Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: 2nd Lieutenant J. R. Barrett, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps

British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut., R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine (2) £250-300

John Redvers Barrett, who was born in October 1899 and came from Harrow, Middlesex, appears to have been a civilian aircraft apprentice prior to being commissioned as a Temporary Probationary Flight Officer, R.N.A.S. in October 1917. Then in July 1918, having attended Cranwell, he was posted to the Aegean for service as a D.H. 9 pilot, his subsequent postings including No. 62 Wing and No. 222 Squadron. On 5 November 1918, however, while attached to the latter unit, he was ‘seriously injured in an air crash’ and embarked on the hospital ship St. Margaret of Scotland. Barrett was placed on the Unemployed List in April 1919.

Sold with an attractive wooden box, with leather-lined interior and retractable upper tray, the lid bearing carved R.A.F. Wings; two identity discs, one mounted as a bracelet and with reverse inscription, ‘Mudros, Ismid, Constantinople, Salonique’; the recipient’s flying goggles, hat and leggings, worn; and several photographs. An interesting collection worthy of further research.

Also sold with the recipient’s leather gauntlets, RAF badge and a photograph album containing some 20 images, several of aviation interest