Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The rare Second War B.E.M. group of six awarded to Master Engineer C. V. Worgan, Balloon Command, Royal Air Force, for his service as a balloon operator with “Q” Flight, 952 Squadron during 24 round trips as part of the Channel Mobile Balloon Barrage - he was subjected to attack from air, land and sea. Worgan was later remustered to Aircrew Duties, and served operationally in the Near East

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (649845 A.C. 1. Cl. Charles V. Worgan. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Near East, Cyprus (M. Eng. C. V. Worgan (649845) R.A.F.) last with unofficial retaining rod between clasps, mounted on card for display, nearly extremely fine (6) £500-£700

B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1942, the original recommendation (for the D.S.M. and jointly listed with 7 other members of 952 Squadron Balloon Command - later reduced to 4, with them being awarded the B.E.M.) states:

‘These balloon operators have shown devotion to duty in the face of continuous enemy attacks by fire from the French coast, dive bombing and E-boat attacks, during 24 round trips in the Channel Mobile Balloon Barrage in the English Channel between Sheerness and Southampton.’

Charles Vernon Worgan had his B.E.M. presented to him by H.M. The King at Buckingham Palace, 19 May 1942. The awarded was a reflection of his service with 952 Squadron, Balloon Command. An indication of their duties is given in A Study in Passive Defence by Flight Lieutenant R. F. Delderfield, which appeared in The Royal Air Force Quarterly:

‘With the opening of the first phase of the enemy’s pre-invasion air onslaught upon Southern England, balloons were seen in a new role. The Luftwaffe preceded its attack upon airfields by an attempt to paralyse Britain’s Channel shipping. On 4th August, 1940, the first Channel convoy protected by towed balloons moved along the coast from Falmouth to Sheerness. From that time onwards, for a period of three years, convoy escort was to prove an important part of Balloon Command’s routine duties.

The journey of the first balloon-escorted convoy proved uneventful, but during the return trip the ships were subjected to a violent attack by enemy E-boats by night. The following morning thirty Ju. 87’S, escorted by Me. 109’s, attempted to dive-bomb the convoy, the fighters concentrating on the balloons while the Junkers bombed the vessels. Several balloons were shot down and after the fight R.A.F. operators took over a variety of duties, tending wounded, assisting the seamen and even steering some of the vessels. Work in connection with the protection of ships involved the setting up of shore servicing stations in almost every port round the British coast. “Q” Flight of No. 952 Squadron, which was engaged in convoy work for a considerable period, earned a large number of naval decorations, probably a higher percentage than any small unit of R.A.F. personnel throughout the war. They shared two M.B.E.s, five D.S.M.s, four B.E.M.s and five “Mentions.”

Worgan, after a break in Service, remustered to Aircrew Duties, and saw operational service in the Suez in 1956. He was promoted to Master Engineer in August 1956, and retired in 1961.

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