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Auction: 18001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 61

A scarce post-war M.B.E. group of four awarded to Squadron Leader J. E. Walton, Royal Air Force, who flew operationally in Lincolns of No. 214 Squadron during the Mau Mau troubles

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.), Military Division, Member's 2nd type breast badge; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Kenya (Flt. Lt. J. E. Walton, R.A.F.), mounted as worn, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, good very fine (8)



M.B.E. London Gazette 12 June 1958.

James E. Walton entered the Royal Air Force as a Halton apprentice in September 1942 and remained employed in the U.K. throughout the war, latterly as A.C. 1 at No. 322 Maintenance Unit.

Qualifying as a Navigator in November 1951, and commissioned Pilot Officer in the same month, he was posted to No. 214 Squadron, an Avro Lincoln bomber unit stationed at R.A.F. Upwood. Having then been advanced to Flying Officer and qualified as an Observer, he served in No. 148 Squadron at Upwood in the period August 1952 to November 1953.

Returning to No. 214 Squadron, he was among the unit's aircrew selected to operate six Avro Lincolns in anti-terrorist operations against the Mau Mau in June 1954, the whole flying to their destination via Idris and Khartoum. Walton subsequently completed 12 bombing sorties in the period June-July 1954, in addition to photographic reconnaissance missions (Medal & clasp).

On returning to the U.K. he was advanced to Flight Lieutenant and qualified as a Radar Operator (Combat). He subsequently served in No. 15 Squadron at Cottesmore from October 1959 to April 1961 but his flying career ended in the mid-1960s when his medical category was down-graded. He remained employed on ground duties until his retirement as a Squadron Leader in February 1976.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, comprising:

(i)
The recipient's R.A.F. Navigator's. Air Bomber's, Air Gunner's, Flight Engineer's Flying Log Books (both Form 1767 types), covering the periods January 1950 to December 1959, and January 1960 to July 1965.

(ii)
M.B.E. warrant, dated 12 June 1958, together with related Statutes and Buckingham Palace investiture letter, dated 15 October 1958.

(iii)
Commission warrant for the rank of Flight Lieutenant, dated 10 April 1956, and Halton School of Technical Training certificate as a Fitter II (Airframes), September 1942.

(iv)
Five volumes of training notes and several career photographs.


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Sold for
£1,300