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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 840

A poignant and well-documented campaign group of three awarded to 2nd Lieutenant (Pilot) H. C. Farnes, No. 48 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, late Royal Naval Air Service and King's Royal Rifle Corps

Having racked up an impressive account which included combats against Baron von Richthofen's Flying Circus during 'Bloody April' - Farnes could account for the loss of eleven enemy aircraft

Having endured a fractious tour his health began to fail, but Farnes returned to his post a few days later, being killed in an aerial combat on 6 July 1917, the first victim of the German ace, Fritz Jacobsen, aged just twenty two

1914-15 Star (F.2972 P.O.M. H. C. Farnes. R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. H. C. Farnes.), together with the Bronze Memorial Plaque (Henry Charles Farnes), nearly extremely fine (4)

Henry Charles Farnes was born at Leyton, Essex, on 27 May 1893. The son of a Henry D. Farnes, a stockbroker, who lived at 2Copthall Buildings, Throgmorton Street, young Farnes was educated at Merchant Taylors School. Upon the outbreak of war he worked as a clerk on the London Stock Exchange before enlisting into the Royal Naval Air Service, serving as a Petty Officer in 1915. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 11th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps In February 1916, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and in August of the same year gained his wings. Assigned to Scout pilot duties, he crossed to France with No. 48 Squadron (Bristol F2B’s) on 17 March 1917 and fought his first aerial combat on 5 April. The unit were commanded by Major K. R. Park (later Air Chief Marshal, G.C.B., K.B.E., M.C. & Bar, D.F.C.). His Log Book refers:

‘11.15 a.m. F2A 3318, Lt Davis, 13,000 ft, O/Patrol over Douai to Cambrai, attacked and drove down two Huns, drove off two others.'

His diary added:

‘On O.P. at 4.15...no Huns & little Archie. Four machines are missing from ‘A’ Flight ...’ [all victims of the Richthofen Flying Circus].

Operating from the squadron base at Belle View airfield, he flew on regular offensive patrols and notably was involved in a large scale dogfight on 8 April. His diary for Easter Day 1917 records:

‘On O.P. again at 2 p.m. Plenty of H.A. Attacked a formation of 5 H.A. & sent down 1 & dispersed the others unfortunately other H.A. came on the scene & they were about 3 to 1 [against us], but all manoeuvered them off until we reached the lines but as luck would have it poor old Berry was sent to land in Hun land.’

On the evening of St. George’s Day, he flew a patrol with Halliday and ‘...had 3 scraps & brought 1 down in flames’. Next day he wrote:

‘Had a scrap whilst on patrol at 8.40 & brought 1 Hun down. Went to the trenches in the afternoon ... & I brought back one or two souvenirs.’

Further pocket diary entries for early May continued to add to his impressive mounting record:

1 May
‘Drove 1 H.A. down.’

2 May
‘Led a formation. Brought down a two seater Albatros and drove another down to land. Davis and I went up to have a look at the Hun machine I sent down in the morning. There were 19 holes in my prop.’

4 May
‘Brought back from St Omer a new machine. It was so nose heavy that Davis [Observer] had to climb along the fuselage to enable me to land it. On C.O.P. during afternoon & drove 1 H.A. east & another down by Letts & self. My rudder was shot away by Archie. I managed to get back to aerodrome. Went to dine with the Oxford Hussars in the evening ... had to walk back about 4 miles.’

6 May
‘Visited trenches during evening. Spent night in a upturned German officers’ dugout.’

7 May
‘Saw a BE2 brought down also 1 Hun’

8 May
Motored back to Belle View in afternoon.’

10 May
‘Cowling came off as I was taking off for the evening patrol. Nearly erased.’

11 May
‘Patrol [6.10 p.m.]. Cull went down in flames, Winchler shot down in Hun land. Binney had his observer shot. I tackled 4 H.A. on 2FE2b’s. A bloody awful day.’

Further official Log Book entries for the same month make interesting reading and include:

19 May
‘Shot 1 Albatros 2 seater off Middleton’s tail & 2 Albatros Scouts off Midddleton’s tail.’

23 May
‘7 H.A. engaged 1 downed by self.'

13 June
‘9 H.A. seen 3 engaged 1 driven down.’

24 June
‘9 E.A., 3 engaged, 1 sent down out of control.'

At the end of June Farnes was sufffering from a broken tooth and soon afterwards a throat infection. The strain of his tour was starting to show, as seen with so many of the young airmen who took to the skies with the Royal Flying Corps. Perhaps not fully recovered from his illness but bent on fulfilling his duties to King and Country, he resumed flying duties on 2 July. Just four short days later in Bristol F2B A7109, WF, Farnes was killed in action with his observer Corporal J. T. Park over Sailly by the German ace Vizefeldwebel Fritz John Jacobsen of Jasta 31, the first of his eight victories. Farnes was just 22 years of age and was buried by the Germans with full Military Honours in the Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt. His Aero Certificate was returned to his family whilst his gravestone bears the simple, yet heartbreaking inscription:

'Au Revoir.'

Sold together with the following original and important archive comprising:

(i)
Pilot’s Flying log Book, in the name of '2nd Lieut. H. C. Farnes', covering period 14 September 1916-3 July 1917, giving a fine account of his combats and victories.

(ii)
International Aeronautical Federation British Empire Aviator’s Certificate, No. 3985, issued on 24 November 1916.

(iii)

1917 'Gossamer' pocket diary by Straker & Crane's Diary Co., with daily entries from beginning of year (excepting period 7 February to 14 March) giving brief and informative summaries of his movements throughout each day, offering a unique insight into his actions and exploits, together with a file of copied research.

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Sold for
£5,000

Starting price
£1600