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Auction: 7012 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 543

The Highly Emotive and Outstanding C.B.E., 1st ´1000 Bomber Raid´ D.F.C., Handley Page Victor Nuclear Bomber Test Pilot´s A.F.C. and Bar Group of Seven to Wellington and Halifax Pilot Group Captain C.K. ´Big Sax´ Saxelby, Royal Air Force, Late R.N.Z.A.F., Who Was a Guest of the Germans in the Infamous Stalag Luft III, Where He Played a Leading Role in the Planning and Organisation of the ´Great Escape´, Subsequently One of the Youngest Ever Officers Commanding the Legendary 617 (Dambusters) Squadron a) The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 2nd type, Military Division, Commander´s (C.B.E.) neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in Garrard, London case or issue b) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1942´ c) Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse dated ´1952´, with Second Award Bar, reverse dated ´1958´ d) 1939-1945 Star e) Air Crew Europe Star f) Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf, good very fine, medals mounted as originally worn, with the associated miniature awards and riband bars with the following related items: - Identity Disc ´36275 C. Saxleby R.A.F.´ - P.O.W. Identity Disc ´Stalag Luft 3 Nr. 378´ - Silver Cigarette box (Hallmarks for Birmingham 1950), lid engraved ´From The Officer Commanding and Officers The Empire Test Pilots´ School To Sqn. Ldr. C.K. Saxelby, D.F.C. In Appreciation of His Services on the Instructional Staff 1949-1951´ - Silver Spoon (Hallmarks for Sheffield 1912) handle engraved ´Clive Xmas 1924´; letter opener with name engraved on it; - Empire Test Pilots School 50th Anniversary limited edition plate, with certificate (No. 104 of 325), addressed to recipient with the following original documents: - R.N.Z.A.F. Pilot´s Flying Log Book (26.6.1939-8.12.1948); R.A.F. Pilot´s Flying Log Book (8.1.1948-17.7.1961) - Commission appointing C.K. Saxelby Temporary Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, dated 13.4.1940, in original postal envelope addressed to recipient - Two M.I.D. Certificates, dated 1.1.1942 and 11.6.1942 respectively, in original postal envelope addressed to recipient - Two Pencil Caricatures of recipient and Squadron Leader Bren Hooper, signed Henri Picard, dated 25.11.1942 and 3.11.1942 respectively - Three photographs, two of which are stamped ´Stalag Luft 3 gepruft´, including one of the guard of was reputedly ´blackmailed´ as recorded in The Great Escape - a large archive of photographs from various stages of his career and family life, including a number of his first crew and the Wellington Bomber, post War official R.A.F. photographs including one with H.R.H. The Princess Margaret, a 617 Squadron photograph of the entire squadron with a Lincoln Bomber, ´Goodwill Mission to the U.S.A. July 1947´ - Original Copy of The Times newspaper dated 30.3.1999, containing a half page obituary; The Empire Test Pilots´ School 25th Anniversary Brochure, in which recipient is pictured, and with other ephemera (lot) Estimate £ 9,000-11,000 C.B.E. London Gazette 1.1.1964 Group Captain Clive King Saxelby, O.B.E., D.F.C., A.F.C., Royal Air Force O.B.E. London Gazette 10.6.1961 Wing Commander Clive King Saxelby, D.F.C., A.F.C. (36275), Royal Air Force D.F.C. London Gazette 11.8.1942 Acting Squadron Leader Clive King Saxelby (36275), No. 103 Squadron. The Unusually Informative and Emotive Recommendation, dated 15.6.1942, states: ´This officer has carried out 19 sorties on this tour of which 18 have been as Captain. He had already made 29 raids on a previous tour. He has throughout shown himself to be one of the most able and reliable Captains in the Squadron . His fearlessness and determination in the face of intense "Flak" opposition and grave situations have been an inspiration to his crew. On one occasion while over Karlsruhe on the way to bomb Stuttgart, a British 4lb Incendiary fell into the engine nacelle and started a fire. With great coolness and despite intense "Flak" which his burning aircraft attracted, F/Lt. Saxelby turned off his petrol, ran the engine dry and then switched off. Although 500 miles from home and having lost considerable height, he jettisoned his bombs on a built up area and started the long journey back to base on one engine, with complete confidence, setting a magnificent example to his crew. After a quarter of an hour the fire had subsided so F/Lt. Saxelby decided to restart the engine. This was successful and though running very roughly he nursed it and brought his aircraft safely back to base where he made a good landing on one wheel, the other having been burnt. His coolness and skilful piloting under most hazardous conditions were largely responsible for the saving of his crew and aircraft. On another occasion while returning from the great raid on Cologne he was attacked by a night fighter soon after leaving the target. The second Pilot was killed immediately and the rear gunner wounded. The rear turret was shattered, the fuselage aft of the astro hatch set on fire, and the hydraulics damaged causing the undercarriage and bomb doors to fall down, in addition an oxygen tube in the 2nd Pilot´s position caught fire filling the system with choking fumes. The aircraft went out of control, and although he was unable to see and was badly choked by the fumes, F/Lt. Saxelby with great skill managed to right his badly damaged aircraft at 6,000 feet. He was again attacked at this height, so decided to take his aircraft down to ground level and at 300 feet he finally managed to shake off the enemy fighter. He gave a magnificent example of courage and determination in bringing his badly damaged aircraft back to England. He made an excellent crash landing at Honington without further injury to his crew. Under a quiet manner this Officer has a fine fighting spirit and a magnificent courage and devotion to duty which have made him a high example to the rest of his Squadron and one of its most successful Captains. I strongly recommend that he be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross which he fully merits. Remarks by Station Commander: A young Officer with a fine offensive spirit. He is now on his second operational tour and has completed a total of 48 operational sorties. By his coolness and fearlessness in action, he was won the unswerving confidence of his Crew and his personal example and leadership has had a marked influence on the Squadron. His fine record fully merits recognition and I have no hesitation in recommending this Officer for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.´ A.F.C. London Gazette 5.6.1952 Squadron Leader Clive King Saxelby, D.F.C. (36275), R.A.F. A.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 1.1.1958 Wing Commander Clive King Saxelby, D.F.C., A.F.C. (36275), Royal Air Force M.I.D. London Gazette 1.1.1942 Flying Officer C.K. Saxelby (36275) M.I.D. London Gazette 11.6.1942 Flight Lieutenant C.K. Saxelby (36275) (Acting) Group Captain Clive King Saxelby, C.B.E., D.F.C., A.F.C. (1921-1999), born Woodlands, nr. Invercargill, South Island New Zealand; joined the R.N.Z.A.F., 26.6.1939, prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and as was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School, Wigram, New Zealand, 9.9.1939; gained his "Wings", February 1940 and immediately embarked for England; commissioned Pilot Officer Royal Air Force, April 1940; after a refresher course on Hawker Hinds at R.A.F. Meir and conversion on to the Fairey Battle Bomber Saxelby was supposed to be posted to 98 Squadron in France, however this was cancelled due to events in Dunkirk (June 1940) and instead he converted onto Wellingtons at Bassingbourne before being posted to 75 (New Zealand) Squadron, Feltwell (Wellingtons), September 1940; he flew in 28 operational sorties with the squadron (aged 18, as 1st Pilot from 25.10.1940), including: Ostend; Emden; Antwerp; Le Havre; Berlin (3); Hamburg; Bremen (2); Mannheim; Duisburg; Wilhemshaven (2); Turin; Dussledorf and Hanover; after a brief period as a Flying Instructor he returned to operational flying as Flight Commander 103 Squadron, Elsham Wolds (Wellingtons), February 1942; and flew in 22 operational sorties with the squadron including: Essen, 10.4.1942 ´Intense and Accurate Flak. Holes through top of cockpit hood, Astro-dome and Bomb Aimers Window´ (Log Book refers); Stuttgart, 6.5.1942 (see D.F.C. Recommendation); and the 1st 1000 Bomber Raid on Cologne (see D.F.C. Recommendation), 30.5.1942, Ralph Barker gives a full account of the Saxelby´s ordeal in The Thousand Plan, ´First man over the target from Elsham Wolds was Clive Saxelby.......´ after bombing the target and returning for home, ´They had crossed the Dutch/German border and were approaching Eindhoven when the fighter picked them up. The first they knew of the attack was a succession of sharp cracks and a tearing, rending noise in the fuselage, followed by a strangled scream on the inter-com. The cockpit had escaped, but the middle section of the fuselage had been badly hit and was on fire. The fire quickly contaminated the oxygen system, half-suffocating the crew. Saxelby wrenched off his mask but he still couldn´t breathe. He pushed back the cabin window and put his head into the slipstream, breathing deeply, and as he did so he stared straight into the silhouette of an Me 110, slanted into a 90-degree bank turning in again towards him. ´Christ! He´s coming back in again!´ Saxelby put the nose forward and spiralled but the fighter followed him down getting in another accurate burst. The fire in the mid-section had caught hold and the fabric was peeling and burning. Half of the tailplane, too, was denuded of fabric, and the trimmers had been shot away. The hydraulics were hit and the undercarriage and bomb-doors were drooping, greatly adding to the load on the control column as the Wellington spiralled. But the worst danger was the fire. Pipkin, the navigator, was nearest to the flames. He had no gloves on, but he attacked them immediately with his bare hands. McClean, the Wireless Operator, clipped on his parachute and went forward to open the hatch under the cockpit, expecting an order to bale out. He saw Saxelby struggling with the controls. ´Are you coming, Sax?´ ´Not yet - I think I can hold it´ McClean went back to help Pipkin, and between them they extinguished the fire, ripping off the affected fabric and pushing it out through the holes. The Wellington began to look bare and skeletal amidships, but it still flew. Pipkin went forward and shouted in Saxelby´s ear. ´Everything´s fine, we´re doing well. I know exactly where we are. For God´s sake keep her flying.´ But Saxelby was finding the weight of the controls too much for him. The plane was still locked in the spiral and the ground was coming up fast. ´It´s no good - I can´t hold her.´ Pipkin disappeared, then came back with a rope which he tied round the control column. Saxelby noticed that the skin on Pipkin´s hands was shrivelled and burnt. Pipkin lashed the stick back and the Wellington levelled out.... St. Pierre, the French-Canadian in the rear turret, had been wounded in the leg. His inter-com was cut off, and he crawled forward to see what was happening. He thought he might have missed a bale-out order. Under the astro-dome, leaning against the side of the fuselage, was Roberts, the 2nd Pilot, apparently taking it easy. St. Pierre gave him a prod to attract his attention, and like the body in the cupboard Roberts slid in slow-motion to the floor. This eager young pilot who had come along for the experience had been rewarded by the experience of death.´; promoted Squadron Leader June 1940 (aged 20), and took part in the 1000 Bomber raid over Bremen, 25.6.1942; after a conversion course at No. 1652 Halifax Conversion Unit he returned to 103 Squadron as Flight Commander, July 1942; resumed operational flying 31.7.1942 and flew in a further 6 operations over heavily defended German targets until 6.9.1942, ´Operations Dusiburg. Attacked by two night fighters when approaching target. Elevators shot away-Rear Gunner killed. Aircraft stalled with lack of elevator control and went into spin. Crew and self abandoned by parachute. F/Lt. Pipkin escaped back to England. Remainder P.O.W.!´ (Log Book refers); as a result of his landing Saxelby sprained his hip muscles and was initially imprisoned in Dulag Luft, Frankfurt-on-Maine, 7.9.1942-13.9.1942 before being transferred to Stalag Luft III, Sagan 16.9.1942; two months later he was joined in the camp by Flying Officer (later Wing Commander) Ken "Shag" Rees who records in his wartime autobiography Lie in the Dark and Listen, ´By March 1943, the camp was getting hopelessly overcrowded.... by April the new North Compound had been completed.... the move gave us all the opportunity to select new room-mates.... we would be 6 to a room.... Gwyn rejoined me, together with two Squadron Leaders: Irishman Bren Hooper and New Zealander Clive Saxelby [see original caricatures, drawn whilst imprisoned in Saga]....... Clive Saxelby had come over to England and on 7.9.1942 during his 60th op, the last of his 2nd tour, he was shot down.... "I´d already received my new posting", Sax used to say, "but I reported to the 3rd Reich instead"´; in the build up to the Great Escape (25.3.1944), Saxelby played a leading role in the planning and organisational side and was automatically selected to be in the first 100 to attempt to escape. Rees makes several further mentions of Saxelby in the build up to the escape, ´Sax like us, was to travel ´hard arse´ with Joe Moul´, i.e. on foot; Rees was also allocated an automatic place further down the line, but was to act as ´dispatcher´ near the base of the escape exit shaft after no. 65 had gone. As such he was just behind Joe Moul (no. 82) and Saxelby (no. 81) who was about to climb up the tunnel exit shaft when the escape was discovered. By the time the latter occurred 76 men had already escaped, 3 ´made it home´ , 73 were captured, 50 of whom were executed on Hitler´s orders. Nos. 77 and 78 were capture between the tunnel exit and the wood, nos. 79 and 80 were hauled out of the top of the exit shaft by the German guards, who then came upon Saxelby and Moul. Rees gives further insight, ´I´d nearly got to the base of the shaft when I heard a shot..... everything stopped ..... heart in my throat, fear battling with the complete frustration, I went back.... then Joe Moul and Clive Saxelby shot past me, if this is the right word for the accelerated caterpillar movement we were stuck with.... I called to Sax, telling him to take it easy or he´d bring the damned thing [tunnel] down ...... he was over 6 feet tall, crawling with great difficulty in a kind of kangaroo hop, backside up and hitting the roof, and I thought the tunnel might collapse at any moment..... it had also occurred to me that the ferrets might go down the tunnel and shoot it up.´ After the remaining P.O.W.´s recovered from the shock of the news of the executions another escape committee was set up with Saxelby directing ´The Duty Pilot Organisation´, however a coded message was received in September 1944 to the effect that escape was no longer considered a duty. On the night of 27.1.1945, with the Russians rapidly approaching, the P.O.W.´s were ordered on a forced march across Silesia to their new camp Marlag Nord, Tarmstadt. This march was carried out under extreme conditions and fatalities to both the prisoners and the German guards occurred enroute. Arriving on 4.2.1945, the Saxelby remained imprisoned until, "about midday on Wednesday 2nd May, a small armoured car drove into camp. Out stepped a Lieutenant Radcliffe, one of ours, and the cheers went up..... we were overcome... Clive Saxelby, myself and others all danced around, crazy free men, hugging each other, tears streaming down our cheeks." Saxelby returned to England and after a period of debriefing resumed flying duties, 17.7.1945, taking a 10 day refresher course before being posted as a Flight Commander to the legendary 617 (Dambusters) Squadron, forming the "Tiger Force" sent to the Far East to continue the war against the Japanese. The War was concluded, however, before he could arrive in the Theatre of Operations. Saxleby continued as Flight Commander with the squadron at Waddington until January 1946, when he led them out to India for three months for a series of Formation Flypasts as part of the Victory Celebrations, 6.3.1946 ´a 6 a/c formation Fly Past for His Excellency the Viceroy, Viscount Wavell, Lord Mountbatten and General Auchinlek´ (Log Book refers). Saxelby returned to the U.K. to serve as Officer Commanding 617 Squadron (at only 24 years old), Binbrook (Lancasters and Lincolns), April 1946 - May 1947; a post he was to hold again from October 1947 - February 1948; he was then posted to the Empire Test Pilots´ School and spent three years conducting Test Flying there (A.F.C.); he then spent two years in the Operational Requirements Department of the Air Ministry (O.B.E); served as Squadron Commander at the A & AEE Boscomber Down for three years, where he took part in further Aircraft Test Flying, including the development work on the Handley Page Victor nuclear bomber prior to its introduction into R.A.F. operational service (A.F.C. Bar); further appointments included: posted as Group Captain Officer Commanding R.A.F. Ballkelly, Northern Ireland, August 1961-1963 (C.B.E.); appointed Director General of Operations at the newly formed Ministry of Defence - a post fairly short lived due Governmental policy at the time which involved defence cuts and the cancellation of the purchases of the Phantom and Hercules aircraft from the U.S.A., as result of this Saxelby resigned his commission in 1969; in civilian life he went on to work for Handley Page; During his flying career Saxelby amassed nearly 3,000 military flying hours on 66 different aircraft types.

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