Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant N. H. de V. Heathcote, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, late 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles)

1914-15 Star (3170. Pte. N. H. de V. Heathcote. 28-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. N. H. de V. Heathcote. R.A.F.) all in named card boxes of issue, good very fine (3) £140-£180

Niels Hugh de Vaudrey Heathcote was born in the Near East to an Anglican Chaplain, the Reverend Herbert Heathcote, on 22 January 1895. He joined the 28th Battalion, London Regiment (Artists Rifles) as soon as he left school in 1914 and served overseas for two years with them. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, flying as an observer on the Western Front and was shot down three times, once in flames and also survived an encounter with Richtofen’s Flying Circus – he later recalled ‘there were twelve of them and one of us. I didn’t feel like firing first and neither did they.’

After the war, Hewathcote entered University College London and became a schoolmaster and lecturer in the history of science: he had many publications to his name. He died on 23 June 1985; his archives are at the U.C.L. Special Collections library.

Sold with an officer’s R.F.C. cap badge and collar badges.