Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Pilot Officer J. E. Bonniksen, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Major (A.), Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt., R.A.F.); Italian Al Valore Militare, a Great War period striking in silver with crowned ‘Z’ over ‘F.G.’ mark, unnamed, one or two edge bruises, very fine or better (2) £400-500

Julius Edward Bonniksen was born in June 1896, the son of a Danish inventor, Bahne Bonniksen, who designed the “Bonniksen Speed and Time Meter” for motor cars in 1912.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the General List in August 1916, for services in the Royal Flying Corps, young Julius qualified as a pilot before being posted to No. 17 Reserve Squadron at Yatesbury, Wiltshire, at which establishment he completed his operational training. Active service in R.E. 8s followed in France with No. 42 Squadron between June and November 1917, and again on the Italian front between the latter month and March 1918, when the squadron returned to France. Soon afterwards, and by now an Acting Captain and Flight Commander, Bonniksen was posted out to take up an appointment on the home establishment. He was awarded the Italian Al Valore Militare in silver (London Gazette 12 September 1918).

In May 1918, at Prawle Point, Devon, he re-commenced operational flying with No. 254 Squadron, a D.H. 6-equipped sea reconnaissance unit whose brief included anti-submarine patrols - family history relates that on one occasion his aircraft was downed by the fire of an enemy submarine and that he spent 12 hours “in the drink” before being rescued. Bonniksen moved to No. 236 Squadron at H.M. Airship Station in May 1919 and was placed on the Unemployed List in November of the same year, having attained the rank of Major. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 29 June 1919).

Between the wars he ran his own airfield near Leamington Spa, which became known as “Bonniksen’s Aerodrome”, Sir Alan Cobham being among the more prominent visitors to drop-in and visit the Major. But on the demise of his last aircraft, he found more regular employment as a flying instructor at Castle Bromwich, or at least until September 1939, when he was appointed a Pilot Officer, R.A.F.V.R. and posted to the Central Flying School to train up-and-coming fighter pilots. In June 1940, however, as a result of ill-health, he resigned his commission, and moved to the Isle of Man where he became a farmer.

In addition to his missing Victory Medal, which was given to another family member, it seems that Bonniksen was also entitled to the Italian War Medal 1914-18 and the 1939-45 War Medal - accompanying research refers, including correspondence between the recipient’s daughter and the M.O.D.; with extract of Record of Service.