Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant R. H. Coles, Royal Flying Corps, late West Somerset Yeomanry, who was killed in action on 9 May 1917, when his B.E. 2e was ‘smashed to pieces in the air’ by the marksmanship of the famous ace Werner Voss: the latter had recently been awarded the “Blue Max” and would ultimately become the fifth highest scoring German pilot of the War

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.), extremely fine (2) £400-500

Rowland Humphrey Coles was Werner Voss’ 26th victim, and the first of three British aircraft to be brought down by him on the afternoon of 9 May 1917. Under the Guns of the German Aces, by Norman Franks and Hal Giblin, takes up the story:

‘The first of the day was over a BE2e of 52 Squadron [piloted by Coles] which had taken off at 10.55 (British time) on an Artillery Observation sortie. The BE was charged with a heavy and demanding schedule and had been in the air for more than two hours when Voss caught up with the machine and its two-man crew, sending them down north of Metz. Voss, however, stated that the British machine fell at Havrincourt, inside British lines. The location disparity is probably explained by the fact the BE was smashed to pieces in the air with wreckage falling over a wide area. Pilot and observer were, of course, both killed in the air.’

Born at Alexandria, Egypt in August 1893, Coles was the youngest son of Coles Pasha, C.M.G., and was educated at Cheam, Wellington College and finally at the Agricultural College, Cirencester. As stated in the Wellington Year Book of 1917, he obtained a diploma at the latter seat of learning, where he ‘was Master of Beagles, a fearless rider and a good athlete, winning many long distance races.’ It seems, too, that he won a reputation for being a fearless character in the West Somerset Yeomanry, which regiment he was commissioned into after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, but once again this attribute probably stemmed from the sporting arena, for he did not go to Gallipoli, but rather to Egypt - a fact verified by his MIC entry, which confirms his entitlement to a British War and Victory Medal pair only.

His career with the Royal Flying Corps commenced in early 1916, on his return to England, and he was awarded his “Wings” and Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate (No. 3319) in July of the same year. Subsequently posted to No. 52 Squadron in France, he quickly obtained the respect of his fellow pilots and C.O., the latter writing on his death in action in May 1917, ‘He was one of the best, if not the best officer in the squadron, and I had twice recommended him for promotion to Flight Commander.’

Rowland Coles, who was 23 years of age, was interred in the Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, France.