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Auction: 13002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 301

A Great War Fighter Pilot's Campaign Group of Five to Lieutenant L.S.V. Gedge, 43 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Who Was Credited With At Least 3 Victories, One of Which According to His Log Book Was a Member of the 'Flying Circus'
British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. L.S.V. Gedge. R.A.F.); 1939-1945 Star; Defence and War Medals, BWM with official corrections, V.M. officially renamed, generally very fine, with photocopies of two of recipient's Log Books, photographic images and a comprehensive file of research (5)

Lieutenant Sydney Victor Lathom Gedge (1897-1973), born Westminster and known as Lathom Gedge; educated at Albion House, Margate; The Gymnasium at Bonn, Germany; the Ecole Continental, Lausanne, Switzerland and Merchant Taylor's School, Northwood; served as a Cadet, 2nd Artist Rifles, O.T.C., from 8.6.1916; commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant (On Probation), Royal Flying Corps, 26.1.1917; posted as Pilot to "A" Flight, 43 (Fighter) Squadron (Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters and then Camels), Treizennes, France, 5.5.1917; transferred to "B" Flight in November of the same year; initially flying Reconnaissance Patrols and Photography missions Gedge did not have to wait long to have his first success, 'A patrol of six Sopwiths of 43 Squadron met nine hostile scouts. Capt. K.L. Gopsill & 2nd Lt. E.H. Jones drove down one scout but were then attacked by two others, and 2nd Lt. Jones was wounded. He continued fighting and after firing 20 rounds one attacking scout burst into flames and fell. 2nd Lt. C.H. Harriman & 2/A.M. O'Shea hit another scout in which the pilot was believed to have been killed and the machine fell out of control; while still another was sent down out of control by 2nd Lt. L. Gedge and C.S.M. L.M. Lava' (R.F.C. Communiques 1917-18, refers); whilst carrying out a Line Patrol over Armentieres - Lens - Arras, 12.6.1917, 'Observer [Corporal Collins] wounded by direct hit by "Archie" ' (Log Book refers); four days later with Private Blatherwick as his Observer, 'We bought down 1 E.A. which was seen to crash in Lens' (Ibid); Gedge had a change of luck whilst flying a Photographic Reconnaissance, 2.7.1917, 'Scrap with 8 E.A. over Douai. Got separated - Bloody Awful!! "Wind Up" ' (Log Book refers); in August 1917 he was primarily involved in Reconnaissance work over enemy trenches, including 15.8.1917, 'Dived on Troops marching along Hot Road and Bois de Quartorze; the party was about 700 strong and was scattered by M. Gun fire. Fired on M. Transport and cyclists. Dived and fired on Highgate Trench which was seen to be full of men' (Squadron Report, refers); two days later he was in action with Blatherwick again, when they shot down an enemy aircraft in flames, 'while taking photographs over Sallamines we were attacked by 4 Albatross Scouts and 8 other machines behind them I opened fire on the nearest one. After seeing a spurt of flame come from him I turned and fired on the other one and saw him no more. 1 drum was fired into each machine. The second machine was hit in the engine and turned and dived East' (Combat Report refers); on 20.8.1917 both Pilot and Observer were on the receiving end whilst on patrol from La Bassee to Gavrelle, 'Centre Section shot through by Albatross Scout. "Wind Up!!" ' (Log Book refers); throughout October he had a number of indecisive combats, and continued this in to November, whilst on Offensive Patrol between Wavrin and Seclin, 8.11.1917, 'on receiving notice of the presence of this machine, I went up and immediately attacked the 2 str. from behind, at a range of 400 yds. The machine went into a steep dive, but I did not see what happened as I was attacked from above by an Albatross Scout, which then went off. I did not see any signs of a 2 str. machine anywhere afterward' (Combat Report, refers); posted 44 Squadron (Sopwith Camels), Hainault Farm, Essex,18.1.1918; whilst serving with the latter squadron he was involved in home defence against German bombing raids, most notably in the night attacks on London 29/30.1.1918 when the Germans despatched four Giants of Rfa 501 and also in response to the attack of 28 Gothas and three Giants , 19/20.5.1918; as a result of the latter bombing raid 49 people were killed and 177 injured; posted to 33 Squadron 22.11.1918; discharged 13.6.1919; he became a solicitor in later life.

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