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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 168

A Father and Daughter's Collection:

The interesting Great War campaign group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant R. C. Unmack, Royal Air Force, who went on to become the well-known headmaster of King's College, during his tenure the school was attended by the son of Haile Selassie, he was later awarded the Order of Menelik II

British War and Victory Medal (2. Lieut. R. C. Unmack. R.A.F.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Ethiopia, Empire, Order of Emperor Menelik II, bronze-gilt and enamel, in case of issue, War Medal tarnished, otherwise polished, very fine (4)

The General Service Medal awarded to Lieutenant E. W. Unmack, Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya (Lt. E. W. Unmack. Q.A.R.A.N.C.), very fine

Randall Carter Unmack was born at West Horsley, Surrey on 25 of February 1899. His father, Reverend Edward Unmack was born in Australia, moving to Britain for a theology education, and his mother Emily West was of Irish descent.

Unmack joined the Royal Flying Corps on 26 February 1918, just a month before it amalgamated with the Royal Air Force. Initially appointed Probationary Flight Officer he was commissioned Second Lieutenant on the 5 June 1918. Unmack was based mainly at R.N.A.S. Polegate, a major airship station in East Sussex. He was demobilised on the 3 February 1919 and returned to his university life at Queen's College, Oxford. Interestingly his brother, Edward West Unmack, also served in the R.A.F. late in the Great War.

Marring Anne Roberta Stuart on the 23 February 1933, the couple both moved to Taunton. Unmack was appointed the Headmaster of King's College, Taunton in April 1937. During his 28 years as Headmaster, he oversaw the expansion of the school from only 200 boys to over a thousand. He also saw the construction of new buildings, including the chapel on the site.

It was during the 1930s that the son of the Emperor of Ethiopia attended the school. The Emperor, Haile Selassie was exiled to Britain from 1936 to 1941 and visited the school his son attended in 1937. During the Second World War, Unmack received the Defence Medal. He retired as Headmaster in August 1965, after having his portrait hung in the auditorium. He moved to Torquay, where he died on the 12 April 1978.

Elisabeth West Unmack was born in Doncaster on 25 February 1934, the eldest daughter of Randall Carter Unmack. She registered as a nurse on 29 March 1957 and joined the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, being was deployed to Malya between 1957-1960.

Unmack later married David Nesbitt in the chapel at King's College, Taunton. They lived in Glastonbury, and she died on the 8 August 2014; sold with extensive copied research.

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Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240