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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 611

The campaign pair awarded to 2nd Lieutenant K. C. Horner, West Yorkshire Regiment attached Royal Flying Corps, late Royal Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds following an engagement during 'Bloody April' when he became the first aerial victory of German Ace and Pour le Merite recipient Hans Klein

1914 Star (48 Pte. K. C. Horner. R.A.M.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (2. Lieut K. C. Horner.), in its named card box of issue, good very fine (2)

Karl Christian Horner was born in 1897, the son of Charles and Isabel of 18 Monkbridge Street, Headingley, Leeds. He served in France with No. 7 Casualty Clearing Station from 30 October 1914. Commissioned into the West Yorkshire Regiment in July 1915, he thence was attached to the Royal Flying Corps. Flying with No. 12 Squadron, he took off with 2nd Lieutenant Alfred Emmerson in BE2e (2563), named 'Punjab No 4 Kashmir' at 0810hrs near Arras. The aircraft had been presented by the Kashmir Aircraft Fund and was detailed for an artillery-stopping sortie. They were engaged and shot down by Leutnant Hans Klein from Jasta 4 for his first confirmed victory.

Horner was hit in the neck, but managed to nurse the aircraft back over the lines and crash land. Emmerson suffered a fractured skull and broken leg and died later at a casualty clearing station. Horner was taken to hospital but also succumbed to his wounds, aged just 20. He is buried in the Avesnes-le-Comte Communal Cemetery.

Klein notched up some 22 victories in the Great War and commanded Jasta 10, earning his Pour le Merite with his 20th victory on 18 October 1917. By the time of the Second World War he was Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 53 and was killed on 18 November 1944; sold together with copy of his Memorial Scroll and Buckingham Palace enclosure.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£130