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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 57

An unusual Second World War campaign group of four awarded to Flying Officer E. Priestley, Royal Air Force, onetime attached Fleet Air Arm, who was one of just a handful of British airmen to witness active service during the Spanish Civil War

France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (Fg. Off. E. Priestley, R.A.F.), mounted as worn, good very fine (4)

Edward Priestley was born at Medway, Kent on 3 May 1911. Educated at the Sheerness Technical School, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force in August 1927 as an Apprentice at R.A.F. Halton. Having then served as an Aircraftman with No. 2 Squadron, he was trained as a pilot and gained his 'Wings' at R.A.F. Grantham.

Attached to the Torpedo Development Unit at R.A.F. Gosport in 1934-36, he joined No. 711 (Catapult) Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, aboard H.M.S. London in the latter year, and it was in this capacity that he witnessed active service during the Spanish Civil War 1936-39. Among other feats - in response to German-led bombing raids mounted in support of Franco - the London evacuated endangered British citizens, Embassy staff and nuns from Barcelona to the sanctuary of Marseilles. On one occasion the ship herself came under attack in Valencia harbour, when bombs fell close-by destroying the jetty; her crew were again called to battle stations during the hunt for the gun-running Captain D. 'Potato' Jones.

On the commencement of hostilities in September 1939, Priestley took up a post for the training of Fleet Air Arm Mechanics and was mentioned in the despatches for his good work (London Gazette 23 February 1943, refers). Commissioned Pilot Officer in December 1943, he would appear to have made a fleeting visit to North-West Europe and was promoted to Flying Officer. He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1947.

Four tapes of excellent Oral History, made in May 1980 and available via the Imperial War Museum (https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80004601), give a terrific first-hand account of Priestley's career; sold with scarce inter-war R.A.F. pilot's 'Wings' and a riband bar, together with copied research.


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Sold for
£400