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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 116

(x) A superb group of five awarded to Flying Officer M. G. Mc. L. Cahill-Byrne, Royal Air Force, late Middlesex Regiment

1914-15 Star (Capt. M. G. M. Cahill-Byrne Midd'x R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. M. G. M. Cahill-Byrne. R.A.F.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (F/O. M. G. Mc. L. Cahill-Byrne. R.A.F.); Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, bronze issue, an unnamed example, very fine or better (5)

Italy, Al Valore Militare London Gazette 8 February 1919.

Martin Gregory McLeary Cahill-Byrne was baptised in Meerut, India in April 1893 and served in the Egyptian theatre of war with the Middlesex Regiment from June 1915. He transferred to the Royal Air Force seeing service in North Russia, good detail is given in An Air Fighter's Scrap-book by Ira Jones, which states:

'The mess is a wooden building and everyone is very matey. There are a few fellows here whom I know: Van der Byl, a South African, who was one of my many instructors; Epstein, another South African, who was with me at Hursley Park and the editor of our magazine - a fine pilot, too; Cahill-Byrne, an observer; Rose an American, who used to be in "Mary" Coningham's squadron, and who is a keen poker player. This place is the base-camp for the three fronts - Dvina, Pinega, and Onega. The important front is the Dvina, and our aerodrome is at Bereznik, about 140 miles from here. This is where Beery, Guy, D'Arcy, and I are aiming for. Beery is going to ask Grey if we can keep together. The adjutant, an Australian and ex-R.N.A.S. guy, is a nasty piece of work. "He's no flies, either!" There is a most picturesque church near by, also a large wireless station. in contrast is the small aerodrome. it's about half the size of Clairmarais North, and I've got to land a D.H.9A. on it. Not so funny! I've never flown a D.H.9A. in my life and the fellows who have tell me that they float and run like hell. Oh! mother, what shall I do?

August 24. Micky Byrne returned from Pinega where he left Humphries. It appears that on the day they got lost they drifted to the east until they struck the source of the Pinega River, which river they followed, just reaching the landing-ground as the petrol gave out after four hours fifty minutes flying. No news of the others.'

Cahill Byrne was thence to see service in Somaliland in 1920 with 'Z' Flight. This contingent was commanded by Group Captain R. Gordon and consisted of 36 officers and 189 other ranks, of which 4 officers and 25 other ranks formed the Medical Section.

The following statement was issued by the Air Ministry:

'The Air Force unit which has assisted to break the Mullah's power in Somaliland amounted to 22 officers and 159 other ranks under the command of Group Captain R. Gordon. D.S.C.; these numbers included a considerable medical staff equipped with a very complete hospital outfit. The aeroplanes with which the unit operated were 12 De Havilland 9's with B.H.P. engines. one of these aeroplanes was fitted up as an aerial ambulance to take a stretcher case with attendant.'

Sanction was obtained for aerial operations on October 8, 1919, and by the middle of November all personnel and stores were en route to Egypt, which was the assembly station for the unit. The War Office assisted by permitting a flight of personnel to be withdrawn from Egypt for the operations and the Admiralty rendered important aid in ordering H.M.S. Ark Royal to embark the whole unit with its stores at Alexandria and take them direct to Berbera; the shipping difficulty was thus overcome. Previous to the arrival of the main body of the expedition advanced parties had been sent to Somaliland to complete administrative details, such as rations, evacuation of casualties, etc., and to prepare aerodromes and advanced landing grounds for the purposes of the operations. Berbera was made the base, Eil Dor Elan the main advanced aerodrome, with subsidiary landing grounds at Los Khorai and Eil Dab. On December 31 H.M.S. Ark Royal, with the main body of the expedition, arrived at Berbera and the erection of aeroplanes was at once pressed on in order that the Mullah should not get warning of the impending attack. By the 20th all was ready to bomb the Mullah, whose headquarters were reported at Medishi, 200 miles east of Berbera. It had been agreed between the Colonial Office and the Air Ministry that the first part of the operation should be a purely aerial attack. Should this be successful in breaking up the Dervish, the local military forces would attempt to round up the enemy, capture his stock and destroy his forts. Everything went according to plan: on the 21st the Mullah's headquarters at Medishi and the fort at Jidali were located and bombed, and machines descended to low heights and inflicted heavy casualties on the fleeing Dervishes and their stock.

The attack was repeated on the 22nd and 23rd. On the latter date the Dervishes were caught concentrated preparatory to moving off and heavy losses were inflicted and great panic created. By January 24 the Dervish force was scattered among the hills and targets for aerial bombardment were hard to find, independent aerial operations therefore ceased, and the R.A.F. prepared to cooperate with the local military forces.

On the 28th those troops took Jidali, when it was ascertained that the Mullah himself narrowly escaped being killed in our first bombardment; his uncle being killed at his side and the Mullah's clothes singed. It was also reported that the Mullah with most of the Dervish leaders had broken south on this date. On the morning of 31 January, the Air Force located the Mullah's party east of Eil Apweina and heavily attacked it, dispersing the Dervishes in great alarm. From this date aerial operations took a normal course, and the Air Force was chiefly employed in reconnaissance, propaganda dropping and in message carrying, which ensured good cooperation between the main bodies of troops. These were spread widely over the Protectorate in the attempt to catch the Mullah, who was apparently making for Tale. This latter place was located, photographed, and bombed on 1 February. A few days later it was ascertained that the Mullah had taken refuge in one of the forts of Tale; this position was captured on 11 February, but the Mullah with 70 horsemen escaped in the direction of Italian territory.

With the aid of the Air Force operations concluded in the space of three weeks; in this time the Mullah had been reduced from a power in the land with many armed and aggressive followers rich in stock to a fugitive accompanied by a faithful few. The problem which has exercised the minds of the Protectorate Government for 17 years and caused an expenditure of millions of money, has, it is hoped, been dealt with at a minimum of cost, and with practically no casualties. The general plan of the air campaign was prepared under the directions of the Chief of the Air Staff.

Cahill-Byrne appeared on the 1939 census living at Near Cantley, Norfolk and listed as retired but part of the Royal Air Force Reserve. He died at Newcastle in December 1950.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£3,000

Starting price
£800