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Auction: 6007 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 383

A Scarce and Interesting East Africa Italian Campaign D.F.M. Group of Five to Wellesley Observer Sergeant later Squadron Leader J.F.S. Lawley, No.47 Squadron, for Operational Missions over Eritrea and Abyssinia 1940 Distinguished Flying Medal G.VI.R., 1st ´Ind: Imp:´ type (564281 Sgt. J.F.S. Lawley R.A.F.), suspension loose; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals, very fine or better, with R.A.F.R.O. Identity card, dated 16.9.1952; several photographs of the recipient and original "Gooly chit" with crest of Emperor Salassie as carried by R.A.F. Personnel into operations in that theatre and other ephemera including Christmas Cards from Air Vice Marshal G.R. "Digger" Magill C.B., C.B.E., D.F.C. (5) Estimate £ 2,000-2,400 D.F.M. London Gazette 7.3.1941 564281 Sergeant Joseph Frank Stevenson Lawley No. 47 Squadron. The Recommendation states ´This airman has participated in over 20 operational missions over Eritrea and Abyssinia as Air Observer. He has always displayed the finest qualities of courage and endurance and has successfully navigated the formations over long distances in mountainous country. His aptitude for finding new targets despite unreliable maps and adverse weather has been most marked. On one occasion as Air Observer in the leader´s aircraft, he navigated a flight of 11 bombers to the heavily defended town of Danglia in Northern Abyssinia. He has played an important part in the successes obtained by his squadron.´ Squadron Leader Joseph Frank Stevenson Lawley, D.F.M., born 5.9.1913; joined as Boy Apprentice Royal Air Force 14.1.1930; Pilot Officer 14.4.1941; flew with 47 Squadron, Erkowit, Sudan (Vickers Wellesleys), 1940; Observer in "Digger" Magill´s crew (then Commanding Offcer, 47 Squadron), and was present with him in an attack against Massawa, 8.7.1940, and a joint raid with five Wellesleys of 14 Squadron against Massawa, 12.7.1940; was also present at Gedaref airfield, when eight Italian aircraft in a surprise attack reduced the parked Wellesleys to burning wrecks, 16.10.1940, ´At that stage you ask about the Italians. Very briefly, we didn´t think all that much of the bulk of those who attacked us, not that they were not dangerous enough to us. But many of them tended to engage at relatively long range with apparent reluctance to close too much against out return fire, such as it was. But, to our considerable discomfort there were notable exceptions who pressed home their attacks with the determination we would expect of our own chaps. The Gedaref incident is well recorded. Due undoubtedly to good intelligence our secret (!) deployment to Gedaref became immediately known to the opposition. A well executed attack by C.R. 42´s, led by SM 79, wrote off all our aircraft on the ground. Ignominiously, we had to return to Khartoum by train to get together more aircraft!!´ (Correspondence from "Digger" Magill refers). Flying Officer 14.4.1942; Flight Lieutenant 14.4.1943; Acting Squadron Leader 30.8.1944; discharged 21.11.1945; Flight Lieutenant R.A.F.R.O., 2.9.1948.

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