Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The General Service Medal awarded to Air Commodore Philippa F. Marshall, C.B., O.B.E., Women’s Royal Air Force, late Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, who served as Director of the Women’s Royal Air Force and Honorary Aide-de-Camp to H.M. The Queen, 1969-73

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, E.IIR. (Wg. Off. P. F. Marshall. W.R.A.F.) good very fine £200-240

C.B. London Gazette 12 June 1971.

O.B.E. London Gazette 2 January 1956.

Philippa Frances Marshall was born in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, on 4 November 1920, and was educated at St. Dominic’s High School for Girls, Stoke-on-Trent. She joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in 1941 and was commissioned an Assistant Section Officer on 10 June 1942. Upon the formation of the Women’s Royal Air Force on 1 February 1949 she transferred across with the rank of Flight Officer, with seniority from 10 December 1946, and was further promoted Squadron Officer on 1 July 1953. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1956 New Year’s Honours’ List, she was promoted Wing Officer on 1 January 1964, and Group Officer on 1 July 1966. From 1968-69 she served as Commanding Administration Officer at R.A.F. Strike Command, and on 1 July 1969 was appointed Director of the Women’s Royal Air Force, with the rank of Air Commodore, and was additionally appointed an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to the Queen. Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1971 Birthday Honours’ List, she stepped down as Director on 7 July 1973, and officially retired from the service on 1 September of that year. She died on 4 February 2005.