A Small Collection of Medals with the scarce Southern Desert, Iraq clasp

Five: Flight Sergeant H. T. Courtney, Royal Air Force, a recipient of the scarce clasp for Southern Desert, Iraq

General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Southern Desert, Iraq, Palestine, second clasp loose on riband (348564. L.A.C. H. T. Courtney. R.A.F.); Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (348564. F/Sgt. H. T. Courtnev [sic]. R.A.F.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine and the clasp combination on the GSM rare (5) £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals with the scarce Southern Desert, Iraq clasp.

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Herbert Thomas Courtney was born in Wandsworth on 3 November 1982, and enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 21 July 1921. Following training at R.A.F. Cranwell, he posted to No. 3 Armoured Car Company, Iraq in 1922, and subsequently served with No. 2 Armoured Car Company from 13 May 1926 to 1 October 1928, seeing active service in the Southern Desert, Iraq operations of January to June 1928. Following a posting to Home Establishment, he was sent back out to the Middle East, and served with both No. 1 and No. 2. Armoured Car Companies, thus qualifying for the Palestine bar.

Advanced Flight Sergeant on 1 May 1937, Courtney served during the Second World War with various Armoured Car Companies, as well as Balloon Command and interestingly with 38 Squadron in the Mediterranean, from where he was detached to the Balkan Air Force during November 1944 (hence qualifying for the Italy Star). The Balkan Air Force operated mainly over Yugoslavia, supporting the Partisans against Germany, as well as occasionally supporting the Greek and Albanian resistance movements. He was discharged on 5 August 1945.