Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 232A

An Order of St John group of four awarded to Squadron Leader T. W. Elsdon, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service, an early aviator who took Aero Licence No. 544

The Order of St John of Jerusalem, Badge, silver; 1914-15 Star (Flt. Lt. T. W. Elsdon. R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (Major T. W. Elsdon. R.A.F.), mounted as worn, good very fine (4)

Commander (Brother) Order of St John London Gazette 2 January 1942.

Thomas Wilfrid Elsdon was born on 4 March 1887 at Clapham, London and was an engineer by trade. He was living at 3 Palace Mansions, Muswell Hill when he took Aero Certificate No. 544 on a Vickers Biplane at Brooklands on 8 July 1913. He was further appointed Assistant Pilot at the Vickers School later that year (Flight 13 December 1913, refers), being noted as having worked with Barnwell and Knight to increase the number of pupils passing out to an average of one every six days between them in 1914.

Upon the outbreak of the Great War Elsdon was made a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service on 31 October 1914, being advanced Flight Commander on 1 January 1916. Undertaking various flights and testing on seaplanes, he thence joined the Riviera in February 1917, being made a Squadron Commander in June 1917. Whilst flying Short Seaplane 9080 his plane is noted as 'damaged float, badly damaged when capsized in folding' on 21 April 1917 and then having capsized on landing on 21 June 1917, with Elsdon as Pilot on both occasions.

With the creation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, Elsdon ended the Great War as a Major and was CO of No. 242 Squadron from 20 August 1918 until it was disbanded on 15 May 1919. He was presented to The King and Queen at Holyrood in July 1927, by this time a Squadron Leader and he joined Furious in January 1928, before Courageous in January 1931. He was retired on 18 August 1934.

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

Sold for
£580

Starting price
£190