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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 419

A rare 1919 A.F.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant P. Waddingham, Royal Air Force, awarded the A.F.M. for his part in a pioneering flight from England to Egypt, who latterly served as a Seaborne Observer on D-Day, aged 63

Air Force Medal, G.V.R. (76140 Sgt. P. Waddingham. R.A.F.); British War and Victory Medals (76140. 1.A.M. P. Waddingham. R.A.F.); France & Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Observer Corps Medal, E.II.R., 1st issue (Observer P. Waddingham.), claw a little loose on first, otherwise good very fine and probably a unique combination of awards (7)

A.F.M. London Gazette 9 July 1920. The recommendation, by Squadron Leader Nicholas - together with Warrant Officer Class 2 H. A. Gamon, Flight Sergeants W. J. Clyde & P. MacDiamid and Acting Sergeant C. G. Barnes - states:

'For excellent work carried out under very difficult circumstances, during their flight from England to Egypt in July and August 1919. It was largely owing to their keenness and devotion to duty that made the flight so successful.'

Percy Waddingham was born on 14 April 1883 and was a land surveyor upon his enlistment in the Royal Flying Corps on 19 April 1917. He served in France with No. 103 Squadron as a Rigger from 7 May 1918 and went on a 15-minute test flight with Lieutenant G. B. Hett on 10 November 1918.

Pioneering flight

Awarded his A.F.M. for the remarkable flight of No. 216 Squadron from England to Egypt in order to join their unit in Palestine. Their flight was drawn up in order for the Squadron to relocate to Kantara Airfield on the Suez Canal and was a remarkable feat for the period. The work for Riggers like Waddingham was carried out in the open, whatever the weather and no matter what maintenance required on the Handley's which were carrying them. So it was that the journey began, across and down France before crossing the Alps into Italy. Down into Pisa they came, before Taranto, each leg about 250 miles. They trundled down towards Greece before hopping onto the Albanian coast. They made Greece and were afforded a visit by the King on the small airfield they had chosen north of Athens.Through Greece and into Turkey they pressed, before the crossing of the Mediterranean. The final leg from Port Said followed. No less than 16 A.F.M.s were granted in respect of the journey of No. 216 Squadron, who remainde in Egypt for some 36 years. Waddingham was discharged on 30 April 1920.

D-Day Observer

Waddingham joined the Royal Observer Corps and was Volunteered to take part in the D-Day and Normandy Operations (France & Germany Star) as one of 796 of the Corps present. It appears he was one of the oldest, at 63, with just nine older members who had declared as such. He was part of King 3, No. 11 Group as recalled:

'Joined the SS Empire Stuart, a British ship with 22 Naval Maritime Gunners on board.

Many curious designs in amphibious craft had been invented that one could imagine H. G. Wells had been consulted.

One incident that I shall never forget was the great storm, it was the second trip and arriving off Arromanches on June 17th we had to wait our turn to be unloaded, June 18th was a perfect day but at night the storm broke, we were there until June 24th, Jerry coming around every night dropping mines all round the ships, during this period he never attempted to bomb us, but our naval ships always gave him a hot reception and we saw several Ju88s shot down.

We saw the first V1 on June 12th on its way to England. The next day we saw two shot down over the Channel, one by the Navy and the other by Spitfires. After that many more were seen. A most impressive sight was H.M.S. Rodney about a mile from our ship firing 16" shells near Caen, believe me they shook the sea.

Also on June 30th we saw Stirlings dropping hundreds of Paratroopers near Caen, it was thrilling to see them in all directions with Jerry flak all around.

During our last trip at the beach head, we were severely attacked by Ju99s, luckily no ship got a direct him, but one bomb fell 50 yards on our starboard side, splinters came all over us but no serious injury or damage was done to crew or ship.

Waddingham was chosen to represent No. 11 Group in the stand-down parade of the Civil Defence Services on 9 June 1945 and was spoken to by The King, 'who, no doubt, observed the Air Force Medal' (The Story of No. 11 Group - R.O.C., refers). His Royal Observer Corps Medal was awarded in 1954 whilst with 15 Group; sold together with copied research, including a number of group photographs which include the recipient.

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Sold for
£5,200

Starting price
£1200