Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting I.G.S. 1908-35 awarded to Wapiti Sergeant Pilot, later Commander R.N., G. A. Nunneley [O.B.E.], 39 Squadron, Royal Air Force - undoubtedly a misfit and one of life’s characters, who flew in at least 18 operational sorties on the North West Frontier in 1930, and ‘terrorised’ a cavalry parade with his flying, and the GOC Kohat District with his misplaced words of ‘amour’

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (505375. Sgt. G. A. Nunneley. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, good very fine £300-£400

George Alan Nunneley was born in Tadcaster, Yorkshire in October 1894. He joined the Royal Navy in September 1907, and was graded as Midshipman by May 1912. Nunneley advanced to Acting Sub Lieutenant in May 1914, and to Sub Lieutenant in March 1915. He moved from post to post, in one case being discharged from a posting ‘under grave suspicion of being guilty of unnatural and immoral acts’, and repeatedly applied for the Air Service. Nunneley advanced to Lieutenant in September 1916. He had applications for employment with the R.N.A.S. and transfer to the newly formed R.A.F. rejected, and was placed on the Retired List in June 1920. However, Nunneley was promoted Lieutenant Commander (Retired) in September 1924, and it was from this rank that he enlisted in the R.A.F.

Nunneley enlisted in the Royal Air Force as a photographer under training in December 1925. He had in his former service displayed a keen interest in aviation, and indeed was awarded the RAEC Aeronaut’s Certificate as a Balloon Pilot following training and examination at Roehampton in July 1918. As a consequence he applied for pilot training, and was subsequently posted as a Sergeant Pilot to 39 Squadron (D.H.9a’s) at Bircham Newton in 1928. The squadron carried out intensive training having been warned of an impending move to India. The Squadron was re-equipped with Westland Wapitis, and moved to Risalpur in January 1929. Before long they were involved in operational flying on the North West Frontier, with Nunneley flying in at least 18 operational sorties between May and August 1930.

It would appear that Nunneley did not let war get in the way of his life, as recorded in Ken Delve’s book The Winged Bomb - History of 39 Squadron R.A.F.:

‘On 1st January 1877 Queen Victoria was proclaimed ‘Empress of India’, thus all military establishments in India celebrated the Proclamation Day anniversary amidst much pageantry and ceremony. At Risalpur on 1st January 1930, the army units, including the cavalry in their parade uniforms, assembled on the cavalry parade ground about half a mile North of Risalpur aerodrome. The R.A.F. part of the celebration was to be a flypast by 39 Squadron. Prior to the display, Sergeant Nunneley took his Wapiti up for a post-engine-change air test. Unfortunately the engine cut out shortly after take-off with the aircraft heading towards the shining ranks of soldiers on the parade ground. The only clear space was right in front of the parade and so Nunneley positioned his machine for a forced landing. All hell broke loose with terrified horses throwing their riders and bolting off into the surrounding countryside. The dignity of the cavalry was somewhat shaken and it took days to round-up all the horses...

Message dropping also had its lighter side. Sergeant Pilot Nunneley had a ‘close friend’ who was a schoolteacher at Kohat and, as the Squadron used the air-to-ground firing range at Kohat, he would often land there to visit the lady. On the return flight to Risalpur he would get his air gunner to drop a message in her garden. Unfortunately, message dropping was a delicate art. On this occasion, Nunneley was too high for accuracy and the message bag, with a three foot long multi-coloured silken streamer, overshot its target by fifty yards and landed in the rose garden of the General Officer Commanding Kohat District. This message, full of terms of endearment, was duly delivered to the GOC by his native gardener. About half an hour later Nunneley landed at Risalpur to be met by the Orderly Officer and Ordely Sergeant with orders to escort him to the CO. The GOC was not impressed with the message and had phoned Risalpur with the Wapiti was still in the air. Sergeant Nunneley was duly ‘de-briefed’!’

On reaching the age limit (39) for a Sergeant Pilot, Nunneley left the RAF to return to the R.N. Retired List in December 1932. Recalled for service with the outbreak of war in 1939, he does not appear to have been particularly enamoured with the Navy’s plans for his employment. He applied for service with the Fleet Air Arm, which was rejected and as a consequence he applied to revert to the retired list for service with the R.A.F. The latter was rejected, and whilst he did not carry out any sea-going appointments he was employed as the Executive Officer of R.N.A.S. Donibristle. Subsequently he served as Commanding Officer of R.N.A.S. Kilindini, Kenya and in the same capacity for H.M.S. Nabbington (Mobile Naval Base, New South Wales, Australia). During this time he held the rank of Acting Commander, which was later confirmed in May 1946.

After the war he was employed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation as Aerodrome Commandant Grade II, Edinburgh Airport (O.B.E.). Commander Nunneley died in Truro, Cornwall in June 1974.

Sold with copied service papers and research.