Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘1941’ A.F.C. group of six awarded to Battle of Britain Hurricane pilot Flight Lieutenant H. A. G. Comerford, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, a veteran of the North West Frontier with 28 Squadron, he later served as a Flight Commander of 312 (Czech) Squadron, and was forced to bale out near Carnforth, 15 October 1940

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1941’; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (F/O. H. A. G. Comerford. R.A.F.) minor official correction to surname; 1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, generally very fine or better (6) £4,000-£5,000

A.F.C. London Gazette 30 September 1941.

Harry Alfred George Comerford was born in Wandsworth, London in August 1905. He was the son of H. W. J. Comerford, who was a music hall and variety comedian and actor, with the stage name of ‘Harry Ford’. Comerford’s mother was Rosina Sarah Sipple - her sister Aggie (stage name ‘Aggie Brantford’) married H. W. J. Comerford’s brother Albert. The latter’s stage name being ‘Bert Brantford’. The female side of the family being of very old Sephardic Jewish origin, combined with the Comerford’s to create a number of leading actors, composer’s and vocalists of the day.

Comerford, however, bucked the trend and joined the Royal Air Force on a short service commission in January 1927. He carried out his initial training at No. 2 F.T.S., Digby, and having gained his ‘Wings’ was posted as a pilot to 16 Squadron (Bristol F.2b’s) at Old Sarum in December 1927. Comerford was posted for overseas service to 28 Squadron (Bristol F.2b’s) at Ambala, India in October of the following year. He served on the North-West Frontier, 1930-31, and transferred to 31 Squadron at Quetta in March 1932. Comerford served as Adjutant, before returning to the UK on leave in December 1932. He briefly returned to India before being posted back to the UK in November 1933.

Comerford joined 40 Squadron at Abingdon in March 1934, and with his term of service completed he went on to the Reserve of RAF Officers in October of the same year. He was recalled, 13 January 1940, and posted to No. 7 F.T.S., Peterborough as a flying instructor and 'C' Flight Commander. Comerford was remanded for Court Martial, 5 July 1940, on a charge of becoming unfit for duty due to excessive consumption of alcohol. He was tried by General Court Martial, 24 July 1940, and acquitted.

Comerford was then posted to No. 6 E.F.T.S., Sywell and it was from there that he was posted for operational flying as ‘B’ Flight Commander of 312 (Czech) Squadron (Hurricanes) operating from Speke, 1 October 1940. The latter being a squadron formed from Czech refugees in the UK in August 1940. The Squadron was part of Liverpool’s defence, and jointly commanded by Squadron Leader F. H. Tyson and Squadron Leader J. Ambrus. The Squadron became operational the day after Comerford’s arrival, but progress was slow due to the old aircraft that the Squadron was equipped with.

Comerford flew an operational sortie, 11 October 1940, and the Squadron ORB gives the following:

‘Numerous patrols throughout the day without E/A being sighted until 18.25 hours when Red and Yellow Sections were ordered to patrol Chester and Point of Ayr, shortly after taking off Yellow 2 and 3 (P/O Vasatko and Sgt. Keprt) lost touch with Yellow 1 (F/Lt Comerford) and joined themselves to Red Section (Sqn Ldrs Tyson, Ambrus and P/O Jaske). F/Lt Comerford sighted one E/A and made three quarter attacks without any visible effect, except that the rear gunner no longer replied. Meanwhile the second formation of 5 Hurricanes while at 20,000 feet sighted an E/A over the coast between Prestatyn and Chester, which they attacked. The E/A dived downwards followed by our aircraft which continued to fire.... Later reports were received that three E/A crashed in the combat area...’

Comerford was up again on the 12th, and with Squadron Leader Ambrus the day after. On 13 October 1940, Blenheims K7135 and L6637 of 29 Squadron were aloft from Tern Hill when they were attacked in error by Ambrus, Comerford and Sergeant J Stehlik over the Point of Ayr, south-west of Liverpool. Despite firing the colours of the day L6637 was shot down with the loss of the crew. The other Blenheim was able to break off and return to base.

Two days later Comerford, once again flying with his commanding officer Ambrus and on this occasion Pilot Officer T. Vybiral, were flying as Yellow Section on a routine patrol. They lost their bearings and were soon low on fuel. Comerford, in Hurricane V6542, baled out near Carnforth hitting his head on the tail of his aircraft as he did so. Ambrus crashed near Dalton-in-Furness and Vybiral baled out in the same area. The crash site of Comerford’s aircraft was located in 1977 by the Warplane Wreck Investigation Group from Merseyside. They carried out a full excavation and recovered the propeller hub and a few other fragments that were donated to a museum in New Brighton, Merseyside.

Comerford was posted non-effective sick on 20 October and declared fit for light duty only six days later. The wound to his head meant that he did not fly again operationally. The following month he was posted to the Air Ministry for attachment to Vickers at Weybridge, and it was whilst stationed at the latter that he was awarded the A.F.C. for his services. Comerford resigned his commission in April 1943, and died in Leicester in 1956. He is commemorated on the Battle of Britain Memorial.

Sold with copied research, including photographic image of recipient in uniform.