Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An attractive gold locket gifted by Air Marshal William Avery Bishop, V.C., C.B., D.S.O. & Bar, M.C., D.F.C., Royal Flying Corps, to his new wife Margaret to celebrate their wedding on 17 October 1917

Gold locket with blue and white enamel R.F.C. insignia, enhanced with diamonds to Crown, containing a small contemporary photograph of Bishop in uniform of the Royal Flying Corps, hand engraved to reverse 'From Billy, Flanders. 1916-17-18.', 15ct. gold with corresponding 45cm gold chain, 7.4g. in total, in contemporary leather box, with original Mappin & Webb Ltd. receipt for the locket and chain, and another for the cost of engraving, extremely fine £700-£900

William Avery 'Billy' Bishop was born in Owen Sound, Ontario, on 8 February 1894, and is officially credited with 72 victories making him the top Canadian and Empire 'ace' of the Great War. Awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in single-handedly attacking an enemy airfield on on 2 June 1917 at Cambrai, France, destroying 7 aircraft, he returned home to Canada and married his longtime fiancée at the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in the late autumn of 1917. Advanced Major, he returned to England in April 1918 and witnessed further active service in command of 85 Squadron, Royal Air Force. 

Sold with a large contemporary newspaper cutting of Bishop, bearing his portrait as Captain in the Royal Flying Corps and commemorating his award of the V.C. as 'Canada's champion "air-hawk"', additionally annotated in pencil 'Billy xxx'; with a First Edition hardback copy of Winged Warfare, the recipient's autobiography, with library stamps commencing 11 November 1918.