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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 16

A Fine Great War 'D.H.4 Observer's' M.C. Group of Four to Captain J.M. Brisbane, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, Who Was Accredited With Shooting Down At Least 3 Enemy Aircraft, 2 of Which Were Scored Whilst Flying With Second Lieutenant A.R. Atkey- The Highest Scoring British Two-Seater Ace of the Great War
a) Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued
b) British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. J.M. Brisbane. R.A.F.)
c) Efficiency Medal, G.V.R., with 'India' scroll suspension (L-Cpl. J.M. Brisbane. N. Beng. M. Rif., A.F.I.), last with minor official corrections, very fine, with the following contemporary related items:
- Riband bar for first three awards
- Commission appointing John Miller Brisbane, Second Lieutenant, Territorial Force, 15.10.1915
- Commission appointing John Miller Brisbane, Lieutenant, Royal Air Force, 1.4.1918 (lot)

M.C. London Gazette 22.6.1918 Lt. John Miller Brisbane, R. Scots, attd R.F.C.
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When on a low-flying and bombing patrol, he engaged four hostile scouts, one of which he destroyed. Later, on four enemy two-seater planes attacking his patrol, he shot one of them down completely out of control. On the following day, when returning from a low bombing reconnaissance, his machine was attacked by 12 hostile scouts. He fired several hundred rounds into one of these, and it was seen to crash to earth. He is a patrol leader of great dash and vigour.'

The Recommendation states: 'For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty with which he has carried out low flying harassing and bombing patrols on Third and Fifth Army fronts. He has inflicted severe casualties to enemy troops with machine gun fire, and brought back most valuable information regarding movements of enemy troops etc.
On 25.3.1918, when on low flying and bombing patrol over the Bapaume - Flers Road, 4 Pfalz Scouts were engaged. He fired a burst at one of these enemy machines, and it fell out of control and crashed in flames near Luisenhof Farm. Later, on the same patrol, 4 Albatros two-seaters attacked. He engaged one and shot it down out of control.
On 26.3.1918 when returning from low bombing reconnaissance over Bihucourt, his machine was attacked from behind by 12 Albatros Scouts. He fired a long burst into one of the E.A. which went down and was seen to crash. The remaining E.A. followed but could not catch up the D.H.4

Captain John Miller Brisbane, M.C., born Edinburgh, 1897; educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and served with the O.T.C. there; enlisted as Private, Lovat's Scouts, 3.4.1915; commissioned Second Lieutenant, 2/4th Royal Scots, 15.10.1915; transferred to Royal Flying Corps, July 1917; qualified as Flying Officer (Observer), 19.10.1917, and posted to 18 Squadron (D.H.4's), Auchel, France; initially crewed with Captain J.L. Head as his Pilot he spent October carrying out day bombing and photo-reconnaissance operations; these including 11.10.1917, '8 20lb bombs dropped on Haubourdin' and 16.10.1917, '1 112lb bomb dropped on H.Q. in Cuincy. One bomb failed to release' (Squadron Record Book, refers); he continued to mainly fly with Head into the new year, including 25.1.1918, whilst on a photo-reconnaissance mission 'Height 17,000' Visibility fair. AA fire active. 36 plates exposed. Driven off twice by formations of 5 and 6 E.A. Formation of E.A. seen over Lille at 20,000' '; Brisbane was involved in a crash, 6.3.1918, whilst flying over the 1st Army front with Second Lieutenant W. Rochelle, 'left aerodrome 9.40am... crashed at 11.40am. Cause - Engine was shot thro' cylinders during combat with E.A. and lost all water. Pilot landed at 2 Sqdn but misjudged aerodrome and ran into ditch'; whilst flying with Captain A.G. Waller (an 11 Victory Bomber Pilot Ace), Brisbane claimed a shared forced down out of control, over Avelin, 15.3.1918, and another between Wavrin and Fromelles the following day; in late March the squadron was heavily involved in countering the German Spring Offensive, and on the 25th-26th Brisbane accounted for another 3 aircraft (see M.C. citation); on both days he was to fly with another two notable pilots - firstly A.R. Atkey, who with 38 victories was the highest scoring British two-seater ace of the war, and secondly with R.G. Gould, a veteran pilot, and subsequent Commanding Officer of 98 and 42 Squadrons; two days after his 'purple patch' Brisbane was involved in another accident, this time when his aircraft overturned on running into a shell hole; fortunately both pilot and observer were emerged unscathed; Lieutenant, Royal Air Force, 1.4.1918; returned to the Home Establishment, 4.5.1918; Brisbane was seriously injured in an aeroplane accident whilst stationed at 191 Night Training Squadron, Upwood, 6.9.1918; the resultant injuries effectively ended his operational career and he was discharged 9.5.1919.

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