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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 542

A rare and outstanding aerial combat M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant H. Alexander, No. 20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps


Military Medal, G.V.R. (6640 1.Cl.A.M. H. Alexander. No. 20 Sq: R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (6640 1.A.M. H. Alexander. R.F.C.), nearly extremely fine (3)

M.M. London Gazette 6 January 1917. The original recommendation states:

'For gallant conduct.

On 11 November 1916 when acting as Gunner to an Officer in a patrol of No. 20 Squadron the machine was attacked by two hostile Scouts at once. Whilst manoeuvring 1st A.M. Alexander was wounded in the right arm, using his left arm only he fired on his attackers until the gun was disabled by the enemy's fire, and he was severely wounded in the side.

The engine of the machine was so shot about that a landing became imperative. Remembering that his Pilot was new to the district Alexander indicated to him the way to the nearest aerodrome, and then fainted.

On 23 September 1916 when gunner to another Officer Alexander assisted in shooting down a Fokker to the S.E. of Roulers.'

The following exratacts are taken from the War Diary and relating Combat Reports:

23 September 1916 - ‘Lt. S. Alder with 1/A.M. Alexander of No. 20 Squadron, while on offensive patrol, successfully engaged a hostile machine. The German was seen to crash S.E. of Roulers.’ - ‘Fokker Monoplane. The H.A. dived at the F.E. from behind passing down in front of F.E. The F.E. dived, shooting 4 drums from 2 guns from the Dixon-Spain fixed mounting. The H.A. then dived absolutely vertically, turned over and was seen to crash on the ground, S.E. of Roulers between Ouchene and Rumbeke.’

'At 9.40 a.m. on 10/11/16, when over Menin, the pilot 2/Lt. R. W. Reid, sighted a H.A. diving at him from the right front. He at once turned half right and drove up at the H.A., intending his Observer, 1/A.M. Alexander, to open fire with front gun. The Observer however, had seen a H.A. diving from left front and when the pilot turned half right he thought it was to bring rear gun to bear on left hand H.A. The right hand H.A. misjudjed his dive, passed overhead, and was not seen again. The Observer while getting up to fire rear gun was hit by a bullet in the right arm, rendering it useless. However, he managed to fire with his left arm only when the H.A. now just behind, shot the Lewis Gun out of action and again hit the Observer in the side. The Pilot then swerved away and, the H.A, ceasing to attack, he escaped over the lines to Bailleul.’

Harold Alexander was born at Brighton on 28 April 1898, was educated at St Andrew's School, Worthing and was a motor cyclist upon his joining the Royal Flying Corps in June 1915. Having seen action in France in 1916 with the legendary No. 20 Squadron, which finished the Great War with a tally of no less than 34 M.C.'s, 19 D.F.C.'s, 5 M.M.'s besides the Victoria Cross won by Thomas Mottershead.

Alexander served in France until 21 November 1916, being evacuated on account of his wounds. He was an Acting Sergeant in January and was with No. 4 Squadron at Felixstowe by June 1919, being discharged on 26 July 1919 with a Pension; sold together with copied research which also notes the award of a Silver War Badge (No. 10315)

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Sold for
£4,200

Starting price
£1600