Orders, Decorations and Medals

The unique Great War ‘Dardanelles’ D.S.M. and ‘Kurdistan’ M.S.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer J. R. Woollard, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service, which also includes the scarce clasp for Waziristan 1925

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (K.15829 J. R. Woollard, P.O. Mech. R.N.A.S. 1917); 1914-15 Star (K.15829 J. R. Woollard, A.M.1. R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (K.15829 J. R. Woollard, L.M. R.N.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1925 (313303 F/Sgt. J. R. Woollard, R.A.F.); Royal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (313303 F/Sgt. J. R. Woollard, R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (313303 S.M.2. J. R. Woollard, R.A.F.) mounted as worn on original wearing bar, together with original vellum R.N. Certificate of Service and parchment R.A.F. Certificate of Service and Discharge, light contact marks and some polishing, otherwise nearly very fine and a unique combination (7) £3000-3500

D.S.M. London Gazette 1 May 1918: ‘For zeal and devotion to duty during the period from 1st July to 31st December 1917.’

R.A.F. M.S.M. London Gazette 11 June 1924: ‘For distinguished service rendered during the operations in Kurdistan between 15th February and 19th June 1923.’ One of eight awards for these operations, the last immediate awards of the R.A.F. M.S.M. to be made. Note that Woollard did not qualify for the General Service Medal (Iraq or Kurdistan) as No. 17 Squadron was not present in the relevant areas during the qualifying dates, even though he managed to earn the M.S.M. in that same period.

James Robert Woollard was born on 4 August 1894, at Chelmsford, Essex, and joined the Royal Navy as a stoker 2nd class on 28 August 1912. Prior to the Great War he served on Renown, Bulwark, Crescent, and Audacious, becoming Stoker 1st class in August 1913. He qualified as an Air Mechanic 1st class and transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in April 1915, serving with the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron, 63 Wing, in the Dardanelles from that date until March 1918. During that period he was ‘noted for War Services Operations in Eastern Mediterranean 1916’, and promoted to Leading Mechanic (E) in August 1916 and to Petty Officer Mechanic (E) in January 1918. He transferred to the Royal Air Force on its formation on 1 April 1918 as Sergeant Mechanic. Reclassified Filght Sergeant Fitter in November 1918, he was promoted to Sergeant Major 2nd class in November 1928, and Warrant Officer (Engineer) in April 1933.

It was in November 1921, that, as part of Draft 30, 17 Squadron, he was posted to Iraq and later took part in the operations in Kurdistan, earning the M.S.M. but not the appropriate General Service Medal. In October 1923, he was posted to 20 Squadron at Karachi, India, and it was with the one eligible flight of that squadron that he earned the scarce Waziristan 1925 clasp, of which fewer than 300 were issued. He returned to the U.K. in 1927, and from 1930 to 1932 served aboard the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Glorious, finally taking his discharge in February 1935. Sold with further research and a copy group photograph.