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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 475

A Great War London Air Defence M.B.E. group of four awarded to Major W. E. De B. Whittaker, Royal Naval Air Service, late Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and the King's (Liverpool Regiment)

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, breast Badge (M.B.E.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, hallmarks for London; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. W. E. De B. Whittaker. R. N. V. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Lieut. W. E. De B. Whittaker R.N.A.S.), mounted as worn by Spink and Son, minor pitting, very fine (4)

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

William Edward De Bagaligh Whittaker was born at Woodlands, Liverpool on 9 May 1885, the son of William Edward Whittaker of High Whittaker, Lancashire. Unable to attend Winchester due to ill-health Whittaker was instead educated privately by a Canon Joyce of Hawarden. He joined the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) from the Militia but retired after a short service, nevertheless he identified strongly with the Regiment. Whittaker’s interest in Aircraft began prior to the war and he penned a theoretical piece in The Aeroplane magazine titled ‘The Aeronautical Services of the USA’ published on 26 February 1914.

Promoted Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Naval Air Service on 26 September 1914, he entered the war in France in January 1915 as an observer he was later posted to Gallipoli as a liaison officer between the Army and the R.N.A.S. arriving on 25 March 1915. Promoted Lieutenant on 24 August 1915 the strains of his previous posting soon began to tell and he was admitted to Hospital on Malta on 22 October 1915 as a result of defective vision. His obituary notes of his work in this arduous campaign:

‘During that period he discharged a difficult duty with remarkable tact and efficiency. The campaign impaired a constitution never strong’

Declared unfit for duty on 11 November 1915 he was re-examined the next month and found ‘fit for active service other than for flying + observing duties’ on 23 December 1915, for one with such an active interest in flying it must have been a crushing blow. Cancelling his commission with the R.N.A.S. Whittaker was taken on as a General Staff Officer on 21 March 1916 and, with his background as an expert on military science with a specialism in aviation, from this point he was posted to London Air Defence. Specifically he worked in the field of Air Defence, some clues to his role here my possibly be found in his later articles, most notably one in The Times on 18 July 1921 entitled 'Reprieve for Airships' in which he discusses the various advances made by Germany in the field of airships which Britain failed to keep up with. Whittaker’s contribution must have been valuable as he received a mention on 20 February 1919 and was later awarded the M.B.E. for ‘valuable services rendered in connection with anti-aircraft services’.

After the war Whittaker took to a career in journalism becoming Special Correspondent to the Daily Express in Ireland and Palestine in 1922 then the Ruhr in 1923. Joining The Times in their Foreign Department in April 1923 he remained here for many years, marrying Dorothy Frances, daughter of Henry Bindon Blood of Cranaher on 1 August 1924. Becoming Editor of the Army, Navy and Air Force Gazette from 1927-1931 he later returned to The Times and finished his years as a special contributor and racing correspondent. He continued to publish and lecture on Military science, even teaching a course at King’s College titled ‘Lessons of the Great War’. Whittaker died young in 1933; sold together with copied research including service records, application for a temporary commission, a letter written by the recipient complaining that his commission was overlook in the London Gazette and copied articles by the recipient along with an M.I.C., medal roll and obituary as well as a copy of Flight magazine which notes references the London Gazette entry for his M.B.E.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£240