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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 259

The British War Medal awarded to Major A. H. Parker, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, 1st Punjab Volunteer Rifles and Indian Civil Service, an 'Old Cheltonian' and former King's College Cambridge man who was awarded the M.C. for his work as an observer in 1915 and was recommended for a Bar for his daredevil parachute escape from a crashing Kite Balloon on 4 January 1916, unfortunately this was downgraded to a 'mention' - one of three he received during the war

British War Medal 1914-20 (Major A. H. Parker. R.A.F.), pitting, edge bruising, contact marks, nearly very fine

[M.C.] London Gazette 14 January 1916, the original recommendation states:

'Has performed the work of taking photographs of the enemy's various lines with great skill under very difficult circumstances and heavy fire. He has also, on various occasions, ranged artillery most effectively.'

Aubrey Hastings Parker was born at St. Helier, Jersey on 1 October 1873 the son of Philip and Georgina Parker. Studying first at Cheltenham College before matriculating to Trinity College, Melbourne and finally King's College, Cambridge graduating in 1896.

Joining the Indian Civil Service Parker worked as an Assistant Commissioner in the Punjab, arriving in India to take up his post on 13 December 1987. Promoted Deputy Commissioner in November 1913 he also served as a district and session Judge in that time. Posted to the General List as a Lieutenant in January 1914 he was commissioned into the 1st Punjab Volunteer Rifles and later was attached to the Royal Flying Corps on 6 January 1915. Parker entered the war with them a little over a week later on 15 January in France.

He flew the first five months of the war as an observer, logging an impressive amount of flight time and clearly impressing his superiors with the clarity and detail of his reports. Parker was to win the M.C. here for his work with No. 4 Squadron. However all too soon he was sent to Hospital on 6 July 1915 an incident report notes the cause as a flying accident, stating:

'Lt Parker joined the Flying Corps on 5th Jany. [SIC] 1915; and met with an accident on 6th July last. The machine dived and was caught in the branches of a tree which it brought to the ground. Lt Parker's foot was pinned between a branch and the engine (weight 350 lbs)
He met with a severe sprain & contusion of right ankle. It is probable that the lft. [SIC]: matteolus was crushed though not displaced. There were also several contusions & lacerations of legs, body, & face. He was in hospl. [SIC] in France for a few days, then moved to London where he remained in hospl. until 29th July.'

His injuries however refused to properly heal and soon Parker was deemed unfit for flying duties. He was not however to be counted out and was instead soon transferred to the 'Ballonatics' on 27 October 1915 and promoted Flight Commander on 18 December 1915. He soon began to do good work here, receiving his first 'mention' on 1 January 1916. Posted to No. 7 Kite Balloon section he received his second in a hair raising incident on 5 August 1916 which involved a parachute descent while under fire. The original recommendation by his Brigade Commander was for a Bar to his M.C. however this was downgraded to a 'mention' on 13 November 1916, the original recommendation states:

'Very skilful and consistent work commanding a Kite Balloon Section, from March to August 1916. Displayed great energy and trained his officers admirably. His work has been most valuable. On 5th August his balloon was brought down by shell fire and he displayed great coolness and resource in assisting his observer to make a parachute descent before he did so himself. The balloon descended 1,400 feet during this.'

Returning to Britain on 22 August 1916- possibly as a result of his parachute jump which can hardly of helped his damaged foot- Parker appointed Commandant of the Kite Balloon School of Instruction. While there he was promoted Balloon Company Commander from 1 December 1916. Three times more in this time, once in a dispatch by Field Marshall Haig on 4 January 1917 and once in a Press Communique on 3 March 1918, Parker received his last mention in despatches on 13 March 1918.

Not long after this he was transferred for the final time on 22 March 1918 and appointed a Staff Officer, Class II with the Royal Flying Corps, in the process relinquishing his temporary rank of Major (Graded as Squadron Leader). Despite all that had happened throughout the war Parker's promotions had all been temporary and upon the end of hostilities he reverted to the rank of Lieutenant. This was clearly not satisfactory and he was promoted Captain on 21 March 1919 with the Acting rank of Major.

Leaving the army that same year he worked as Secretary of the Air Board in the Commerce and Industry Department for the Indian Government, holding this role from 1919-1924. Sadly Parker was not done with war, his only son Reginald Hastings Parker joined the Royal Navy in the footsteps of his grandfather and great grandfather. He was killed in action during the Greco-Turkish war in the British attempt to seize Mudanya on 25 June 1920, he was shot in the back while withdrawing to the ships with his men. Retiring in January 1924 he lived for a while in Italy, returning in 1937 to escape the rise of fascism Parker was living in Harrow in 1939 but returned to Italy after the war. He died on 27 July 1959 at the Villa Belvedere, Via Michelangelo, Alassio; sold together with copied research including census data, London Gazette entries and newspaper records as well as service papers, recommendations for award and the recipients observation reports from February - July 1915 as well as M.I.C., accident reports and Government of India lists and a copy of the Old Cheltonian record of service.

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Sold for
£220

Starting price
£50