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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 731

Sold by Order of the Family

A Second World War C.B.E. and Interwar A.F.C. group of eight awarded to Air Vice Marshal L. M. Iles, Royal Air Force, late Royal Artillery, who was 'mentioned' twice during the Second World War

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Commander's (C.B.E.) neck Badge, 2nd Type, silver-gilt and enamel; Air Force Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. L. M. Iles R.A.F.); Territorial Force War Medal (460 A. Bmbr L. M. Iles. R.A.); Defence Medal 1939-1945; War Medal 1939-1945 with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1937, mounted incorrectly as worn, the silver medals toned, otherwise very fine (8)

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1942.

A.F.C. London Gazette 10 October 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 24 September 1941; 14 January 1944.

Leslie Millington Iles was born at Fairford, Gloucestershire on 4 October 1894. He originally enlisted into the Royal Artillery and embarked at Devonport on 18 February 1916 and arrived at Port Said, Egypt on 2 March 1916. He was admitted to Hospital on two separate occasions firstly between 15-22 July 1916 and again between 11 November - 16 December 1916. Iles was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on a Temporary Commission on 20 February 1917 and underwent flying training at the School of Military Aeronautics, Abyssinia.

He was appointed Flying Officer with the Royal Flying Corps on 31 July 1917 and to Pilot with the Aerial Gunnery School on 11 August 1917 and three days later was attached to No.21 Reserve Squadron. On 1 September 1918 he became a Flying Instructor with the Fighting School (later No.5 Fighting School) and on 13 March 1919 became a Pilot with "Y" Squadron. On 9 June 1919 Iles embarked at Suez for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and on 21 October 1919 he became the Staff/Instructor at the No.16 Training Depot Station. By 13 May 1920 he was attached to the Staff at the Headquarters of the Palestine Group and on 18 May 1920 he was appointed to a Short Service Commission with the rank of Flying Officer and shortly afterwards became attached to the Stores Depot. On 7 July 1920 Iles embarked on the SS Tambow for service with supporting "Q" Force of the British Army in the defence of Constantinople and the Dardenelles, and served as a Pilot with No.55 Squadron carrying out 'air policing' duties.

Iles attended an Instructors Course at the Central Flying School, Upavon starting on 15 March 1921 and on 16 June 1921 was appointed an Instructor with No.5 FTS. He was appointed a Permanent Commission with the rank of Flying Officer and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 1 January 1923. Iles attended an Officers Engineering Course at the Inland Area Aircraft Depot on 15 September 1924 and on 1 August 1925 was awarded the Specialist Symbol "E". The following year he attended Cambridge University for Course "A" and in June 1927 obtained a B.A. (Hons) degree and was awarded the symbol "E". He attended Course "B" at London University from 4 October 1927 and in June 1928 was awarded a Diploma from the Imperial College of Science and Technology for Advanced Study. On 9 November 1929 Iles was attached to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough for Special Duty, and this was followed on 27 November 1931 with him serving as Staff at the Aircraft Depot, Hinaidi, Iraq.

Iles returned home in 1933 and was then appointed as the Deputy O.C. of the Officers' Engineering Course at the Home Aircraft Depot, Henlow. Iles was promoted to Wing Commander on 1 January 1937 and later the same month was made Supernumerary with No.102 Squadron, on the 12 April he was made Officer Commanding.

The following year he became the Officer Commanding at the R.A.F. School of Aeronautical Engineering, Henlow. On 20 February 1940 he was Supernumerary at the Headquarters of Coastal Command and was promoted to Temporary Group Captain on 1 March 1940 and the same day he became the Senior Repair and Maintenance Officer at the Headquarters of Coastal Command. On 24 April 1940 he transferred to the Technical Branch.

Iles was promoted to Group Captain on 14 April 1942 and on 9 May 1942 he became A.O.C. of No.226 Group. He was made Temporary Air Commodore on 1 November 1942 and Acting Air Vice Marshal on 23 March 1945.

Iles retired from the Royal Air Force on 4 November 1948 and retained the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he died in Surrey on 13 December 1974.

Sold together with the following items comprising:

i)
Box for the C.B.E.

ii)
Uniform riband bar.

iii)
R.A.F. uniform wings.

iv)
Identity Tags.

v)
U.S.A.A.F. wings (2)

Please see Lot 412 for the medals awarded to his brother.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£2,500

Starting price
£1700