Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 17

The Remarkable and Very Rare 'V.C. Action, Waziristan 1919' D.F.C. Group of Eight to Group Captain E.A.C. 'Babs' Britton, Royal Air Force, Who in Partnership with His Observer Claimed at Least 3 Victories During the Great War, Before Being Shot Down By the German Ace Josef Schwendemann the Day Before the Armistice. Britton Was Taken Prisoner and His Observer Was Tragically Mortally Wounded. Becoming An 'Old Hand' on the North West Frontier, He Saved A Supply Coloumn From Attack, Scattering Tribesmen With His Low Flying Bombing - In the Same Action For Which Captain H.J. Andrews Was Awarded the Posthumous V.C.; Britton Suffered Severe Burns When He Crashed His Aircraft During a Delivery Flight in Bad Weather Over the UK, 20.1.1922; He Returned to Operational Flying After Numerous Operations and Skin-Grafts Carried Out By Sir Harold Gillies, and Rose to the Rank of Group Captain
a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued
b) British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. E.A.C. Britton. R.A.F.)
c) India General Service 1908-35, G.V.R., four clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21, North West Frontier 1930-31 (F -O - E.A.C. Britton, R.A. Force.), backstraps removed to facilitate mounting
d) 1939-1945 Star
e) Africa Star
f) Defence and War Medals, generally nearly very fine, mounted as originally worn, with the following contemporary and related items:
- R.A.F. Pilot's Log Book (11.12.1917-20.3.1934)
- An Airman's Scrapbook, C.F.S. TO C.F.S. 29 Years, by Group Captain E.A.C. Britton, the recipient's memoirs, leather bound and typed, unpublished
- Several photographic images (lot)

D.F.C. London Gazette 12.7.1920 F.O. Edmund Arnold Courtney Britton, R.A.F. (Waziristan)
'During the period 8th August to the 31st October, 1919, he had carried out five successful bombing raids, dropping his bombs from a low altitude and obtaining many direct hits, also three offensive reconnaissances, and ten photographic reconnaissances, all successfully.
On all occasions he has shown the greatest keeness and efficiency in his work, and the example he has set to others is most praiseworthy.
On the 22nd October, 1919, information was received that a British convoy was being heavily attacked between Shinki and Khajuri Posts. This officer was immediately sent out to make a reconnaissance of the area. He found the convoy in danger of being broken up. He immediately dived on the attacking tribesmen and dropped eight bombs amongst 50 of the enemy from a very low altitude, doing great execution. After this he continued diving on the enemy, firing upon them until his ammunition was finished. It has since been officially intimated that his action saved the convoy.'

Group Captain Edmund Arnold Courtney "Babs" Britton, D.F.C., educated at Kingswood School, Bath; member of the Volunteer Training Corps, Bath, prior to joining Royal Flying Corps as a Cadet, 20.6.1917; commissioned Temporary Second Lieutenant (On Probation), 8.11.1917; after training including at Farnham, Denham, Oxford and C.F.S. Upavon he qualified as Pilot, 14.5.1918, 'after getting my wings, I was sent up solo on a Sunday afternoon to get in some flying and, I regret to have to admit, I flew to the Forest of Dean where my sister lived, flew about her house and carried out some aerobatics, no doubt of poor quality. Unfortunately the local vicar was holding a special afternoon service and, the Forest of Dean being away from usual flying areas, his congregation trotted out to see the aeroplane. Next Sunday, in his sermon, he had something to say about "That Godless young man, who disturbed our worship last Sunday, was probably a Christian once, and then he joined the Royal Air Force".' (Memoirs refer); posted for operational flying to 'A' Flight, 20 (Fighter Reconnaissance) Squadron (Bristol F2b's), Vignacourt, France, 29.8.1918, 'I was just over 19 years old, and looked considerably younger, being small, and of the pink and white variety. On the morning of my arrival, as I walked into the mess for breakfast, one of the members, I think it was George Randall, said something to the effect, "I don't know what your name is, but it should be Babs", and so it was, and the name has stuck with me ever since.' (ibid); he flew in Offensive Patrols, Line Patrols and Escorts for daylight bombing raids; he was paired with Sergeant Dodds as his Observer, 'I remember thinking on my fifth sortie that I wished I could see some Huns. Almost at once my wish was granted rather more fully than was really necessary. We engaged a formation of 20 Huns, mainly Fokker D.VII's, with a few Pfalzs, both single seater fighters. I stuck like glue to my leader, feeling very thrilled, albeit somewhat scared. I did not get a shot at a Hun, but Dodds did shoot at 2 or 3 without success. I note from my logbook, that the squadron lost 2 aircraft and destroyed 3 Huns'; Britton's Log Book gives him flying 45 operational sorties with the squadron, including, on 15.9.1918, 'Offensive Patrol, Scrap. Dodds got one', and on 22.9.1918, 'Offensive Patrol, Dodds got one & was slightly wounded'; on another eventful flight, 'I developed a failing engine over enemy territory, staggered over the lines and was fortunate to find a reasonable place to land, amongst some gunners in reserve. The German observation posts saw my aircraft on the ground, and their gunners at once shelled it, ineffectually, but gaining me immense popularity with our gunners!' (ibid).

The Armistice- A Day Too Late
Britton moved with the Squadron to Moislains, October 1918 and on to Iris Farm, when, 'on the 10th November, a squadron of D.H.9a's was detailed to bomb German rolling stock on the railway sidings at Charleroi, and 20 Squadron provided the escort, George Randall leading, and I was first deputy leader. One of the two following me, turned back early on, owing to engine trouble. Later, the 2nd, my good friend R.B. Tapp was sticking to me as well as he could but was sinking below the formation, obviously also having engine trouble. So I sent him back and tucked myself onto Randall's sub-formation. We reached Charleroi without incident, but found a strong formation of Huns awaiting us on our return, they attacked from my side.

Quite early on, Dodds was wounded in the leg and could not stand. He still managed to work his guns, until he had emptied his ammuntion pans. To change them meant standing up; this he could not do, and so his guns were out of action. We were so far over the line that our remaining petrol would not allow us to stand and fight; we had to run for it. I was being severely engaged, but by slipping from side to side, I was able to evade their fire. After some time at this, a Hun came down on the tail of a D.H.9a in front of me. I steadied up to get a sight on him, and let fly with my gun. I learnt subsequently that I had shot him down, but, unfortunately, not before he had shot the D.H.9a down. One of the following Huns seized the opportunity of my being steady, to take careful aim at me and give me a burst with both of his guns.

I felt a crash under my seat and my engine stopped. One of the petrol tanks was located there, and I knew that he had hit it. I immediately side slipped in case of fire but luckily no fire occurred. As I had used up the petrol in my other tank, I had no option but to go down. I was still being shot at, but found that by side slipping, I put him off his aim... I was fortunate in finding a decent field in which to land near to Walcourt, in Belgium. I then found Dodds slumped in the back cockpit, having been wounded a second time when my petrol tank was pierced, and most unhappily, this time mortally, the bullet having entered his chest just above his heart. The Hun who had caused the damage, an N.C.O. named Schwendemann [Josef Schwendemann - a 17 Victory German Ace], landed alongside me and was most helpful. He aided me in getting Dodds out and went to get medical aid. Some troops arrived, and one soldier, somewhat uneccessarily I thought, and certainly most unpleasantly, kept the point of his bayonet resting on my stomach whilst I was searched. A Belgian peasant and some German Red Cross men carried Dodds to the peasant's house, which was the last that I ever saw of him.

It was about 1pm when we landed, and he died at 6pm... It was tragic that he should be mortally wounded only 22 hours before the Armistice came into force.' (ibid).

A Brief Flirtation With Interogation
Britton was taken to the nearby Heaquarters of a German Army Corps, where he was interrogated by an intellingence officer on the 11th November, 'whilst this was going on, an orderly came in, gave the officer a note, which he read, he then closed his books, stood up, shook me by the hand and said "No more of this, the Armistice is now in force." A few days later Britton, with other POW's, were to march to Namur, 'We marched along the hard road, bitterly cold and in moonlight. After a while some argument broke out amongst the guard. I could not understand German, but I gathered some wanted to pack up, and others wanted to do their duty. Whatever it was, the column halted, and became disorganised. So I took the opportunity to get away, and slipped down a side path, moving at speed... After leaving the Germans, I headed west, by the stars, striking across country, until I was utterly weary. I came across a haystack, climbed onto it, snuggled down into the hay and passed out blissfully. I awoke in broad daylight to hear some Germans talking, but they soon moved off. I then heard the Belgian farmer moving about and revealed myself to him. He was somewhat nervous of harbouring me, but, good fellow, he took me into his house and fed me. Later in the day, I brought a civilian suit from him, paying by cheque, which incidentally was never presented. I also left there my sidcot flying suit which I had worn until then. Wearing my mufti over my uniform, I set out for Charleroi, passing German troops as I went. That day, the German withdrawal had left their line across the eastern part of Charleroi and all the central and western parts were celebrating their first night of liberation when I arrived.' (ibid).

Having returned to 20 Squadron, after various necessities having been performed, Britton was granted two months leave, 'whilst on leave, I visited Dodds' parents, gave them his personal belongings that had been handed to me, and repaid the money of his that I had used.' (ibid). After a brief posting at Witney, Britton applied for the Army of Occupation and was sent to join 62 Squadron, Nivelle, Belgium, at the begining of March 1919. His old squadron was nearby at Thuillies at the time so he asked for, and got, a transfer to 20 Squadron at the end of the month.

India- A First Taste
Britton left Belgium for India with 20 Squadron, 30.4.1919. He was promoted Flying Officer, 8.5.1919, and the Squadron (still flying Bristols) established itself as an Arm Co-operation Squadron flying out of Risalpur. An 'armistice was then in force, but should it break down, 20 Squadron was to bomb Kabul. We could not do this from Risalpur so an advanced landing ground had been selected for us to use at Parachinar, at the head of the Kurram Valley, the nearest point in India to Kabul.' (ibid).

"A" and "B" Flights were based at Parachinar. Britton, with Lieutenant S.P.B. de M Bucknall as his observer, was part of "A" Flight. Moving to Bannu they were part of the force seconded to deal subduing the tribal areas in and around the frontier. The initial operations took place in the Tochi Valley, 'we at once started operations, which consisted of bombing villages from which the tribal forces engaging the troops came, photography and close recconaissance in front of our column... one kept a careful eye and ear on one's engine, as we used to penetrate deep into tribal territory and the country over which we flew was so rugged that there was little hope of pulling off a successful forced landing. Had one survived a forced landing, it was not known what sort of reception one would get, but it was generally agreed that the chances were that it would be most painful, including emasculation.' (ibid).

The squadron were also tasked with answering emergency calls for troops and positions under attack. On the 22nd October, 1919 (see D.F.C. citation above), information was received that a British convoy was being heavily attacked between Shinki and Khajuri Posts, 'one afternoon, when I was stand-by pilot, a message came that a supply column had been ambushed in the Shinki Pass, a nasty defile. Bucknall and I set off... there was a real show in progress and I found the column halted, with dead mules and camels scattered about and the drivers, as I found out later, under cover. The tribesmen were lining an escarpment, dominating the pass, but on the far side... two armoured cars arrived from Idaq and we had a pretty little skirmish for some time, and drove off the attackers with a number of casualties. The commander of the armoured cars left the crews to carry on after he had placed them he got busy with a hunting crop, rounding up the Indian mule and camel drivers and getting the convoy on the move again. He was awarded the M.C. A padre, who was travelling with the convoy lost his life whilst succouring the wounded under fire, and was posthumously awarded the V.C.' (ibid).

The 'Padre' was in fact Captain H.J. Andrews, Indian Medical Service. He was the senior medical officer in charge of the Khajuri Post, and having heard that a convoy had been attacked in the vicinity set out at once to tend to the wounded. Having set up an Aid Post, and securing a van to evacuate the wounded under heavy fire he was killed whilst stepping into the van on completion of his task.

In July 1920 operations in the Tank Zam were completed and 20 Squadron returned to Parachinar for a rest. Whilst relaying the squadron's equipment back to Parachinar, Britton had to sleep a night without a mosquito net at Hangu. He awoke covered in bites and was to contract malaria. Britton was posted to 28 (Army Co-operation) Squadron (Bristols and Wapitis), Ambala, India, November 1920. The squadron was tasked with peace keeping duties on India's northern frontier.

A Nasty Crash
Suffering from re-occuring bouts of Malaria, Britton returned to the UK in the summer of 1921. He was posted to 4 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, Farnborough, August 1921. He was appointed Station Adjutant. The squadron shared Farnborough with The School of Photography, who also shared their aircraft. This was deemed unacceptible and two Bristol Fighters were to be alloted to the school, along with a Flight Commander. The two aircraft needed collection from Henlow, and Britton and Flying Officer A.A. Ward were sent to fly them back, 'We left Henlow by air after lunch on 20th Jan. 1922 in doubtful weather, but with moderate prospects. Ward had our only map and I was following him. The weather conditions deteriorated rapidly, and I had the greatest difficulty in seeing Ward; in addition to which, we were getting unpleasantly low. I finally lost sight of him, and as I could just see a railway line below me which I knew led to Henlow, I decided to return. As I turned, I ran into such dense fog that I could not see my wing tips and almost immediately saw the ground just below and ahead of me. I tried to switch off the engine, but was too late, and the next thing that I knew was that I was lying near the blazing wreckage of my aircraft, with my breeches, putties and the fur collar of my leather flying coat all nicely on fire. Fortunately, I was uninjured and able to help myself... From that moment I was perfectly collected, stripped off my leather flying coat and rolled myself in the mud (of what I learned later was the sewage farm at Stevenage), and was able to rid myself of all flames, not, however, before both my legs, my face and my left hand had been seriously burnt.' (ibid).

Britton was hospitalised at Finchley, 'I was kept at Finchley until I was up and about and all raw places healed, and then in May 1922, I was sent to the Convalescent Home for officers of all services at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, to let my face settle down before they decided on what skin grafting had to be done.' (ibid). After several more months at Osborne House, and several more operations at Finchley Britton was discharged to non-flying duties in December 1922. He was posted to the R.A.F. Depot Uxbridge and from there to Headquarters Inland Area, at Hillingdon House. Britton was passed medically fit and resumed flying with a posting to the Communication Flight at Northolt. He was posted to the Directorate of Training at the Air Ministry in 1924, and after two years there, was posted after a refresher course as Flight Lieutenant "A" Flight Commander to 43 (Fighter) Squadron, Henlow, July 1926. He moved with the squadron to Tangmere and during this period had a series of skin-graft operations carried out by Sir Harold Gillies.

India- Another Stint
Britton was posted as Flight Commander to 39 Squadron (Wapitis), 5.10.1928, and went with the squadron to India. He was stationed at Risalpur for the second time, before being appointed Adjutant and Staff Officer of No.1 (Indian) Group HQ at Peshawar, April 1929. Britton returned to squadron life with a posting to 60 Squadron, Kohat, September 1931. He commanded "B" Flight for the next two and half years, and flew with them from Miramshah, 'from the flight commander's point of view, it was as good a job as ever fell to the lot of a flight lieutenant. He was on his own, and in addition to carrying out the normal duties of flight and station commander, he had to maintain personal contact with the Resident in Waziristan, the Political Agents, North and South Waziristan, Headquarters, Waziristan District and the Bannu, Razmak and Wana Brigades, the South Waziristant Scouts and the Tochi Scouts. Another thing was that he could arrange air trips within Waziristan for practically any of the Civil or Military Officers of Waziristan, whereas to arrange such trips elsewhere in India, required authority at a very high level.' (ibid).

Second War Service
Britton left India in March 1934, and returned to the UK where he took up positions as Flight Commander at No. 5 F.T.S. and Chief Flying Instructor at No. 7 F.T.S. He served as the latter 1936-1938, being promoted to Squadron Leader whilst in the posting. Britton was seconded as Chief Flying Instructor and Advisor on Flying Training to the Air Wing, Bristol Military Mission, Egypt, January 1938. His role was to aid in the training of the Egyptian Air Force at Almaza airfield, and this was carried out under the command of the Senior Air Advisor, Group Captain (later Air Marshal Sir Victor) Tait. Britton advanced to Wing Commander, January 1939, and having served three years with the Mission he asked for a return to R.A.F. duties in January 1941.

Britton was posted as Station Commander at Khartoum and, 'after some seven weeks at Khartoum, the A.O.C. informed me that, as I was the senior wing commander in the Middle East, I was being recalled to Egypt to fill a group captain's vacancy, with acting rank... I flew back to Cairo... On my return I found that I was to take over command in March 1941, of Shallufa, the base of Nos. 37 and 38 heavy bomber squadrons, equipped with Wellingtons... One or two enemy aircraft made feint attacks on Shallufa, but we were not bombed until August... A bomber laid a stick of four 500 kilo bombs across the domestic side of the camp. Considering that, that night, there were some 1,700 people in the camp, our casualties (one killed and eight wounded) were surprisingly light. The material damage consisted of the N.A.A.F.I. being completely demolished and burned by a direct hit, and the officer's mess and quarters riddled by fragments from a near miss... I had been agitating for draft beer for the N.A.A.F.I. for a long time, and twelve barrels had arrived a few days before the bombing. There had been a painful scene with the Greek manager when he told me that, not only must the beer settle, but in the months that I had been trying to get it, he had never got the machine necessary to serve the beer. The result was that the airmen got not one drop of this beer, as it was destroyed with the N.A.A.F.I.' (ibid).

Britton left Shallufa in September 1941 and having returned to the UK was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer at H.Q. No. 50 Group, Reading. He served in this capacity until being appointed to the command of No. 7 Flying Instructors School at Upavon, May 1944. He oversaw many changes including the move to Little Rissington and a return to the unit's old name of the Central Flying School. Britton retired from the R.A.F. in December 1946.

Britton's I.G.S. is 1 of only 7 four clasp India General Service 1908-35 Medals to the Royal Air Force.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£8,000