Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant G. R. T. Marsh, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who was shot down by the German Ace F. Altemeier near St. Quentin on 24 February 1918 and was taken Prisoner of War

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. R. T. Marsh, R.A.F.), in named card boxes of issue with Air Ministry registered envelope addressed to ‘Lt. G. R. T. Marsh,15 Ashburnham Gove, Greenwich, S.E.10’, extremely fine (2) £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Prisoners of War.

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George Richard Thomas Marsh was born in Southwark, London, on 31 July 1898 and served during the Great War as as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps. Posted to No. 52 Squadron, on 24 February 1918 he was ‘attacked in R.E.8 by 14 enemy aircraft near St. Quentin. Owing to low clouds and strong wind was unable to regain our lines. After a 14 minute fight was forced to land, machine badly holed by machine gun fire. Wounded’ (Recipient’s repatriated Prisoner of War form refers). Claimed by the German Ace Friedrich Altemeire, who would go on to claim 21 victories during the Great War, he was taken Prisoner of War, and held until the cessation of hostilities. He was repatriated back to England on 13 December 1918, and died at Crowborough, Sussex, on 25 May 1979. His co-pilot, Second Lieutenant I. M. Dempster, was killed in action during the fight.