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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 396

A scarce Second World War A.F.C. group of eight awarded to Captain H. C. Warren, South African Air Force (S.A.A.F.), who flew operationally in Hurricanes of No. 127 Squadron in the Western Desert, claiming a 'probable' before himself being wounded in action

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated '1945'; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, the last five officially impressed '102180 H. C. Warren'; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Union of South Africa, bi-lingual issue (102180 Capt. H. C. Warren, S.A.A.F.), this last partially renamed, generally very fine or better (7)

Just over 90 awards of the A.F.C. to the South African Air Force (S.A.A.F.) in the 1939-45 War.

A.F.C. London Gazette 3 April 1945. The original recommendation states:

'This officer has been engaged as a Convoy Leading Pilot on the refors ferry routes since October 1942. He has led a considerable number of convoys from West Africa, in addition to operating on the North Africa, India, South Africa and Turkey routes, completing 650 hours as leading pilot with a further 650 hours as passenger. At all times he has carried out his duties successfully and conscientiously and with his cheerfulness has set a fine example to his brother officers and the N.C.Os under his command. His work has in addition been instrumental in the successful delivery of a large number of aircraft to the various battle fronts and Operational Training Units.'

Harry Charles Warren was born in Durban on 15 November 1917 and enlisted in the Union Defence Force in May 1940. Initially trained as an Air Gunner, he was re-mustered as a pupil pilot in early 1941 and was embarked for Southern Rhodesia, where he qualified for his 'Wings' at R.A.F. Bulawayo.

Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in November 1941, he was next embarked for the Middle East, where he was seconded to the R.A.F. and joined No. 127 Squadron in February 1942. A Hurricane unit, 127 was then based in Palestine. From this date Warren flew regular patrols, although the first occasion he came under fire stemmed from an unexpected quarter. His log book entry for 28 April takes up the story:

'R./T. very bad. Navy opened up at me with ack-ack. Shits!'

In June 1942, and having been advanced to Lieutenant, Warren moved with 127 Squadron to the Western Desert. He was quickly back in action, the unit operating out of a series of forward landing grounds and regularly operating over the 'Alamein Box'. During one such patrol on 16 July, when acting as top cover to No. 80 Squadron, Warren mingled with ten enemy aircraft and claimed a 'probable'. A few days later, on the 23rd, he was slightly wounded in three places in his lower back after a close scrap with 109s. He crash-landed at L.G. 97 and came to rest among some tents. By his own log book account, it was a 'Shaky do!!': nonetheless he was back on patrol a little over a week later.

In October 1942, Warren transferred to No. 1 A.D.U. and was advanced to Captain. He subsequently lent valuable service as a ferry pilot in No. 216 Group on the West Africa-Cairo-Algiers-Nairobi routes. Mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 12 January 1945, refers), and awarded the A.F.C., he was ended the war attending a course in England. He was repatriated to South Africa in early 1946.

Sold with the recipient's original R.A.F. Pilot's Flying Log Book (Form 414 type), covering the period March 1941 to September 1945, latter pages loose and worn spine / binding; together with copied research and portrait photograph.


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Sold for
£2,500