Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1925 (327978. Cpl. E. D. Croft. R.A.F.) minor edge bruise, very fine £600-800

Eric Donald Croft was born in Starbeck, Harrogate in February 1903. His ‘RAF service goes back to Feb 1919 when I joined as a boy at the initial opening of the Boys Wing at Halton and later went to Gosport to finish my training. In November 1921 I was posted to 60 Squadron Risalpur and on promotion to 27 Squadron still at Risalpur. As an air gunner I took part in several bombing raids from both Risalpur and Miramshah but can’t say my aim was very good. The bomb sights were not much good and I had better results using the trailing edge of the old DH 9A. I quite enjoyed my service in India and had a tour round when representing the RAF in the boxing team at bantamweight. On leaving India in 1927 I went to Cranwell and from there to Waddington, City of Lincoln reserve squadron and from there was given a special discharge to join Imperial Airways who were just about to open their Indian and African routes.’

Croft was employed as an aero-engineer by Imperial Airways, and resided at 64 Castle Street, Scarborough, in later life. He died in Ashford, Kent, 24 November 1983.

Sold with copied research, two annotated photographic images of recipient during service on the North West Frontier 1925-26 (one of which was illustrated in The Flying Elephants by Chaz Bowyer) and a typed copy of an extract taken from a letter from the recipient written 16 November 1973.