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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 15

Family Group:
A Great War 1917 'F.E. 2b Pilot's' M.C. Group of Six to Squadron Leader R.W. Reid, 18 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force
a) Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse contemporarily engraved in sans-serif capitals, '2nd. Lieut. Robert Wolstenholme Reid No. 18 Squadron. Royal Flying Corps. May 1917', in damaged Royal Mint case of issue
b) British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R.W. Reid. R.A.F.)
c) 1939-1945 Star
d) Defence and War Medals, VM officially renamed, very fine or better, with recipient's identity tags and bracelet, bullion insignia; R.A.F. No. 12 Group Sports 1919 Prize Medal, brass, reverse engraved 'Lieut. R.W. Reid 3rd 1 Mile Flat Cranwell 16.7.1917' and small Mill Hill O.T.C. silver and enamel badge

The Legion of Honour Chevalier's Badge attributed to The Hon. Robert Reid, Australian Senator and Business Magnate
France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier's breast Badge, 55mm including wreath suspension x 42mm, silver, gold, and enamel, enamel damage to tips of badge, nearly very fine, in Lemoine, Paris, case of issue (lot)

M.C. London Gazette 26.7.1917 2nd Lt. Robert Wolstenholme Reid, R.F.C., Spec. Res.
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has done fine work in taking aeroplane photographs. His work has been carried out while flying at very low altitudes and often under very heavy machine-gun fire.'

Squadron Leader Robert Wolstenholme Reid, M.C., born 1898, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Reid of 'The Deane', Stanmore, Middlesex; educated at Mill Hill School, 1911-1916, where he was a member of the OTC; admitted to the School of Instruction, Reading, straight from school and commissioned Second Lieutenant (On Probation), Royal Flying Corps, 15.7.1916; Flying Officer 19.10.1916; after training posted as Pilot to 18 Squadron (F.E. 2bs), Bertangles, January 1917; he flew mainly photo and tactical reconnaissance operations with the squadron, including 29.4.1917, when 'Reid and his Observer, Second Lieutenant R.C. Doughty, in F.E. 2b, 'A5466', on a photo-reconnaissance patrol, were attacked at 10,000 feet over Marquion-Barelle by four red enemy aircraft. By diving into a convenient cloud, Reid shook off all but one of his attackers, who persisted in chasing them down to 3,000 feet. Doughty managed just one shot at their tormentor before being wounded himself. Reid, still unscathed, eventually managed to escape the enemy machine's attentions and was able to steer the F.E. safely back to his field' (The Military Cross to Flying Personnel of Great Britain and the Empire, 1914-1919, H. Giblin and N. Franks, refers); post war service included at R.A.F. Spitalgate; discharged 18.5.1920; re-engaged as Flying Officer for service during the Second World War, 11.12.1939; advanced Temporary Squadron Leader, 1.1.1943.

The Hon. Robert Reid (1842-1904), born Leven, Scotland; migrated to Victoria, Australia, 1855; settling in Melbourne he built a wholesale drapery import business from nothing, opening branches throughout the country including in Sydney; by 1890 Robert Reid & Co. was one of the largest Australian import business and had set up branches in Europe; in 1898 the business became a limited company with a capital of £500,000 and a head office in London; as one of the foremost Australian commercial magnates of the time Reid was President of the first Congress of the Chambers of Commerce in Australia during Victoria's centennial exhibition; he represented the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in London, 1886 and was a commissioner at the Paris Exhibition, 1889 (received the Legion of Honour); served on the Legislative Council for Melbourne Province, 1892-1903; Reid held the Defence and Health Portfolios under the Victorian Government of Sir James Patterson, 1893-1894; appointed to the Victorian Ministry, for Public Instruction and Health, 1902; elected to the Senate, 1903; he died whilst in London, May 1904, and is buried in Hampstead Cemetery. Reid's company ceased trading in 1979.

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