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Auction: 13002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 299

A Great War Group of Three to Seaplane Pilot Flight Lieutenant O.E. Worsley, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, Part of The British Team that Won The Schneider Trophy, 26.9.1927, and Set A World Speed Record in the Process
British War and Victory Medal, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Lieut. O.E. Worsley. R.A.F.); Iraq, Kingdom, Active Service Medal, one clasp, 1930-31, very fine or better, with a large file of copied research, including several photographic images (3)

M.I.D. London Gazette 3.6.1919 Lt. Oswald Ewart Worsley (Egypt & Palestine)
'This Officer has carried out many long and successful patrols. He has always worked with keenness and alacrity.'

Flight Lieutenant Oswald Ewart Worsley, 'born at Kensington, London, in 1898, and was educated at Merton House and Westbourne Schools. He joined up as a mechanic in the R.N.A.S. in 1914, became Flight Officer in January, 1917, and was promoted Flight Sub-Lieutenant in the following June. On formation of the R.A.F. he was made Flight-Lieutenant, and during 1918 he served in the Mediterranean and was specially mentioned in dispatches. He left the Service in 1919, but returned as a short service officer in July, 1921, and was granted a permanent commission early in 1925.'; gained R.A.C. Flying Certificate (no. 7296), 4.5.1917; appointed Flight Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service 27.6.1917; subsequent service included at Vendome, Cranwell and Calshot; posted as a Pilot to the Seaplane Base, Alexandria (Shorts 184), April 1918; carried out numerous patrols and convoy escorts from May; was part of a crew that flew a Large America F3 that carried out a return flight from Alexandria to Suda Bay, Crete, November 1918; this was requested by General Salmond and was for the express purpose of escorting a Handley-Page to Alexandria; having re-entered service after the War he was part of the team that won the Schneider Trophy for Britain at Venice 1927 - when they also set a world speed record; Flight gives the following 'The Trophy Race for seaplanes, originally scheduled to take place at Venice on Sunday, September 25th, had to be postponed until Monday, September 26th, owing to unfavourable weather conditions. By Monday midday the conditions had improved, and the race was held, resulting in a win for Great Britain, at the impressive average speed of 453.282 km/h (281.54mph). The winning machine, the Supermarine S.5 geared with Napier engine, was piloted by Flight-Lieutenant Webster. Second place was secured by Flight-Lieutenant Worsley on another Supermarine S.5, similar to the winner but fitted with a direct-drive Napier engine. His average speed was 439.472 km/h (272.96mph)....The total length of the course was 350kms (217 miles)'; posted to 503 (County of Lincoln) Squadron, Waddington, November 1928.

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Sold for
£2,900

Sale 13002 Notices: Lot 299
Flight Lieutenant O.E. Worsley died in a motor accident on the Bath Road, Slough, 18.10.1930, therefore precluding him from qualifying for the Iraq Active Service Medal, the qualification period for which was 29.10.1930 - 11.5.1931.