Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Original Great War Pilot’s Flying Log Book (Army Book 425), appertaining to Lieutenant J. E. W. Sugden, No. 20 Squadron, R.F.C., who was taken P.O.W. in June 1918, covering the period 5 September 1917 to 2 June 1918, commencing with entries as an Instructor at No. 24 Training Squadron and ending with around a dozen operational entries with No. 20 Squadron, including ‘Forced landing, water pipe shot through’, together with inserted portrait photograph, the original pencilled name inscription on the front cover since reinforced in ink, generally in good condition and scarce £300-400

The following extract was taken from Top Scorers - The Record of 20 Squadron, R.F.C./R.A.F., which appeared as an article in the Cross and Cockade Journal, Vol. I, No. 1, 1973:

‘On 5 June 1918, two Bristols were lost during a raid on Armentieres. Flying in the rear “Vic”, they were engaged by several enemy scouts. Lieutenant J. E. W. Sugden was singled out by at least four E.A. when his engine stopped and, powerless to fight he was forced down, still carrying a 112lb. bomb. He landed on the edge of a large shell crater inside German lines and both he and his Observer, Sergeant W. O’Neil, were captured.’

The same article features a photograph of Sugden with a fellow No. 20 pilot, Lieutenant Victor Groom, afterwards Air Marshal Sir Victor Groom, K.C.V.O., K.B.E., C.B., D.F.C.

Sugden was recalled for duty on the renewal of hostilities and served as a Flight Lieutenant in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch with seniority in that rank from 1 September 1939.