Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 11010 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 96

A Scarce and Well Documented Second War Parachute Instructor´s Group of Four to Warrant Officer W.R.H. Yexley, R.A.F.V.R, Who Received a King´s Commendation For Valuable Services in the Air, For Special Night Time Operations Over the Burmese Jungle, March 1943; He Trained Indian and Gurkha Paratroops, Amongst Whom He Was Known as "The White Gurkha" 1939-1945 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaf, generally good very fine, with the following original items and documents: - Air Forces in India Observer´s and Air Gunner´s Flying Log Book (covering the period 3.1.1942-29.8.1945); Royal Air Force Flying Log Book For Navigators Air Bombers Air Gunners Flight Engineers (covering the period 22.1.1946-25.2.1946) - King´s Commendation Certificate for Valuable Services in the Air, dated 1.1.1944 - M.I.D. Certificate, dated 8.6.1944 - Congratulatory telegraph from 357 Squadron on the occasion of Yexley´s Commendation - a large number of photographs, many annotated, from various stages of recipient´s career, two letters addressed to recipient dated 10.12.1945 and 21.1.1946, and two large comprehensive files of research (lot) Estimate £ 400-500 King´s Commendation for Valuable Services in the Air London Gazette 1.1.1944 1465418 Corporal W.R.H. Yexley, R.A.F.V.R M.I.D. London Gazette 8.6.1944 Sergeant W.R.H. Yexley, R.A.F.V.R. Warrant Officer William Robert Henry Yexley (1909-1997), born Fulham, London; began a 44 year association with the London Federation Boys Club in 1924; employed with the Gas Light & Coke Company, Harwood Terrace, London, 1926; he additionally carried out voluntary work as Club Leader for Apprentices and Junior Employees at the firm, organising sports clubs and trips; a keen and talented boxer he competed in the Olympic Trials, 1928; appointed by the firm as Roof Spotter for daylight air-raids, 1940; enlisted as a Physical Training Instructor, Royal Air Force Voluneteer Reserve, May 1941; volunteered for Parachute Jump Instructor Course, in December of the same year; having qualified Yexley was posted to Empire Central Flying School and then to No. 9 Advanced Flying Unit, January 1942; recalled to No. 1 Parachute Jump School, Ringway, to instruct Free French and Polish Forces, March 1942; in June of the same year Yexley volunteered for the Far East Parachute Jump School, Delhi, India; he moved with the School to Rawlpindi and trained Indian and Gurkha Paratroops; appointed Battalion Instructor to 153/154 Gurkha Paratroop Regiment, where he became known as Sergeant Yexley "Bahadar Thapa" - The White Gurkha; posted for temporary duty on Special Operations with 357 Squadron (Hudsons), Red Hills Lake, Dum Dum, 12.3.1943; between 16-24.3.1943 he took part in four night operations including 16.3.1943 ´Night Operations - Commend. by H.M. The King New Years Honours List For Valuable Service in the Air´ and 24.3.1943, ´Jap M.T. Convoy Straffed (G) Night Operations´ (Log Book refers); most of the Squadron´s operations during this period were supply drops to insurgent groups behind Japanese lines in the Burmese jungle; returned to his original posting at Air Landing School, Chaklala, where he remained until October 1945, continuing to train re-inforcements for Chindit Patrols and supply dropping patrols in Burma; posted GHQ Jessore at the start of 1945, where he was tasked with training Burmese, Kachins, Malaysians and many other nationalities as Special Agents; Warrant Officer 1st Class June 1945; granted special leave in the UK, September 1945, after completing 31 operational flights over Burma, Malaya and Indo-China, 500 operational flying hours and 250 exhibition and confidence jumps to pupils; posted No. 1 Parachute Jump School, Ringway, December 1945; demobilised June 1946; post War he re-joined his previous firm and continued with his voluntary work also becoming a Voluntary Social Worker for Fulham Borough Boy´s Club; working in the same capacity for the H.M. Borstal Institution; an Instructor and Assesser for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme; he was a Boxing Official for the 1948 London Olympics; Yexley was Commended for saving the life of an 85 year old lady from Gas Poisoning in 1965 and again in January of the following year by the Mayor and Councillors of Shaftesbury, Borough Council Dorset, for the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for wilful damage to public property.

Sold for
£750