Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War 1945 Pathfinder’s D.F.M. group of five awarded to Lancaster Rear Gunner, Flight Sergeant, later Flying Officer, W. C. Telford, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew in at least 53 operational sorties with 97 (Straits Settlements) and 635 Squadrons, with his pilot flying as Deputy Master Bomber on a number of occasions

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1594153 F/Sgt. W. C. Telford. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany, loose on riband; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Path Finder Force badge and Air Gunner’s brevet, generally very fine or better (5) £1,400-£1,800

D.F.M. London Gazette 25 May 1945:

‘This Air Gunner has completed 36 operational sorties against the enemy, and is now engaged on his second tour of operational duty.

Under a cool and quiet manner he has a fine offensive spirit in action, which inspires confidence in other members of his crew.’

William Cyril ‘Bill’ Telford served during the Second War with the Royal Force Volunteer Reserve. He initially served as an Air Gunner with 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron (Lancasters) at Bourn. Telford flew in two operational sorties as a Rear Gunner with the Squadron, to Augsburg and Stuttgart, before transferring to form 635 Squadron (Lancasters) at Downham Market, in March 1944.

Both squadrons flew as part of Path Finder Force, and Telford went on to fly in at least 51 operational sorties with 635 Squadron, including: Frankfurt; Essen (4); Nuremburg (3); Le Havre (3) including, 6 September 1944, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid and in the same capacity for 10 September 1944; Emden; Scholven; Domberg, 23 September 1944, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid; Calais (2); Cap Gris Nez; Sterkrade, 27 September 1944, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid; Bergen; Saarbruken, 5/6 October 1944, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid; Dortmund (3); Stuttgart; Duren; Munster; Karlsruhe; Merseburg; Ludwigshafen; Duisberg; Dusseldorf; Munchengladbach; Troisdorf; Hannover; Munich; Gelsenkirchen, 12 September 1944, when his pilot flew as Deputy Master Bomber for the raid; Mainz; Weisbaden; Kleve; Wanne Eickel; Chemnitz; Wesel; Worms; Zweibrucken; Hagen; Harburg; Hamburg; Kiel (2); Plauen; Potsdam and Heligoland.

Telford was commissioned Flying Officer in November 1945, and retired in 1952.

Sold with extensive copied research, and a photograph of the recipient in uniform.