A Collection of Awards to the Royal Air Force between the Wars (1919-1939) formed by Group Captain JE Barker

A rare inter-war A.F.M. group of six awarded to Fitter and Bristol Fighter Air Gunner, Sergeant, later Wing Commander, S. G. Wright, 5 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Air Force Medal, G.V.R. (327585 L.A.C. S. G. Wright. R.A.F.) suspension loose; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (327585 A.C.1. S. G. Wright R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (327585, Sgt: S. G. Wright. R.A.F.); India Independence Medal 1947 (46230 Sqn. Ldr. S. G. Wright, R.A.F.), mounted for wear, slightly worn, generally nearly very fine (6) £2800-3200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Air Force between the Wars (1919-1939) formed by Group Captain JE Barker.

View
Collection

Provenance: Group Captain F. L. Newall Collection, Christie’s, March 1988.

A.F.M. London Gazette 1 January 1927, the recommendation states:

‘For consistent good work and devotion to duty in India. Although this non-commissioned officer is a fitter (aero engine) by trade and has many arduous duties on the ground, he has performed 300 hours flying in the past three years, during which he has displayed courage and zeal worthy of high praise.’

Stanley George Wright was born at 2 West Hill Villas, Lower St. Johns, Ryde, Isle of Wight, in December 1902. He joined the Royal Air Force as a Boy, aged 16, after the conclusion of the Great War. Wright served as a Leading Aircraftman with 5 Squadron (Bristol Fighters) in Quetta, India. He moved with the Squadron throughout the 1920s, as it engaged in patrol duties on the North-West Frontier. A photograph of Wright, captioned ‘Air Gunner LAC Wright of 5 Squadron about to fly in a Bristol F2b, Quetta, 1922, wearing a standard Sidcot flying suit’, is used in Chaz Bowyer’s book RAF Operations 1918-1938.

At the end of his tour Wright returned to the UK, advanced to Sergeant and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. in February 1937. Remaining in service during the Second War, he undertook a specialist engineering course and was commissioned as Pilot Officer in the Technical (Engineers) Branch in February 1941. Wright advanced to Temporary Flight Lieutenant in January 1944, and retired in December 1945.

Wright returned for service with the Technical Branch of the R.A.F in October 1946, and was promoted Squadron Leader in August 1947. He participated in the Independence Ceremony for India in 1947, and retired as Wing Commander in October 1955. The I.G.S. 1908-35 Medal Roll records that he elected to keep his Waziristan 1921-24 clasp in place of the Waziristan 1925 clasp, when he also qualified for the latter.

Sold with copied file of research, including photographic image of recipient in uniform.