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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 319

A rare '1958 Malaya Helicopter Pilot's' D.F.C., 1954 A.F.C. group of five awarded to Squadron Leader J. H. Liversidge, Royal Air Force

A skilled and long-served Pilot, Liversidge flew during the Second World War before moving into the jet age, latterly becoming a skilled Helicopter operator in the thick jungles of Malaya - he flew almost constantly in the Sycamores of No. 194 Squadron from 1956-58

His final posting was Commanding the Helicopter Section of the Queen's Flight at Benson, which saw his passengers include a veritable 'Who's Who' of Royal and Military figures; Liversidge was tragically killed in an air crash in December 1967

Distinguished Flying Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated '1958'; Air Force Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially dated '1954'; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Flt. Lt. J. H. Liversidge. R.A.F.), mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (5)

D.F.C. London Gazette 9 December 1958.

A.F.C. London Gazette 10 June 1954.

Jack Harry Liversidge was born on 20 March 1918 and lived at Mexborough with his parents before being educated at Rotherham Technical College. A draughtsman at the Baker & Bessemer steel works at Kilnhurst, during the Second World War he joined the Royal Air Force and underwent training with No. 4 B.F.T.S. 'Falcon Field' at Mesa, Arizona. Liversidge then went onto No. 10 F.I.S. at Woodley, Reading and No. 3 E.F.T.S. at Shellingford, Bekshire, carrying forward some 951hrs 5mins on his Log Books by the end of July 1945.

Liversidge joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve from December 1946 and his next flight was in January 1948, putting in time with No. 9 Reserve Flying School and supplementing time at the Ultra Light Aircraft Club, Doncaster. The early 1950's saw him re-join, doing a refresher at Oakington in the Spring on 1951, qualifying on the Meteor on 16 April 1953. It was whilst at Little Rissington, that his richly-deserved A.F.C was awarded. Moving onto helicopters, Liversidge passed on the Westland S.51 on 15 July 1955, before qualifying on the Sycamore on 26 August 1955 at Filton.

Jungle Chopper Pilot

Flying out to Kuala Lumpur, he joined No. 194 Squadron on 2 November 1955. Learning his area of operations, he began to branch out and begin to ferry passengers of interest up to drop off points including the 'Cameron Highlands', Fort Brooke (taking an unnamed SAS Trooper on 15 February 1956), Ipoh. His first 'CASEVAC' was flown on 31 January, but he performed five more the following month. Similar tallies followed as the year went on, with high numbers of sorties being flown in his trust helicopter. He had the unfortunate job of a CASEVAC from Alor Star on 15 September 1956 to remove a soldier with a gunshot wound, during which the soldier died. During November he also had the job of acting as pilot for Brigadier Alexander and Brigadier The Lord Thurlow. His Log Books are also littered with 'Cont TRG' flights. The following period of time saw Liversidge permanently on operations, flying thousands of hours in the jungle. On 5 March he was on hand to CASEVAC the bodies of 9 soldiers lost in the crash of a freighter, going between VK251404 and Tapah. He flew his final sortie for No. 194 Squadron on 14 May 1958, carrying forward some 3852hrs 20mins on his Log Books. It is no surprise he was rewarded with the D.F.C. to go with the A.F.C. he already held.

Pastures new - Queen's Flight

Liversidge returned to South Cernet and then went onto the E.T.P.S. at Farnborough in September 1958 as Helicopter Flying Instructor. It is without doubt, the skills he learn in the jungles of Malaya were passed onto the next generation. He remained at Farnborough until August 1962, before going up to Benson to join the Queen's Flight, where he commanded the Helicopter Section. His Log Book for the period reads like a 'Who's Who' but a selection of 'notable' flights include:

Special Flight 1049, 1 February 1963.
The Rt. Hon. Hugh Fraser, The Rt. Hon. Julian Amery, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Thomas Pike, Sir Maurice Dean, Sir Henry Hardman.

Special Flight 1133, 10 April 1963.
Earl Moutbatten, Mr McNamara, Bandy, Nitze & Jones.

Special Flight 1143, 18 April 1963.
HRH Duchess of Gloucester, Lady Vesey.

Special Flight 1178, 3 May 1963.
HRH The Princess Margaret, Lord Snowdon, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, Chief Inspector Crocker.

Special Flight 1176, 10 May 1963.
HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, The Lady Jean Rankin, Lt. Col. Sir Martin Gilliatt, Captain Alastair Aird, Superintendant Wells.

Special Flight 1399, 26 July 1963.
HRH The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, James Orr, Inspector Thorning, Mr Pearce.

The Log Books also include a plethora of political and military figures, but it is clear Liversidge was a favourite of The Queen Mother.

Journey's end

The final Log Book entry for Liversidge was made on 5 December 1967, with some 5316hrs 50mins of flying during his remarkable career. He was tragically killed when flying Whirlwind XR487 on 7 December. Liversidge was was en-route to Yeovil, where a meeting was to be held to discuss the VVIP Wessex, when the main rotor-shaft snapped and the helicopter crashed at Brightwalton Berks. Liversidge with Flight Lieutenant R. Fisher, and the passengers, Air Commodore J. H. L. Blount, Captain of the Queens’s Flight and Squadron Leader M. W. Hermon, the Flight’s Engineering Officer were all killed. Liversidge was only 48 years old. An inquest in January 1968 found that metal fatigue was the reason for the crash. It led to some 500 gearboxes being taken out of service for safety checks.

Sold together with a superb original archive comprising:

(i)
His full set of eight Log Books, covering his entire career, all clearly entered and in good condition overall.

(ii)
A selection of School and qualification certificates.

(iii)
Letter from the Earl Mountbatten, thanking him for his flight on 26 July 1963.

(iv)
A number of Royal Air Force certificates and booklets, including Inoculation & Vaccination, Aircrew Categorisation Card.

(v)
A poignant photograph album related to his death, including programme, photographs of the wreck, newspaper cuttings etc. all lovingly prepared by his family. Also included are mourning cards from The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, The Royal Household, besides other RAF figures.

(vi)
Silver presentation box, the lid engraved 'Presented to Flt. Lt. J. H. Liversidge A.F.C. by No. 194 Squadron R.A.F. Malaya April 1958' and a silver cigarette case, the outer engraved 'JHL'.

(vii)
Three framed photographs of the recipient on Queen's Flight duty.

(viii)
A plethora of images from his career.

(ix)
A number of official invitations, to events at Windsor Castle and Royal Ascot besides others.

(x)
A series of photograph albums, documenting his entire career, besides a scrap book with a number of cuttings.

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Estimate
£5,000 to £7,000

Starting price
£4800