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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 676

A rare Great War East Africa operations D.S.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant T. R. Johnston, Royal Air Force, late Royal Naval Air Service, who was decorated for his services in H.M.S. Manica, the Navy’s first kite balloon ship

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J. 5523 T. R. Johnston, P.O., R.N.A.S., E. Africa, Mar.-June 1917); British War and Victory Medals (313789 Sgt. T. R. Johnston, R.A.F.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (313789 Sgt. T. R. Johnston, R.A.F.), minor official correction to surname on last, very fine and better (4)

Approximately 10 D.S.M.’s awarded for East Africa during the Great War.

D.S.M. London Gazette 22 February 1918.

Thomas Robertson Johnston was born in Glasgow in August 1893 and was a plumber by trade when he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in September 1909. Having then attained the rank of Able Seaman, he was re-mustered as an Air Mechanic 1st Class in the Royal Naval Air Service on the books of Pembroke III in the summer of 1914 and thence, from April 1915, on the books of President II.

In February 1916, he joined H.M.S. Laconia on the East Africa Station, followed by an appointment in the Royal Navy’s first kite balloon ship, Manica, from June 1916 until April 1917, in which period he was advanced to Petty Officer Mechanic - here, then, the probable period of operations for which he was awarded his D.S.M. - namely kite balloon operations in East Africa, his service record also being endorsed for land services in the period 1916-18, although from April 1917 on the books of H.M.S. Hyacinth at Zanzibar.

Manica was a kite balloon ship specially refitted for seaplane operations. The Squadron left England early in February 1916 complete with four Short Sunbeam Seaplanes and four Voisins. It was engaged in bombing and reconnaissance during the offensive against Tanga in April, with two seaplanes on board H.M.S. Laconia. The following month another seaplane was put on board the Manica. A good number of bombing and other missions during the Squadron’s operations over the coast of Zanzibar during 1916 and 1917. This included an important role in the capture of Bagamoyo when her seaplanes dropped incendiary bombs from 2000 feet. Operations were carried out principally by the aid of a photographic map which had been prepared by Major Maclean and his observer, Lieutenant Fitzherbert, from the Manica:

‘Maclean and Fitzherbert flew a reconnaissance over Sadani on the 26th where they came under machine gun fire and retaliated with bombs. Maclean took up W.O. Lacey as observer next day for a flight over Sadani which was bombed. Maclean and Fitzherbert were airborne again on the 28th spotting the fall of shot from the monitor Mersey, firing on a target at Sadani. The same aircrew flew a reconnaissance over Bagamoyo on 29 July, where incendiary and HE bombs were dropped.'

Transferred to the strength of the newly established Royal Air Force in April 1918, Johnston went out to France that summer and remained actively employed until the end of hostilities. Having then served on the strength of No. 48 Squadron during the Third Afghan War (Medal & clasp), he was transferred to the Reserve in August 1923; sold with copied research.

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Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£1200