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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 386

A Navigator's group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant J. H. Bransgrove, Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, Atlantic; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Flt. Lt. J. H. Bransgrove. R.A.F.), good very fine (5)

John Hector Bransgrove was born on 3 February 1923 at Lambeth, the son of Henry Alfred Edward Bransgrove and Irene Elsie Gleaves of 230 South Lambeth Road, London. Educated at Vauxhall Central School from 1934-39, he took first employment as a pharmacist's assistant before enlisting into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 2 June 1941. Mobilised three months later, Bransgrove was sent to No. 2 Initial Training Wing where he began Pilot training before being sent to Canada in early January 1942. It was here that he was re-mustered as an Air Observer on 30 April 1942, being discharged on appointment to an emergency commission with the General Duties Branch on 10 September 1942.

Sent to No. 7 Air Observation School the following day, Bransgrove was later sent to No. 28 Operational Training Unit on 17 November 1942 before being posted to No. 466 Squadron as Navigator. Transferred to No. 282 Squadron on 16 August 1943 and No. 276 Squadron on 8 February 1944, he later served as a Navigator with No. 102 & No. 171 Squadrons from 20 July 1944, being likely engaged on coastal reconnaissance flights and bombing sorties over North West Europe. Promoted Flight Lieutenant on 11 September 1944, he ended the war with No. 102 Squadron which at that time was operating the Halifax Mk. III and Mk. IIIa heavy bomber.

Sent to the Aircrew Holding Unit at Pocklington following the cessation of hostilities, Bransgrove was discharged Class 'A' on 30 July 1946, but successfully applied for a Temporary Commission with the General Duties Branch, Royal Air Force, on 21 December 1948. Posted to R.A.F. Manston on operational duties from 16 April 1951, he completed an Airborne Interception Course and was posted to No. 85 Squadron, later serving at Kenley and Uxbridge. Sent to Headquarters of F.E.A.F., he served at Changi from 7 November 1955-31 March 1958, before returning to a posting in the Ops Room of R.A.F. Abingdon, tour expired. Bransgrove was finally transferred to the Reserve on 25 March 1959 and relinquished his commission on 21 December 1963.

Bransgrove returned home to his wife Margaret who was living at that time near Maidstone in Kent. He died in November 1991 at Andover, Hampshire; sold with copied service record and research.


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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£100