August 1941), annotated ‘Previous Log Book Lost During Evacuation From Auberive (France May 1940) Whilst With No. 218 Sqdn’; named forwarding slip for Log Book; order of service for recipient’s memorial service, dated 26 August 1941; newspaper cuttings and various propaganda leaflets; a group photograph and a file of copied research.