Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine and superbly well-documented Second War Hurricane and Spitfire fighter Ace’s ‘Western Desert’ D.F.C. group of eight awarded to Wing Commander J. M. Morgan, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He had distinguished himself pre-War by saving the life of a fellow trainee pilot from a crashed aircraft at No. 10 F.T.S. on 19 December 1938, and optimistically chased an enemy aircraft in a Hawker Henley during the height of the Battle of Britain whilst posted with No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit - Morgan followed it all the way to Swansea before ‘allowing’ a Spitfire to take over.

Destined for more glamorous flying opportunities, Morgan was posted to the famous 92 (East India) Squadron at the end of 1941. Like the rest of the squadron’s pilots he was attached to 80 Squadron in the Western Desert, whilst his parent unit was eventually kitted out with aircraft. Having destroyed several enemy aircraft whilst flying Hurricanes, Morgan was now unleashed on 92’s newly acquired Spitfires.

Morgan’s flying prowess quickly came to the fore, with him rapidly being appointed a Flight Commander, before receiving the ultimate accolade: the command of 92 Squadron in December 1942 - January 1943. He led from the front, ‘in the course of the fight [7 January 1943] I shot a 109G down in flames, crashing in the sea... and damaged a second. I finally had to fight two 109’s without ammunition for 30 minutes until my aircraft received hits from a head on attack which forced me to take evasive action - the 109’s then beat it home. This was a very shaky engagement with the bullets narrowly missing my head!!!’

Morgan subsequently commanded No. 234 Wing during the short-lived defence of the island of Kos, before being appointed to the command of 274 Squadron in October 1943. Now flying Spitfires as fighter bombers, Morgan led the Squadron into Italy and on many low-level attacks: ‘we attacked several Tiger tanks and armoured cars with front guns in the Capestrano area [24 January 1944]. I strafed a tank on a mountain pass which rolled over the side into the valley below...’

Morgan was shot down by anti-aircraft fire whilst carrying out a low-level strafe near Terni, 28 February 1944. In his words: ‘Shot down over the lines after gun fight - parachuted into captivity.’ He arrived to be interned at the infamous Stalag Luft III, Sagan, just three days after the ‘Great Escape’. Carrying on in service after the war, Morgan commanded 208 Squadron in the Canal Zone at the time of the fighting following the creation of the state of Israel

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany, this loose; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, 5th type (1902-83), silver (John Milne Morgan, Bletchley. 19-12-38) with integral top riband bar, in John Pinches, London leather case of issue; Queen’s Messenger Badge, E.II.R., silver-gilt and enamel with pendant silver greyhound, badge reverse inscribed, ‘75’, hallmarks for London ‘1964’, in Garrard & Co. Ltd case of issue, Second War awards mounted as worn, generally good very fine (lot) (9) £10,000-£15,000

D.F.C. London Gazette 5 February 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘This Officer arrived in the Western Desert with No. 92 Squadron at the beginning of July when the Squadron was flying Hurricane aircraft of No. 80 Squadron. Since then he has shown great courage and considerable skill as a leader, both of a Flight and of the Squadron. In fact, a large proportion of the Squadron’s score in the Middle East has been due to this Officer’s determined leading of his Flight. He, personally, has destroyed 5 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed 1 more and damaged 4 others.

By his courage, qualities of leadership and his personal example, he has made his Flight into an efficient fighting unit.’

Society for the Protection of Life from Fire:

Case No. 17,324: Flight Lieutenant John Milne Morgan, Royal Air Force: Silver medal
An account of the circumstances is given in Air Council Letter, dated 31 March 1939, thus:

'To Air Officer Commanding, No. 23 (Training Group), RAF Grantham, Lincs. Sir, With reference to your letter dated 7th February 1939 (No. 23G735/102/P(20)), I am commanded by the Air Council to inform you that they have noted with satisfaction the gallantry and perseverance displayed by Acting Pilot Officer J M Morgan in attempting to rescue Acting Pilot Officer W A Jenns following an aircraft accident at Bletchley on 19th December 1938. The council have caused a suitable note to be made in Acting Pilot Officer Morgan's record and I am to request that the officer may be informed accordingly'.

The award was then noted in the SPLF Letter, dated 17 August 1939, thus:

‘To The Under Secretary of State, Air Ministry, S7D, Adastral House, Kingsway, London, WC2.
Re: Acting Pilot Officer J M Morgan in Aeroplane crash at Bletchley, near Tern Hill - 19th December 1938.
The circumstances of this case have been reported to us and the Trustees have decided to make an award of the Society's Silver Medal to Acting Pilot Officer J M Morgan. At the request of the Group Captain, No. 10 Flying Training School, Market Drayton, I am forwarding the medal to you under separate cover today. We should be greatly obliged if you would advise us of its safe receipt and be so good as to give such instructions as may commend themselves to you for its presentation to the recipient'.

Both letter and medal were forwarded for conferral, the details being recorded in RAF correspondence thus:

‘HQ, No. 22 Group, RAF letter - 24 August 1939.
To No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit - Re: Pilot Officer J M Morgan. The attached copy of a letter received from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire is forwarded together with the Silver Medal referred to therein, and it is requested that you will arrange for this award to be presented to the above named officer in a suitable manner, details of the presentation being notified to this Headquarters in due course.’

John Milne Morgan was a native of Balham, London, and was born in 1916. He was educated at Bonneville Road School, Clapham Park and the Henry Thornton School, Clapham Common. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1935, and was commissioned Pilot Officer in 1938. Morgan carried out his initial pilot training at No. 8 E.F.T.S., Reading and No. 10 F.T.S., Tern Hill - being stationed at the latter when he saved the life of Pilot Officer W. A. Jenns when Hart K5795 crashed on 19 December 1938. He was posted as a pilot to No. 1 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit, Farnborough in March 1939, and was still serving with the unit when was war was declared in September of the same year. Morgan carried on serving with the unit with its various moves to Carew Cheriton and Cleave, and was doubtless frustrated by his posting as the Battle of Britain evolved. His limited aircraft - the Hawker Henley - did not stop him from having an optimistic go at an enemy aircraft on 6 September 1940: ‘Z.C. 6000. Spotted enemy aircraft 1,000ft below chased to Swansea, Spitfire took over.’ (Log Book refers).

Despite such incidences as above, and the ‘ticker tape’ entitlement slip which shows Morgan as entitled to the Battle of Britain clasp, there is no other evidence to suggest that he qualified for the clasp. However, that did not preclude him from other sightings and scrapes with enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain period - as recorded in his Log Book.

Morgan advanced to Flight Lieutenant, and was posted to 52 (Fighter) O.T.U., Aston Down in October 1941. He converted to Hurricanes, and was posted for operational flying with 609 Squadron (Spitfires) at Digby in November 1941. Morgan flew in his first operational scramble on 12 December 1941. He was posted to “B” Flight, 92 (East India) Squadron (Spitfires), also at Digby, by the end of the month. The Squadron was posted overseas to Egypt in February 1942. They arrived without aircraft, and Morgan was initially attached for Ferrying Duties at Takoradi, West Africa, between March and May 1942.

Morgan was then attached to 80 Squadron (Hurricanes) for operational flying in the Western Desert from 1 July 1942. He met with almost immediate success, as his Log Book entry for 4 July 1942 records:

‘Fighter Offensive Sweep Battle Area - Vectored by controller to E/A which we intercepted at over own height in three waves. Offensive Sweep over El Alamein line concentrating on pinpoint 8527 - 20+ Ju.87’s intercepted over line with escort of 6+ 109F’s - 5 Ju.87’s destroyed, 5 probables and 3 damaged. - 1 destroyed and 1 probable credited to me....’ (Log Book refers.)

Morgan carried out a large amount of sorties over the El Alamein line throughout the remainder of July, including a dawn ground strafe on the 9, when he was on the receiving end of an unwanted amount of flak and bofors fire. Up on patrols on virtually a daily basis, Morgan added to his tally once again on 27 July 1942:

‘Fighter Patrol Battle line - attacked 30+ 109’s and 30+ Stukas. Intercepted at 9,000ft. (Leading Blue Section). As a single squadron without top cover we patrolled over the gap at Den-El-Dhib (which our troops were attacking). We were attacked by 109’s which we fought off for ten minutes - when 30+ Stukas dive bombed the gap, Red and Yellow sections attacked Stukas and my section (Blue) stayed above and gave top cover. In the course of the ensuing fight I destroyed a Me.109F which attacked Sgt. Herak. Also S/L Wedgwood destroyed an 87... Score 2 destroyed, 1 probable. All our squadron returned safely. The German fighters were most persistent and followed the formation almost to Alexandria, making several attacks.’ (ibid.)

Morgan flew his last operational sortie with 80 Squadron on 1 August 1942, after which he later annotated his Log Book:

‘This is our last ‘caper’ with Hurricane aircraft - we are rewarded for our service with Spitfires!!!!!’

92 Squadron was finally properly equipped with aircraft, and became fully operational by 12 August 1942. The Squadron was soon heavily involved in battling against Rommel’s advance on the Nile Delta and had many air battles with German and Italian fighters. By this time Morgan had been appointed Flight Commander of “B” Flight, and he led his men on almost constant sweeps throughout the remainder of August. He added another Me.109 destroyed to his score on 20 August 1942, followed seven days later by another enemy aircraft damaged:

‘Offensive Sweep Battle Area - Top Cover escort to No. 1 S.A.A.F and Recco aircraft (Leading Squadron). Patrolled West of El Alamein line as top cover to 1 S.A.A.F. (Low Cover) and one Hurricane recco aircraft, at 17,000ft. The low cover was almost immediately attacked by 109’s on crossing the line, and we were unable to see them owing to cloud - the Germans also successfully jammed our radio making interceptions impossible. However after patrolling the line for 15 minutes in search of “Snappers” - 2 109’s were seen crossing the line flying West 5,000 feet below our formation. I immediately dived down with my section (Red) and bounced them from behind, closing in to less than 300 yards I opened fire - pieces of aircraft broke away in the wing and fuselage, the 109 finally turning onto its back and dived into a cloud at 5,000 feet....’ (ibid.)

The start of September 1942 saw a further increase of activity for Morgan, in particular on 2 September 1942 - on which date he flew on four sorties, managing to destroy another enemy aircraft before damaging two others. The first sortie of the day heralded a Me.109 being damaged, whilst the third sortie yielded the following:

‘Patrol Battle Area (Leading Blue Section). Top cover to 238 and 80 Sqns on Tactical Recco duties. Engaged 109’s West of line - S/L Wedgwood destroyed one and I destroyed one and damaged another. A grand fight while it lasted!! The Germans are pushing hard on the ground North of the depression and a big battle is in progress.’ (ibid.)

Morgan met with success again on 26 September 1942:

‘Patrol Battle Area (Leading Blue Section). Top cover to 33 and 213 Squadrons at 20,000 feet on Tactical Recco duties. During our most westerly sweep 109’s were seen attacking the Hurricanes, we engaged them and a terrific fight took place. P/O Rose and myself each destroyed one 109 each and “Chips” claimed a probable - my 109 crashed 10 miles West of the line and caught fire. F/Sgt Kenwood was shot down and crashed in enemy territory. - P/O Turvey was also hit but landed on friendly ground.’ (ibid.)

Two days later, Morgan nearly went down in a blaze of glory himself:

‘Scramble to gain height over base (One section only, myself leading). Vectored onto Ju.88 but no interception was made - later ordered to patrol Bung el Arab at 20,000 feet. 20+ 109’s were then seen flying along the coast towards us which we climbed about and attacked, unfortunately we were then attacked from about by further 10+ 109’s. In the ensuing fight P/O Chisholm contracted engine failure and had to force land. I was then left to fight about 60+ 109’s on my own!!!! I got in several good burst of cannon at various attacking fighters, and finally managed to carry the fight over base where they left me thank heaven!!! A very near thing, as our own flak opened up on me by mistake.’ (ibid.)

Morgan carried out three offensive sweeps over the Fuka area on 9 October 1942; during the third of these, he added another (probably) destroyed enemy aircraft:

‘Wing Cover to bombers and Kittyhawks over El Daba, attacked by a large number of 109’s out of the clouds - I probably destroyed a 109 which was seen to dive with black smoke pouring from it. No losses.’ (ibid.)

The following day, the boot was on the other foot, when Morgan was ‘attacked by two 109’s out to sea [carrying out a ‘Rhubarb’ over the El Darba area], having to fight them for quite a while without any ammunition - finally took to cloud and escaped. Chips and his section also attacked me, thinking me a 109 - I was forced to attack them in defence!!!!’ (ibid.)

Morgan finished the month strongly, destroying another two enemy aircraft on 25 and 29 October respectively:

‘Section offensive sweep of El Daba area (Leading Section). Patrolled enemy back areas - four 109f’s were seen flying East towards El Alamein. I attacked, shooting down the leader with a four second burst - it spun in crashing S.W. of the central sector, the remaining three dived for home....

Scramble. El Alamein area (Leading Blue Section). Squadron anti Stuka sweep with 145 Sqn as top cover - intercepted a great formation (50+) of Stukas with 109 escort S.W. of El Alamein - a wizard scrap took place. I jumped five 109F’s which were close cover for Stukas, getting several good burst of cannon at close range from dead astern, but he would not go down - however he was badly damaged. We chased them all the way home and then broke off attack. S/L Wedgwood destroyed a 109F.’ (ibid.)
92 Squadron - Leading from the front
The Squadron received orders in November to move forward and occupy more advanced landing ground at El Daba as the Germans retreated. The remainder of the month followed a similar theme of multiple offensive sweeps and patrols, as the Allies tried to capitalise on the enemy’s ground force in ‘full flight’. This led to constant relocation for 92 Squadron, and the appointment of Morgan to command the Squadron in December 1942. The latter time was recorded by his squadron contemporary Neville Duke [D.S.O., O.B.E., D.F.C. and 2 Bars, A.F.C.] in his autobiography Test Pilot:

‘There was nothing static about our lives; the continuing advance meant frequent moves, the personnel of the squadron changed from time to time. From Msus we went on again to Antelat, the peak point of our advance earlier in the year, and then on to El Hassiat, ninety miles south-east of Agadabia. A new commanding officer took over, Squadron Leader Morgan replacing Squadron Leader Wedgwood whose tour had expired. We were shocked to learn a week or two later that Wedgwood had been killed. He was a passenger in a Halifax with a Polish crew which crashed in Malta shortly after take-off for England.

We settled in at El Merduna for Christmas, rigged up a bar in the mess with the tail-plane of a 109, collected scrub for a Christmas tree and various artists improved the tent walls with caricatures.’

Morgan did not have to wait long to add yet another Me.109 damaged to his tally on 8 December 1942:

‘Offensive sweep of Marble Arch area - delousing for Kitty Bombers (Leading Squadron and Wing). Wing offensive sweep with 145 Sqn as top cover. Soon after take off large formations of enemy aircraft were spotted NE of our lines, these (109’s) were intercepted five miles N of Brega Point at 13,000 feet. I dived the squadron to attack and they split up and dived for home. A further 6+ and 9+ were then seen behind us at different heights which we attacked in turn - a terrific ‘dog fight’ took place over Marsa Brega area helped along with clouds of flak. In the course of the fight I closed in behind a 109F and gave it several bursts of cannon hitting its wings and tail, it smoked and disappeared into a cloud. I was fired at several times but got in many good bursts of fire at the enemy. We carried the fight into the Jerry lines and ended up by chasing them W of Elagheila, where they climbed up into the sun and attacked us all the way home to Agidabia. Our patrol was very low but we beat them off... There were 24+ 109’s altogether and we fought them for an hour and thirty minutes!!!’ (Log Book refers.)

Morgan was engaged on Squadron ‘business’ on Christmas Eve 1942, with his Log Book recording a ‘sortie’ to Benghazi in order ‘To Collect Christmas Booze!’ As a consequence he missed the subsequent scramble as recorded by Neville Duke in Test Pilot:

‘Christmas Eve was enlivened with a scramble which meant climbing to 25,000 feet south-east of Nofilia; and when I returned, the Christmas lorry which had been reported “missing” on the way from Cairo, causing cursing and despondency, had at last arrived; and the remainder of night was not particularly silent or holy.

On Christmas Day several of us made the rounds of 601 and 145 Squadrons before, in time-honoured custom, serving the airmen their Christmas dinner.... The day ended with another visit to the airmen’s mess and a further session on our own.

We were on the move again before the New Year was in, this time to El Chel, a big, square airfield; but the front had rolled on to Misurata and we were almost out of range once more. New Year’s Eve was notable for a visit by Air Chief Marshal Tedder [photographs of the visit are included in Morgan’s photograph album included in the lot], who was making a farewell round before handing over to Air Chief Marshal Sholto Douglas...

With El Che being rather far behind the lines we began to use Tamet as a forward landing ground.

“109’s are making a habit of providing the boys there with bombing and strafing for breakfast, so we shall have to look out,” Morgan told us.’

Neville Duke goes on to record the Squadron’s response to this, and Morgan’s part in it - however, the latter’s Log Book offers more detail on an action in which he added a 109 destroyed and another damaged to his total:

‘7 Jan 1943. Scramble - interception of enemy aircraft approaching L.G. (Leading a section of four). Instructed to gain ‘angles’ N.W. of base, on reaching 12,000 feet approx 25 miles N.W. of Hamriat 5+ 109’s were seen at our own height flying S.E., these we attacked, but were attacked at the same time by a further 6+ 109’s from above and behind, we turned into these and a most determined dog fight developed. In the course of the fight I shot a 109G down in flames, crashing in the sea... and damaged a second. I finally had to fight two 109’s without ammunition for 30 minutes until my aircraft received hits from a head on attack which forced me to take evasive action - the 109’s then beat it home. This was a very shaky engagement with the bullets narrowly missing my head!!!”

Despite this near brush with death, Morgan was up again later the same day moving the Squadron and recording in his Log Book:

‘P/O [G. W.] Rose [R.A.A.F.] was shot down and killed - he died very gallantly against 8 109’s which he fought on his own to shield two T/R Hurricanes over Buerat (Rose recommended for V.C.).’

Island of Kos - No. 234 Wing - a rearguard action

Morgan continued to command the Squadron until the end of January, when his tour was completed and Squadron Leader W. Harper arrived to take over. Morgan was posted in a staff capacity to No. 219 Group at Alexandria the following month. He was employed in that capacity until September 1943, when he was posted as Wing Leader of No. 234 Wing to the Island of Kos. Here he co-ordinated the minimal air defence of the island (some aircraft of 7 S.A.A.F Squadron and 74 Squadron) against the German invasion of the Greek island. Morgan’s Log Book gives the following:

‘28 September 1943. To Aegean Island Kos. Flight was made via Castle Rosso, passing close to the East end of Rhodes Island and then across into Turkey before changing course for Kos. No enemy aircraft seen. Experienced difficulty in landing on the island aerodrome due to bomb craters.

30 September 1943. Offensive Patrol against enemy bombers. 1 Ju.88 destroyed by 74 Sqn.

2 October 1943. The island of Kos was invaded by German land and sea forces, supported by airbourne units of paratroops etc. British resistance was maintained for 3 days, after which the island fell to the enemy. S/L Hayter and myself after 7 days on the island managed to make our way to Turkey and back to M.E.’

274 Squadron - a chat with a Churchill

Morgan was appointed to the command of 274 Squadron (Spitfires) at Derna, Libya, on 20 October 1943. The Squadron was mostly employed on coastal defence, moving West as North Africa was cleared of the enemy. Morgan carried out a large number of convoy patrols, including that of 21 November 1943:

‘Escorted H.M.S. Renown into Alexandria Harbour carrying Winston Churchill for the Cairo Conference. Sarah Churchill [the former’s daughter] spoke to me on the R/T and got me in no-end of trouble!!!’ (ibid.)

The Squadron started to convert from fighters to fighter bombers in December 1943, and moved to the Italian front the following month. Morgan led the 16 aircraft of the Squadron to Canne, Italy, and started carrying out Bomb Line and Shipping Patrols. Different targets seemed to appeal to Morgan, when on a Straffing Recco on 24 January 1944, ‘we attacked several Tiger tanks and armoured cars with front gun in the Capestrano area. I strafed a tank on a mountain pass which rolled over the side into the valley below...’

Over the course of the next 6 days Morgan destroyed or damaged a large number of vehicles and rail trucks whilst carrying out low level attacks. The only downside being the amount of flak encountered at this low level, leading to him having to make a crash landing on 28 January 1944. His tour continued in a similar vein until his Spitfire was hit on 28 Febeuary 1944, whilst strafing near Terni. Morgan’s aircraft started to stream glycol, and he was forced to bale out. His Log Book, with pencil sketch of him parachuting, records:

‘Shot down over the lines after gun fight - parachuted into captivity”

Shot down and in the bag - Stalag Luft III

Morgan’s YMCA Wartime Log has a far more detailed and dramatic sketch, drawn by him, of him descending by parachute. The same Log has the following entry:

‘After carrying out a successful strafe in enemy back areas, consisting primarily of motor transports in Terni area, received hits from return A/A and was obliged to abandon my aircraft.’

After being captured and interned at a Dulag, Morgan arrived at Stalag Luft III, Sagan, on 28 March 1944. Arriving some three days after the ‘Great Escape’, Morgan would have been witness to the aftermath and fallout of this momentous event. He remained at Sagan until the advance of the Russian forces in January 1945. Morgan then took part in a forced march from Sagan to Spremburg from 28 January to 2 February, before entraining for Hanover - ‘43 to a cattle truck!!!.’

Morgan’s entry in his YMCA Wartime Log for 28 January 1945 gives:

‘Weather cold (15 degrees below). At 0700 hours we are marched out of the compound to commence the big trek Westward. Some keen members of N. Camp set fire to a block before leaving, and the flames lap above the trees, bathing everything in an orange hue.’

Canal Zone - Commanding 208 Squadron - Just one more campaign

Morgan was eventually repatriated in June 1945, and chose to remain in the Royal Air Force after the war. He was appointed to the command of 208 (Fighter Reconnaissance) Squadron (Spitfires) at Nicosia, Cyprus in July 1948. Morgan moved with the Squadron to Fayid, Egypt in November 1948, and led his squadron in the Canal Zone at the time of fighting following the creation of the state of Israel. His Log Book records several Fighter Escort sorties between December 1948 and January 1949, including experiencing several incidents of heavy flak.

Morgan relinquished command of the Squadron in September 1950 and advanced to Wing Commander, with subsequent postings including: H.Q. No. 11 (Fighter) Group; H.Q. Northern (Fighter) Sector; H.Q. Bomber Command; and as Officer Commanding R.A.F. Eindhoven from February 1955 until February 1958. His penultimate posting was as Air Attaché, British Consul, Lima, Peru, from November 1959 until April 1962. Morgan’s last posting was as Officer Commanding Air Wing, R.A.F. Benson, and he retired in December 1963. In later life he resided in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands.

Sold with the following related material: recipient’s silver identity bracelet, with R.A.F. ‘cap badge’ added; Royal Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Book (13 January 1938 - 14 October 1954) privately bound, with cover embossed in gold lettering including recipient’s name - an extremely well-annotated and detailed log book; ‘ticker tape’ entitlement slip - which additionally gives entitlement to Battle of Britain clasp; Buckingham Palace named enclosure for D.F.C.; a very fine annotated photograph album compiled by the recipient illustrating 92 Squadron’s service in the Western Desert; recipient’s YMCA Wartime Log for British Prisoners - with some sketches, photographs of amateur dramatics, and diary entries for being ‘on the march’ across Germany in 1945; correspondence relating to the award of the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire Medal; a Prisoner of War Rations Box addressed to ‘F/Lt H. E. Falkus, P.O.W. 2256, Stalag Luft 3, Germany’ - later a writer, filmmaker and presenter, who was interned at the same time as Morgan; four letters addressed to recipient as a POW at Stalag Luft III, all from family members, and a Postkarte from recipient to his ‘Uncle Dick’; and a newspaper cutting.