Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

An unusual post-Great War France-to-Egypt Handley Page flight A.F.M. group of three awarded to Air Mechanic Class 1 T. Y. Cordiner, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps

Air Force Medal, G.V.R. (47966 A.C. 1, R.A.F.); British War and Victory Medals (47966 2 A.M., R.A.F.) nearly extremely fine (3) £1000-1200

A.F.M. London Gazette 12 July 1920. The original recommendation states:

‘Participated in the flight from France to Egypt, May to July 1919. A brilliant engine fitter who was mentioned for special services by his Flight Commander.’

Thomas Yates Cordiner, who joined the Royal Flying Corps in September 1916, was serving in No. 58 Squadron at the time of the above related deeds. Quite probably he had joined the Squadron before it moved to France in January 1918, and, having gained experience in Handley Page bombers, took part in the the flight from Provin in France to Heliopolis in Egypt in the following year. For the day, it was very much a pioneering trip, and it is well known that Air Mechanics often had to carry out hazardous running repairs, even as their aircraft were in flight.

Cordiner returned to the U.K. in December 1919.