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ARTIFACT:
Superb WWI pilot's medal group, including the gallantry medals M.C., A.F.C., and O.B.E., plus various militaria and documents to Wing Commander W.H. Shakespeare, R.A.F., who also fought in the trenches as an N.C.O. in the Worcestershire Regiment. He was awarded Military Cross for gallantry in 1917 while flying with 35th Observation Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, for being a "gallant and determined" pilot, and the Air Force Cross in 1918 for service in the Home Establishment. After the war, Shakepeare was a pioneer of civil aviation piloting the first trans-European flight in 1919, opening up commercial air routes to Greece. He was recalled to active service in WW2 as Wing Commander and Air Ministry Liaison Officer, and after the war was a champion cricketeer arranging international match play. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services with the Royal Air Forces Association. Medal group includes:
THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE OFFICER'S SILVER GILT BADGE, CIVIL DIVISION
MILITARY CROSS G.V.R., REVERSE ENGRAVED ‘CAPT. W.H.N. SHAKESPEARE. R.F.C. 1917.’. SUSPENSION BAR ADDITIONALLY ENGRAVED ‘CAPT. W.H.N.SHAKESPEARE. R.F.C.’
AIR FORCE CROSS G.V.R.
1914-15 STAR ‘2360 CPL. W.G.N. SHAKESPEARE. WORC. R.’,
BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS ‘CAPT. W.H.N. SHAKESPEARE. R.A.F.’
1939-1945 STAR, DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS.
Swing mounted as originally worn on original silk ribbons.
M.C. London Gazette 4 February 1918
"T./Capt. William Harold Nelson Shakespeare, RFC, was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He carried out a most successful contact patrol in very bad weather at a height of 400ft and brought back very valuable information. Later, he carried out another successful contact patrol at low altitude, his machine being subjected to intense rifle and machine-gun fire. He is a gallant and determined pilot and has set a fine example to his squadron."
The following militaria and civil awards accompanies the medal group:
1) British Empire Aviator's Certificate No 3548 with photograph, dated 7 Sept 1916
2) Worcestershire Regiment cap badge
3) Beautiful Royal Flying Corps wings, cast and hand tooled 72mm 9.6g possibly gold
4) Royal Flying Corps cloth flying badge. Removed from uniform, extremely fine example
5) City of Worcester Mayor's Key, William A Bennett (1938-1945), boxed
6) 9ct gold and enamel neck badge with arms of Worcester, Birmingham 1931, 19g
7) Small penknife embossed with Shakespeare’s name. This with most of gilt finished rubbed off.
Photographs & Documents:
8) Typed itinerary of the first Flight to Greece, 9 October 1919, from Major Humphrey on Handley Page Ltd notepaper to Captain Shakespeare
9) Typed carbon copy of Shakespeare's 16 page report of the flight headed 'across Europe by air'
10) A 1919 Greek Newspaper featuring (with portrait) Shakespeare’s famous flight.
11) A foreign hotel bills and Greek newspaper and paper money, 1919, presumably souvenirs of the flight
12) Photograph Handley Page 0/400 converted bomber G-EALY as flown by Shakespeare
13) Unopened emergency ration tin of 'Bovril'. dated 1941
14) Various newspaper cuttings relating to Shakespeare, his flights and a detailed obituary.
15) Royal Flying Corps silk necktie
Additionally a binder of copied research is included.
Overall an exceptional pilots group of awards and personal effects.
VINTAGE:
World War I.
SIZE:
Various: email for more specific details.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a Great Britain Commonwealth militaria which we will be listing more of over the next few months. CON-JMB-VHEJJX24 LABIGEX12/18/24
CONDITION:
8+ (Excellent): Overall an exceptional pilots' group of awards and personal effects on excellent condition.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
