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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 602

The K.C.B., A.F.C. group of eleven miniature dress medals worn by Air-Vice Marshal Sir D. Harries, Royal Air Force and Royal Naval Air Service

An Airship specialist during the Great War, he commanded No. 5 Armoured Car Company in Iraq, 1922-24 and served as Head of Intelligence Branch, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, 1930-34

At the start of the Second War he was Air Officer Commanding R.A.F. Cranwell, 1939-42, before being appointed to the Command of No. 23 Group, and ultimately as Director-General of Personnel

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Knight Commander's (K.C.B.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Air Force Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine, with M.I.D. Oak Leaves; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, major white enamel damaged to last, very fine (11)

K.C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1947.

C.B. London Gazette 1 January 1943.

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Chevalier, London Gazette 11 August 1917.

Douglas Harries was born in 1893 and was educated at the Royal Naval Colleges, Osborne and Dartmouth, being commissioned Midshipman, Royal Navy, prior to advancing to Sub-Lieutenant, 15 September 1913. He transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in December 1914 and was made Flight Lieutenant on 1 April 1915. After service at R.N.A.S. Dover, was appointed to command Polegate Airship Station, being posted to R.N.A.S. Kingsnorth, Kent on 4 March 1916. Made a Flight Commander, 30 June 1916, Squadron Commander, 30 June 1917, he was posted to R.N.A.S. Barrow on 28 July 1917. Made Temporary Major, Airship Branch, Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, he was advanced Squadron Leader on 1 August 1918. After brief employment at the Air Ministry he was appointed as a Staff Officer, R.A.F. Howden (Airship Base), 8 July 1920; he was serving at Howden when R38 took off and broke up in flight over the River Humber on 4 August 1921

Harries was posted to R.A.F. H.Q. Iraq, April 1922 and was made Officer Commanding No. 5 Armoured Car Company R.A.F., Mosul, Iraq, November 1922. He was posted No. 4 F.T.S., February 1924 being made Wing Commander, 1 January 1926. After brief employment at R.A.F. Halton he was appointed Head of Intelligence Branch, Directorate of Operations and Intelligence, October 1930; having held this post for four years he was appointed Officer Commanding R.A.F. Ramlah, and then in a similar capacity to R.A.F. Amman the following year. Advanced Air Commodore,1 November 1938, Harries served as Air Officer Commanding, R.A.F. Cranwell, 15 August 1939-28 January 1942; on the latter date he was promoted Acting Air Vice-Marshal and appointed Air Officer Commanding No. 23 Group, Flying Training Command. Appointed Director-General of Personal Services, 7 August 1943 he was promoted Air Vice-Marshal, Director-General of Personnel on 1 June 1944. Harries retired on 19 August 1946, having played First Class Cricket as a young man; in later life resided at Mill Lane Cottage, Crondall, near Farnham, Surrey. This gallant airman died on 6 December 1972; his private papers are held by the Imperial War Museum.

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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£160