Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 529

A Great War 'La Boiselle' M.C. awarded to Captain B. S. B Thomas, Royal Air Force, late 9th Battalion Welsh Regiment, a promising pilot who transferred to the Royal Air Force having won his M.C., survived being shot down by Anti-Aircraft fire only to be killed in a mid-air collision on 4 October 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. B. S. B. Thomas. Welsh R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. B. S. B. Thomas. R.A.F.), minor pitting and contact wear, overall very fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

Benjamin Stewart Buckingham Thomas was born on 25 January 1894 at Pembroke, the son of Benjamin and Jessy Thomas of 71 Gwyther Street, Pembroke Dock. His father worked as a Joiner the Dockyards. Thomas was educated at the University of London and joined the London University Officer Training Corps in October 1914 with the rank of Sergeant. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment he joined them in France on 29 October 1915.

Invalided back to Britain with Pneumonia on 29 January 1916 on the Hospital Ship St. Denis, having recovered and taken some leave he joined 12th Reserve Battalion, Welsh Regiment at Kinmel Park. Re-joining 9th Battalion in France in 1916 he joined in the attack on La Boiselle on the night of 5-6 July. On this occasion a major attack against the Battalion threatened to overwhelm them, Thomas held an exposed flank for some time before leading a counter attack and securing a key section of the trenches. The Battalion War diary describes the situation in typically dry terms, stating:

'at the same hour bombing parties under 2/lt B. S. B. Thomas proceeded into the trench leading from x12a 4.9 which were to clear that trench up to x15a 8.0.'

He was however wounded seriously enough to be, once again, sent back to Britain to recover being at Hospital in Liverpool in December 1916. Returning again to the war he was attached to 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment on 20 April 1917 before being diagnosed with pleurisy and returned to Britain aboard H.M.H.S. Brighton. While he was in Britain he applied to the Royal Flying Corps on 17 August 1917, joining the School of Military Aeronautics, Reading on 30 August.

Transferring to the R.F.C. he joined 11th Squadron on 3 April 1918 flying patrols over France in the Summer of 1918. Thomas suffered a major setback when he and his co-pilot 2nd Lieutenant C. E. Spinks were shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 10 August 1918. Despite this he began a short run of victories in the Cambrai area, starting with a pair on 16 September when he and his observer Lieutenant W. T. Barnes shot down a Fokker biplane and a Pfalz DXII apiece. The later was piloted by Flieger S. Braun escape the destruction of his aircraft by parachuting out however his 'chute' caught fire on as it deployed. The after action reports stating:

'While on Reconnaissance over Cambrai my observer spotted a single E.A diving down on one of our machines, he opened fire at a range of about 100 yards.
After a short burst E.A fell in a slow and was seen to crash near a small clump of trees north of Cambrai.
We then encountered a large formation of E.A. Scouts above us and to the East, obviously there with the intention of preventing us from carrying out the Reconnaissance.
Our formation turned due West in order to gain height and draw the E.A towards the lines. We suddenly did a quick turn towards the E.A. who turned East. I then noticed two Fokkers detached from their formation and much lower.
I picked out one and fired about 100 rounds at an approximate range of 150 yards. E.A immediately went down out of control and was seen to crash by my observer jyst [SIC] South of Cambrai. This was also seen by another observer in the formation.'

The following morning he and Barnes again flew a reconnaissance mission over enemy lines when they were attacked by a flight of enemy aircraft, the after action report picks up the story stating:

'Whilst returning from Reconnaissance we were attacked by 5 or 6 Fokker Biplanes which dived on us from out of the sun.
Noticing two of these pulling out of the dive below us, we went down on them and I fired several bursts without effect. I then turned towards the line followed by 3 E.A who got close onto my tail. My observer fired about 60 rounds at the nearest, who immediately went down in flames and when about 2000 feet from the ground a large piece was seen to fall away, from the machine. He was last seen to hit the ground and crash just East of Wasnes a village north of Cambrai.
The remaining two E.A made off East.'

This was the end of Thomas' partnership with Barnes, unfortunately for him as his erstwhile observer went on to become an air gunner ace with six kills and a D.F.C. to his name. His new observer was his previous partner, 2nd Lieutenant C. E. Sparks, with whom he had survived a brush with anti-aircraft fire the previous August. They pair were flying a reconnaissance on 4 October when, at 08:45, they collided with the Bristol Fighter flown by 2nd Lieutenant D. R. Philips. The crash destroyed both aircraft and killed all involved, their bodies were taken to 56 Casualty Clearing Station. All four officers were buried together win Greviller British Cemetery; sold together with copied research including typed research, army lists and service records as well as War Diaries, an R.F.C. casualty report and several combat reports along with newspaper extracts, London Gazette and original photographs.


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,300

Starting price
£900