Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare ‘Kurdistan 1924’ R.A.F. Armoured Car’s M.C. group of ten awarded to Flying Officer G. A. ‘Baldy’ Elliot, No. 6 Armoured Car Company, Royal Air Force, later Captain, South African Air Force, who distinguished himself by commanding two Lancia armoured cars against a Kurdish ambush at Qara Anjir on the Kirkuk - Chemchemal Road in May 1924

Military Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. A. Elliott. R.A.F.) BWM renamed; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (F/O. G. A. Elliot. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, these last five officially impressed ‘102973 G. A. Elliot’; Iraq, Kingdom, Active Service Medal, no clasp, mounted as originally worn, but lacking reverse pin, generally nearly very fine or better (10) £1,800-£2,200

M.C. London Gazette 20 October 1925:

‘In recognition of valuable and distinguished service rendered in connection with operations in Kurdistan, in May 1924.’

The London Gazette gives no detail of Elliot’s heroism, but the reports and memoranda submitted at the time, which went to forming the original recommendation, are published in Squadron Leader N. Tucker’s book In Adversity - Exploits of Gallantry and Awards to the RAF Regiment and its Associated Forces 1921-1995:

‘In May, 1924, the 2nd (Assyrian) Battalion, Iraq Levies was in Kirkuk, together with their families. The Battalion was in the process of forming a camp at Chemchemal for operations in the Sulaimaniyah area, and on 4 May only two companies and the Assyrian families remained in Kirkuk. Already there had been a certain amount of back-chat between the townspeople and the Assyrians, in which the former, seeing the greater part of the Battalion moving out, threatened to deal with the Assyrian women when the men had gone. Matters were very tense, with many townspeople in sympathy with Sheikh Mahmud. At 0930 hours there was a disturbance in the bazaar, between men of the Assyrian Battalion and a Muslim shopkeeper over prices, in which one Assyrian was shot. The soldiers returned to their barracks, collected their rifles and ran amok in the town. Some occupied sites dominating the Police Serai and the bazaar, from which they shot down terrified inhabitants. About 30 Muslims were killed and 60 wounded. Kurdish cavalry was confined to its barracks for fear of fighting between the Levy units. British troops were hurriedly airlifted from Baghdad to police the disorder, and the Assyrian infantry was disarmed and marched out of the town at sunset under escort by the Armoured Cars.

The War Diary of the Armoured Car Wing in Iraq, for May 1924, provides the following account of No. 6 Armoured Car Company’s activities, the Company tasked with responding to the Kirkuk disturbance:

‘During the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th May, armoured patrols were maintained in Kirkuk Town, and an escort was provided to the Syrian Levies and their families en route for a selected camping site at Chemchemal. During the latter occasion the cars were subject to sporadic sniping from the hills in the vicinity of Kirkuk and later, some ten miles west of Chemchemal, to an organised attack by the followers of Saiyid Muhammad Jabbari. Dismounted action was taken by the cars, the attacks being easily repulsed and a certain number of casualties inflicted.....’

As a result of these operations Flying Officer G. A. Elliot and Observer Officer L. T. Kerry were awarded the Military Cross, Corporal T. Ashcroft and Corporal G. H. Lewis both won the Military Medal. All were members of No. 6 Armoured Car Company. There is no evidence of any surviving citations, but the following memorandum and report were submitted in support of their actions:

Lieutenant Colonel G. C. M. S. Cameron, Commanding 2nd Battalion, Iraq Levies - ‘I beg to forward herewith copy of a report by Captain Fry, 2nd Battalion, Iraq Levies on the action of two Armoured Cars commanded by Flying Officer Elliot, R.A.F. on the evening of the 7th May at Qara Anjir. At 1800 hours on that day I ordered Captain Fry to visit the picquets on the northern side of the road while I did those on the south. It was during his inspection that the Kurds attempted to attack one of the picquets. I should also like to mention the good work done by the two Armoured Cars under Observing Officer Kerry R.A.F. on the 8th May. It was owing in a great measure to the action of these two cars, one of which worked with the Advanced Guard and the other with the Rear Guard that the enemy was prevented from bringing fire to bear on the long column of women and children.”

Captain O. M. Fry - ‘At about 18.30 hours on 7.5.24 two Companies of the 2nd Battalion, Iraq Levies were camped at Qara Anjir on the Kirkuk-Chemchemal Road. I was ordered by Colonel Sorel Cameron to inspect picquets on the northern side of the road. A party of Kurds began to advance in a threatening attitude on one of the picquets. Flying Officer Elliot in charge of H.M.A. Cars Explorer and Avenger immediately ordered his cars out and passing through the picquet line, succeeded in bringing them behind the Kurds without their knowledge. On advancing further one of the cars became badly ditched and at the same time the Kurds opened a brisk fire on the cars. F/O Elliot and Cpl. Ashcroft leaving their cars adjusted the tow ropes and after a few minutes succeeded in pulling the ditched car back on the road, and safely rejoined their cars although they were fired on at less than fifty yards distance. Advancing a little further the road became too steep and F/O Elliot gave the order for a dismounted action. Covered by the fire of only one rifle Cpl. Lewis carried his Vickers gun to a position some twenty feet above the road and quickly getting into action drove the Kurds off leaving one of them killed within twenty feet of the gun. Sniping continued for some time until silenced by Cpl. Lewis. Owing to the initiative of the Armoured Car Commander and the conduct of his crew the Kurds never again approached within firing distances of the camp and sniping was effectively arrested.’

Gerald Augustus Elliot was born in Sandys, Bermuda in June 1900. He was educated in Australia and at Denstone College, Staffordshire, before entering the Naval College at Greenwich as a Probationary Flight Officer in the Royal Naval Air Service on 24 March 1918. After qualifying as a pilot, Elliot transferred to the Royal Air Force in September 1918 and served in France from the following month.

Elliot transferred to the Unemployed List after the war, but was granted a Short Service Commission in July 1920, and was promoted to Flying Officer. He was posted for flying duties to 24 Squadron at Kenley in October of the same year, and embarked for India in March 1921. Elliot served with 20 Squadron at Parachinar and Ambala until he was transferred to HQ Iraq for duties with the Armoured Car Companies in July 1922.

Elliot spent the first two months in the Stores Depot, Iraq before joining No. 6 Armoured Car Company on 3 November 1922. He served with this Company for the next four years, seeing service throughout Northern Iraq and being awarded the M.C. for his gallantry during the Kirkuk operations (see above). Elliot was posted to 208 Squadron in Ismalia in January 1927, and transferred to the Reserves in August of the same year. He subsequently moved to South Africa where he was employed in Mining, and his wife being employed by the Pretoria Girls School. Elliot joined the South African Air Force in April 1940. He transferred to the South African Tank Corps in August of the same year, only to return to the S.A.A.F. in April 1942. Elliot advanced to Captain and was discharged in February 1946.

Sold with copied research, and photographic image of recipient in uniform.