Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A group of four Prize Medallions awarded to 2nd Lieutenant R. N. Bullock, Royal Air Force

“The Model Engineer” Medallion, by Vaughtons, Birmingham, 51mm., silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1926, obverse: two women in classical garb, one holding a victor’s wreath, a smaller figure to the side, at their feet symbols of technology; reverse: ‘Awarded to R. N. Bullock’, in case of issue; Small Model Aircraft Engineers Cup Medallion, by Vaughtons, Birmingham, 31 mm, silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1928, obverse: early aircraft in flight; reverse inscribed, ‘S.M.A.E. Cup R. N. Bullock, 1928’, in case of issue; another, bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Pilcher Cup, R. N. Bullock, 1930’, not in case; Yugoslavia, Model Aircraft Medallion 1938, 60mm., bronze, obverse: head of King Peter II by M. Studin; reverse: youth launching a model aircraft, with the legend, ‘Ljubljana 20-25 VII 1938 Jugoslavija’, unnamed, in case of issue; together with a 9 ct. gold identity bracelet, inscribed, ‘Sec. Lieut. R. N. Bullock, R.A.F., Forest Hall, Northumberland’, generally extremely fine (5) £120-160

Ralph Nathaniel Bullock was born in 1898, the son of R. Bullock of Benton, and was educated at Dunelm House School, Forest Hall, Northumberland and at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (January 1913-July 1914). He was an apprentice for three years with H. Waters & Co, Pump and Internal Combustion Engineers before joining the R.A.F., being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant (Aeroplane Officer) on 30 September 1918. After two years service in the R.A.F. he was a year at Armstrong College, Durham University, taking the 1st year of a B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering course. Bullock then started to make a career out of model aircraft; at times managing a model aircraft factory, he was heavily involved in their design and construction. A holder of several records and prizes; he was the winner of the S.M.A.E. Cup for Speed in 1926. In 1926 he was commissioned as a Flying Officer in the Reserveof Air Force Officers; a position he was to hold into the 1940’s. Sold with two portrait photographs of the recipient in R.A.F. uniform; a photograph of a German W.W.I aircraft; the recipient’s bank book, named to ‘II Lieut. Ralph N. Bullock’; a Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers card for a dinner, dated 24 July 1939, bearing many signatures including that of the recipient and several overseas members; together with a handwritten paper by the recipient listing his early career and achievements.