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Auction: 22103 - Orders, Decorations and Medals VII - e-Auction
Lot: 239

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. H. S. Royffe. R.A.F.), contact marks, very fine

Harold Spencer Royffe was born at St. George, Hanover Square, London on November 1894, the son of Edward and Bessie Royffe. Joining the 4th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment as a Lance-Corporal he was commissioned to the Middlesex Regiment with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 18 June 1915. Applying for service as a Flying Officer (Observer) with the Royal Flying Corps he was accepted on 15 November 1916. Promoted Lieutenant with the Royal Flying Corps on 1 February 1917 Royffe joined 18th Squadron at Reading and later entered with the war with them in France.

Starting to fly reconnaissance missions in September 1916 he served as observer on a number of flights in September. During this time they also bombed key targets were possible, this culminated in a flight on 16 September when Royffe and his pilot 2nd Lieutenant Hall were shot down near Talus Boise while flying escort to a reconnaissance flight. Their petrol tank was shot out and they crash landed but fortunately neither officer was hurt by the dramatic crash landing, though their bomb racks were destroyed. Posted to 56 Squadron on 20 December 1917 Royffe joined them two days later for service as their Armaments Officer. Remaining there until 29 September 1918.

After the war Royffe returned to his old unit, the Middlesex Regiment and later was sent to the Reserve of Officers. Re-joining during the Second World War he was removed from the General List on 19 December 1940 as a result of age. Royffe died at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood on 12 May 1946, at the time of his death he held the rank of Major (retired); sold together with copied research including census data, Commonwealth War Graves details and M.I.C. as well as R.F.C. mission reports, service records and an extract from High in the Empty Blue.

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Sold for
£50

Starting price
£10