Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant H. L. C. Aked, Royal Flying Corps, late West Yorkshire Regiment, who served as an F.E.2b Observer with 20 Squadron, and was forced down and taken POW after combat with the German Ace Leutnant W. Frankl at Zandvoorde, 21 May 1916

1914-15 Star (Lieut: H. L. C. Aked. W. York: R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. L. C. Aked. R.A.F.) VM officially renamed, generally good very fine (3) £300-£400

Henry Leslie Cautley Aked was born in 1896, and was a native of Harrogate, Yorkshire. He was educated at Radley, and won a scholarship to study a Magdalene College, Cambridge, however he chose to take a commission in the 3/8th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment instead. Aked initially served during the Great War with the 1/8th (Leeds Rifles) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment in the French theatre of war from 6 November 1915. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps the following year, and after training as an Observer was posted for operational flying to 20 Squadron (F.E.2b’s) Clairmarais, France.

Aked flew with Captain C. E. H. James as his pilot, and on 21 May 1916 they were escorting a reconnaissance patrol when they were engaged in aerial combat by two enemy aircraft. They were forced down by the German Ace Leutnant Wilhelm Frankl (Pour le Merite, and credited with 20 victories) at Zandvoorde. Both Aked and James were taken prisoner of war, and the former was repatriated 18 November 1918. Aked relinquished his commission in January 1919, and after the war he studied at University College, Oxford. In later life he resided at Forest Manor, Knaresborough. Aked was a well-known figure in the Bradford wool and textile trade, and was the Managing Director of Robert Aked & Son - the later being in business for over a hundred years. He died in London in March 1962.

A number of documents relating to Aked are held by the University of Leeds Library.

Sold with extensive copied research, including a photographic image of recipient.