Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal W. E. Lister, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, a Wireless Operator attached to 202 Siege Battery, R.G.A., who manned his post under fire at Ypres

Military Medal, G.V.R. (10220 1/Cl. A.M. W. E. Lister, No. 7 Sqn. R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (10220 Cpl., R.A.F.), together with a set of related miniature dress medals, good very fine and better (6) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 19 November 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘For great courage, determination and devotion to duty. Near Ypres on 17 August 1917, 1st Class Air Mechanic Lister was receiving the wireless signals of an aeroplane with which the battery to which he was attached was carrying out a shoot. Twice during the shoot his wireless aerial was cut by hostile shell fire, but he repaired the damage without delay and the shoot was carried on without interruption. Although the dug-out in which he was receiving the wireless signals was hardly splinter proof, he remained in his position until directly ordered to leave it by the Battery Commander.’

William Eric Lister was born at Bingley, Yorkshire in April 1898 and enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in October 1915. A telegraphist by profession, he qualified as a Wireless Operator and served out in France from May 1916 until November 1918. Although officially “on the books” of No. 7 Squadron, he was, by the very nature of his trade, actually attached to R.A. units in a ground-to-air communications role for spotter aircraft. Re-mustered as a Corporal Mechanic on the strength of the newly formed Royal Air Force in April 1918, Lister was finally discharged in July 1921.