Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘POW’s’ campaign group of six awarded to Halifax flight engineer, Warrant Officer D. F. J. Lemon, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who was shot down and forced to bale out during a raid to Mainz, 11 August 1942. Having parachuted to safety, Lemon was imprisoned in Stalag VIII-B, Lamsdorf, Germany

India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (562989. Cpl. D. F. J. Lemon. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue ((562989) W/O. D. F. J. Lemon. R.A.F.) with named card boxes of issue for I.G.S. and L.S. & G.C. generally good very fine (6) £700-£900

Provenance: Sotheby’s, November 1993.

Douglas Francis John Lemon was born at 13 Marlborough Road, Ealing, Middlesex in May 1913. He was educated at the Central School, Ealing, before entering No. 1 School of Technical Training at R.A.F. Halton as part of No. 19 Entry in January 1929. Lemon was an Aircraft Apprentice in No. 4 Wing as part of B Squadron. He passed out in 1932, and was posted as an AC2 to the Home Aircraft Depot at R.A.F. Henlow.

Having advanced to Corporal, Lemon served on the North West Frontier 1937-39. After further training, he was posted as a Flight Engineer for operational flying with 78 Squadron (Halifaxes) at Croft, Yorkshire. Having advanced to Sergeant by May 1942, Lemon moved with the Squadron to Middleton-St.-George the following month. He flew in operational sorties to Emden, Bremen, Saarbrucken, Duisburg, Osnabruck and Paris.

Lemon’s aircraft Halifax Mk II W1115, piloted by Sergeant E. G. Monk, was hit by anti-aircraft fire whilst carrying out a raid to Mainz, 11 August 1942. The crew of seven were forced to bale out - two of whom were killed, whilst the remainder including Lemon were taken prisoner of war. Lemon was imprisoned in Stalag VIII-B, Lamsdorf, Germany. He was repatriated in May 1945, having advanced to Temporary Warrant Officer whilst in captivity.

After the war Lemon was employed as an Accountant, before being employed as an Auditor for British Airways. He died at Charing Cross Hospital in May 1982.

Sold with the following related items and documents: Warrant Officer’s gilt cap Badge; Flight Engineer’s Brevet; 4 Red on Kharki War Service Chevrons; recipient’s POW metal Identity Disc for Stalag VIII-B; Wooden trinket box, believed to be made by the recipient whilst a POW, inside which are some ‘relics’ of German insignia; khaki covered water bottle; two prison camp group photographs, in which the recipient is featured; two R.A.F. Record Office letters to the recipient notifying him of the award of his I.G.S. and the L.S. & G.C. respectively; with other ephemera and a file of copied research.