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Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 160

Three: 2nd Lieutenant R. W. Rawley, Royal Air Force, who was killed in action on 13 August 1918 when his DH4 was 'downed' having engaged 15 enemy aircraft - Rawley had only been commissioned a fortnight earlier

British War and Victory Medals (2/Lieut. R. W. Rawley. R.A.F.), together with the recipient's Memorial Plaque (Robert William Rawley), good very fine (3)

Robert William Rowley, a native of West Ham Lane, Stratford, was born on 4 February 1900 and worked as a Clerk at the Albion Brewery, Whitechapel from 1916-17. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant as an Observer in No. 18 Squadron on 30 July 1918, he was flying with Lieutenant C. F. Drabble in DH4 'A7907' on 13 August when intercepted and shot down. The Sky Their Battlefield states:

'This DH4 was lost during a dogfight in which machines of 18 and 22 Squadrons were attacked by many enemy fighters. 22 Squadron were escorting 18 Squadron on a bombing raid to Somain when they spotted and chased a two-seater near the lines. The enemy machine appeared to fire a light at which German fighters came up from near Douai and made an attack. The enemy two-seater is likely to have been performing a form of sentry duty. 22 Squadron claimed five enemy shot down on the 13th, shared between ten crews. The most intense fighting took place over Auberchicourt around 11.20am.'

Having been posted missing, Rawley's whereabouts were sought in a letter from the R.A.F. to the German Air Force on 20 August 1918. He was subsequently buried alongside his pilot in the Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery.

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Sold for
£500