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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 122

The unique Romanian Croix de Virtute Militara group of three awarded to Sergeant C. H. B. Allwork, Royal Air Force

British War and Victory Medals (222516 Sgt. C. H. Allwork. R.A.F.); Romania, Kingdom, Croix de Virtute Militara, 2nd Class, mounted as worn, good very fine (3)

4 Romanian Croix de Virtue Militara were awarded during the conflict, one to the Australian Flying Corps and two more to British personnel serving in Balloon Companies. This the only award to a Squadron of the Royal Air Force.

Romanian Croix de Virtue Militara, 2nd Class, London Gazette 15 July 1919. The original recommendation states:

'No. 222516 Sergeant (Observer) Charles Henry Octavius Allwork.
The above mentioned N.C.O. has taken part in 20 successful operations with this squadron. He has destroyed one Enemy Aircraft and driven down two Enemy Aircraft. Out of Control. He has also on most occasions brought back very valuable information. Sergeant Allwork's total War Flying with this Squadron amounts to 71 hours. In addition to the above, this N.C.O. was a Gunlayer in No's 206 and 211 RN.A.S. Squadrons from January 1918 till May 1918, although no record of his service with these Squadrons is at present available.'

Later reduced to:

'For bravery and devotion to duty with which he has carried out over 20 successful bomb raids and reconnaissances. He has done his work in a most admirable and conscientious manner throughout, and has brought back valuable information. When intercepted by enemy aircraft he has shown a fine spirit of determination, having personally accounted for three enemy aeroplanes.'

Charles Henry Octavius Allwork was born at Leatherhead, Surrey on 16 September 1898, the son of Charles and Amelia Allwork of 1 Newdigate Cottage, Church Lane, Send, Surrey. He enlisted with the Royal Naval Air Service on 24 October 1916 and was taken onto the books of President II. Training at Crystal Palace and Lowestoft he was posted to Eastchurch on 5 November 1917 he was to serve with the R.N.A.S. until they were amalgamated into the newly formed Royal Air Force in April 1918.

Posted to the British Expeditionary Force in France in August 1918, joining No. 98 Squadron he flew his first mission on 26 August as an observer, dropping bombs on an airfield. His targets during this time were largely airbases or Railway Junctions, Allwork saw his first aerial combat on 16 September when his squadron, flying D.H.9s clashed with a fighter squadron over their target. This combat saw two German aircraft destroyed and four forced down, Allwork's D.H.9 was seriously hit, the combat report takes up the story stating:

'Both left hand planes shot through, tail plane, R.A.F. Wire and tie rod shot through, right hand elevator and propeller shot through bottom left hand longeron shattered, fuselage strained.'

During the same action he and his pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Thomas claimed one Phalz Scout forced down. Both pilot and observer were lucky to find themselves unhurt given the damage to their aircraft.

Allwork was back in action on 26 September with 2nd Lieutenant Bush as his Pilot, bombing the Busigny Railway Junction before launching a raid on Betry Aerodrome the next day. They came under close attack again and Allwork was forced to defend their bomber:

'When returning from Bomb Raid on Bertry Aerodrome, 6 Phalz Scouts attacked the formation from the rear. The formation closed up tightly- our machine was flying left rear and was attacked by 3 E.A.. Two were driven of by the Lewis and the third attacked closely under the tail. Sergt, Allwork fired about 1 magazine at it and it turned turtle, and dropped right through the clouds vertically, where it was lost to view.'

Over the next month he undertook another 8 missions, largely over railway stations with one particularly effective raid on 3 October starting fires on German ammunition trains which detonated and set fire to the rolling stock. His final mission in October was a reconnaissance flight which took 144 photographs.

Taking to the air again over Thulin on 1 November they targeted the Mons railhead, the combat report again takes up the story stating:

'Whilst returning from Bomb Raid on Mons Railhead about 20 E.A. attacked the formation from the rear. One Pfalz Scout dived on our tail and Sergt. Allwork fired 80 rounds at it from his Lewis gun. The E.A. went down in a vertical dive, with clouds of smoke coming from the machine and was seen to crash'

He flew two more reconnaissance missions and was even in the air on 11 November for a test flight. Allwork's pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Bush was recommended for the D.F.C. although this was not awarded, he was discharged on 24 June 1919. Marrying at Guildford in 1927 Allwork found work running a cafe, he appeared upon the 1939 census living at the Rio Café, Ripley, Surrey. He died on 12 September 1959 at Surrey; sold together with a file of copied research including census data, service papers, combat reports, and award recommendations.

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Estimate
£1,600 to £2,000

Starting price
£1600