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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 466

Three: Lieutenant R. F. Power, Royal Flying Corps, late Royal Field Artillery

1914-15 Star (2.Lieut. R. F. Power. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut R. F. Power. R.F.C.), extremely fine (3)

Richard Fitz Power was born on 9 April 1889 at Basford, Staffordshire, and his given address on his service papers was 14 Park Lane, London. Power originally enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery and first served overseas in France on 30 November 1915, serving with them for 14 months. Power then joined No. 5 Squadron Royal Flying Corps and served as an Observer on B.E.2.c aircraft and carried out a number of patrols ranging from targeting aerodromes to flying from Steenstraat - Wytschaete, and photography. He was attached to Guards Artillery Division and Artillery Observation with 4th and 20th Divisional Artillery. He flew as an Observer on 22 September 1916 with Flight Sergeant Lawford as Artillery Observation with 104th Siege Bty, the report noting:

'Unsuccessful. Battery put out "T". 2.20lb. Bombs dropped near V.2.a. from 5'000' on train proceeding Eastwards, burst to rear of train. Train thought to contain gun firing on POPERINGHE. Came lower and fired two drums of Tracers which hit engine. A.A. Active. No H.A. seen. Special report forwarded to 2nd. Wing & VIIIth. Corps.'

The following day saw him with Lieutenant Pender again on Artillery Observation 'Successful. 1 Target registered at 28. C.8.b.3.9. Trench Track Junction. 1 O.K.. Shoot by Pilot. 2.20lb. (Bombs dropped on Polygon Wood (Bombs dropped at J.10.a.3.0. & J.10.a.4.2.. Time 12.20pm. Height 5,000'.)'

Power teamed up on 26 September 1916 with Lieutenant Cochrane to Counter Anti Aircraft defences and Artillery Observation 'No A.A. Btys. located firing. Shoot by Observer. 4.M.T. on road 28. C.12.c.4.5. moving N., 2.20lb. Bombs dropped on POLYGON WOOD, bursts unobserved'.

Power returned to the U.K. and was sent to Reading on 18 March 1917 and then to Northolt on 31 March. He took certificate on a Maurice Farman Biplane on 9 April at the Military School, Ruislip and served at Hounslow with No. 19 Reserve Squadron from 23 April. Power went to Orford Ness on 5 May, returning to Hounslow on 6 July 1917 and going on then to No. 2 Training Division on 1 October. From there he appeared to briefly serve in Egypt before returning to Ternhill on 26 December 1917. From Ternhill, Power transfered to No. 17 Training Squadron at Yatesbury and from there he goes to the Artillery-Infantry co-operation School on 3 March 1918. His service papers note that he came up with 14 aeronautical inventions. He was finally transferred to the unemployed list on 25 February 1919.

Sold together with the damaged boxes of issue for the Great War medals and a quantity of research including entries from the Squadron Record Book.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£100