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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 221

Six: Wing Commander J. S. Mason, Royal Air Force, who served during 'Pink's War' in 1925

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp Waziristan 1925 (342873 Cpl. (A/Sgt.) J. S. Mason. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Royal Air Force L.S & G.C., 1st type (342873. F/Sgt. J. S. Mason. R.A.F.), mounted as worn, contact marks, very fine (6)

James Samuel Mason was born on 14 January 1902 at Foulsham, Norfolk, the son of Edmund and Mary Mason. By 1925 he was serving as a Corporal - Acting Sergeant - with No. 5 Squadron, Royal Air Force. In this role Mason was to be one of 200 men to serve during ‘Pink’s War’, the 1925 bombing campaign conducted against the rebellious frontier tribes in the Waziristan hills.

This was to be the first campaign of its kind with the Royal Air Force acting alone and within that service only No. 5 and 60 Squadrons were deployed to deal with the problem. It was in many respects a very grim conflict; whilst the idea of bombing an enemy from the air may seem better than being sniped and bombed whilst marching up a mountain pass, there were certainly still hardships.

One incident in particular highlights the peculiarities of the small wars on the North West Frontier, that being the case of a flier by the name of Dashwood. His aircraft crashed near a village with hostile tribesmen nearby, the observer was killed and Dashwood, who went back into the plane while the ammunition detonated to try and free him, was horribly burned. 'Pink’s War' by F. E. Chasemore takes up the tale:

‘They gave him water. Then he got to his feet and started to walk to Sorarogha Fort. Of course, they could have slit his throat (and spared his agony), but instead they let him go and gave him an armed escort to ensure that nobody mucked him about on the way. I cannot begin to imagine the torture of the seven-mile trek along hot, stony mountain tracks on burnt stumps; the only man who really knew came to the end of it just outside Sorarogha. He sent in one of his escort with a message; it was written in blood with his finger and it read: “Send brandy, for God’s sake”. When they brought it to him he flogged his dying spirit along that last desperate stretch, and there he died on his feet to a salute from his enemies. Whatever else may be said about them they knew a man when they saw one.’

The conflict came to an end with the tribesmen accepting defeat, 'Pink’s War' was a success and proof that air power could be independently deployed with great success.

‘O smart Brisfit, O smart Brisfit,
What are you doing in fighting kit?
I’m praying hard I’ll avoid a conk
On offensive patrols from a sink called Tank.
Up the gorges and down Spli Toi,
Sniped at like hell – but attaboy!
They called it war on the banks of the Marne,
But, bless you it’s peace in Waziristan.

(Pink’s War by F. E. Chasemore, refers)

Still a Flight Sergeant in 1937 with No. 24 (T) Group, Mason saw service during the Second World War, being promoted Flying Officer on 27 May 1940 and Flight Lieutenant on 1 March 1942, he was further advanced Squadron Leader on 31 March 1946 and finally Wing Commander on 22 July 1948, appearing on the 1953 Coronation roll, stationed at R.A.F. Hucknall. It was with this rank that Mason finally retired on 3 February 1954; sold together with copied research including the Waziristan 1925 Medal roll, typed research and an extract from 'Pink's War' as well as census data and Coronation Medal roll entries along with an original photograph and several original documents including a Sea Boarding pass, retirement letter and certificate of inoculation.

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Sold for
£2,800

Starting price
£520