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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 535

An Interesting Aviation C.B. Great War C.B.E., M.C. Group of Seven to ´Early Bird´ Air Commodore N.J. Gill, Royal Air Force, Late Royal Garrison Artillery, and Brigade Major, Royal Flying Corps 1915-16, Author of the Celebrated Wartime Publication ´Gill´s Flying Guide´ a) The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Companion´s (C.B.) neck Badge, 50mm, silver-gilt and enamel, with miniature width neck riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue b) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st type, Military Division, Commander´s (C.B.E.) neck Badge, 80mm including crown suspension x 63mm, silver-gilt and enamel, with neck riband, in Garrard, London, case of issue c) Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued d) 1914-15 Star (Capt. N.J. Gill R.G.A.) e) British War and Victory Medals (Major N.J. Gill. R.F.C.) f) Jubilee 1935, good very fine or better The group together with the following official documents &c.: - Commission appointing Napier John Gill as Second Lieutenant, Land Forces, dated 3.1.1911 - Commission appointing Napier John Gill as Wing Commander, Royal Air Force, dated 2.8.1919 - Bestowal Document for the Order of the Bath, C.B., dated 5.2.1936 and signed by King Edward VIII, together with original Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood Envelope - Bestowal Document for the Order of the British Empire, C.B.E., dated 1.1.1919 and signed by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) - Permission to Wear Document for Jubilee Medal 1935 - International Aviator´s Certificate (No. 174- Royal Aero Club, dated 16.1.1912) - Letter of Appointment to the Military Wing, R.F.C. Farnborough, dated August 1913 - R.F.C. Flying Certificate (No. 90- Central Flying School, Upavon, dated 15.8.1913) - Approximately 35 Family letters and correspondence from service colleagues (1924-36) - A 1916 First Impression of ´Gill´s Flying Guide´, interleaved for corrections, containing many hand written notes for the 2nd 1917 Edition - Marriage Certificate, dated 1921 (7) Estimate £ 3,400-3,800 C.B. London Gazette 1.1.1936 Air Commodore Napier John Gill, C.B.E., M.C., Royal Air Force. C.B.E. London Gazette 1.1.1919 Lieut.-Col. Napier John Gill, M.C., Royal Air Force. M.C. London Gazette 1.1.1917 Capt. Napier John Gill, R.A. and R.F.C. The Recommendation states: ´He has done exceptionally good work from April to October 1916, as a Brigade Major. His energy and great ability have been most valuable. He has previously done very good work as Wing Adjutant during the campaign.´ Air Commodore Napier John Gill, C.B., C.B.E., M.C., born 1890; educated at Rugby and the R.M.A. Woolwich; commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Artillery, December 1910. He began flying in a Deperdussin monoplane at Brooklands, quickly gained his Royal Aero Club Certificate in the same aircraft, January 1912, was seconded to the Military Wing of the R.F.C., passed the pilots course at the newly formed Central Flying School at Upavon, 15.8.1913, and reported for duty with No.5 Squadron at Farnborough a few days later. He became a Flight Commander and Captain the following year, and in August was made Wing Adjutant, R.F.C. From July 1915 Gill served on the Western Front in France and was appointed Brigade Major to Brigadier General Higgins, commanding 3rd Brigade R.F.C. (M.C.); advanced to Lieutenant Colonel; appointed Assistant Adjutant General R.F.C. and was granted a permanent commission in the newly formed Royal Air Force 1.1.1918; appointed C.B.E. the following year. Briefly commanding No.210 Squadron at Gosport in 1921; Gill was appointed to Command the experimental R.A.F. Station at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, where by 1924 he had done a great deal to establish the character and reputation of the Station; he became well known to many famous pilots and aircraft manufacturers, and is credited as putting Martlesham ´on the map´. After serving in Iraq 1925-27 he was promoted to Group Captain and became closely involved in the preparation which led to Britain´s Schneider Trophy success in 1931. After a number of senior appointments including Air Officer Commanding No. 10 Group, S.A.S.O. H.Q. Coastal Area and A.O.A., H.Q. Fighter Command, for which he was appointed C.B. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request and was made Air Commodore. After leaving the Service he joined the Boulton Paul Aircraft Company as General Manager, and prior to his early death in October 1948 was employed as General Manager of the Marine Mountings Company.

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