Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. To coincide with the OMRS Convention

A Great War M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Squadron Leader F. A. Swoffer, Royal Air Force, late 9th London Regiment, Middlesex Regiment and Royal Flying Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge; 1914 Star, with clasp (1867 Pte., 9/Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals, together with R.F.C. officer’s collar badge, R.A.F. cap badge and 1st pattern 1918 cloth wings, lacquered, otherwise very fine (10) £600-700

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 July 1919.

Frank Arthur Swoffam was born in Islington, London, on 17 March 1892. He enlisted into the 9th London Regiment on 6 August 1914 and served with that unit in France and Flanders from 4 November 1914 until he was invalided home due to a gunshot wound in the face on 21 April 1915. After a spell in hospital, Swoffer was discharged to a commission, as Second Lieutenant, in the 4/7th Middlesex Regiment, and returned to France. He was appointed as a Flying Officer, Military Wing (Aeroplanes, in the Royal Flying Corps on 12 October 1916, but was wounded two days later. He was again wounded on 30 November 1916. Promoted to Lieutenant in the Middlsex Regiment in July 1917, Swoffer then saw service with No. 84 Squadron, and later 22 Wing H.Q. He was appointed acting Captain and Technical Officer in the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, and transferred to the Reserve in 1927.

He was subsequently an instructor to the Hampshire Aeroplane Club and carried out demonstration tours in East Africa and China.

On the outbreak of war in 1939, Swoffer was appointed Flight Lieutenant, Administrative and Special Duties Branch, and was promoted to Squadron Leader in December 1941.

He retired in 1946 and went to Guernsey as an airport controller, but died there on 19 July of that year.