REVIEW: ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS AND MILITARIA: 15 JULY

He was just 19 years old when he claimed 15 ‘Victories’ over his first three months in the air on the Western Front, from 16 June - 15 September 1917, including three ‘doubles’ in a day (on 16 August, 22 August and 5 September).

What he might have gone on to achieve will be never known as he was shot down and mortally wounded by the German ‘Ace’ and Blue Max Winner Oberleutnant Hermann Göring, commander of Jasta 27, on 21 September 1917.

Now, the particularly fine and poignant Great War Bristol F.2b Fighter Ace’s campaign group of three awarded to Second Lieutenant R. L. Curtis, 48 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps has sold above estimate at £5,500 in this auction.

Ralph Luxmore Curtis was the son of William and Amy Curtis, and was born in Rainham, Essex in March 1898. The family were farmers, and Curtis attended Chigwell School.

Curtis initially served during the Great War underage in the ranks of the 18th (Service) Battalion (1st Public Schools), Royal Fusiliers in France from 14 November 1915, aged 17. He was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps in September 1916 and carried out his initial training as a pilot before gaining his Aviator’s Certificate at Hendon, 17 February 1917.

He was confirmed in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted for operational flying as a pilot with 48 Squadron (Bristol F.2b’s) in Bellevue, France in May 1917.

His first Victory came with the experienced Lieutenant L. W. Allen, M.C. as his observer/gunner (this was to be Allen’s 10th and final victory). Having proved himself more than capable, Curtis then went on to shoot down the vast majority of his total with Second Lieutenant D. P. F. Uniacke as his observer/gunner.

He was a squadron contemporary of Keith Park, the future Air Chief Marshal, whose key role in defeating the Luftwaffe during The Battle of Britain in 1940 would earn him the nickname The Defender of London.

Curtis and Park shared an enemy aircraft shot down with him, but the accolades that Park went on to win were not to be for Curtis after he encountered Göring, who himself went on to lead the Luftwaffe as one of the most notorious Nazi leaders.

As well as the framed medal group, the consignment included a Memorial Plaque (Ralph Luxmore Curtis); and framed Memorial Scroll ‘2/Lieut. Ralph Luxmore Curtis Royal Flying Corps’, with framed portrait photograph of Curtis.