Lot Archive

Lot

№ 248

.

7 March 2007

Hammer Price:
£720

Pair: Acting Air Mechanic 1st Class W. J. Dingley, Royal Naval Air Service, who participated in the V.C. ballot following the Zeebrugge-Ostend raids of April 1918

British War and Victory Medals
(F. 38625 Act. A.M. 1, R.N.A.S.), good very fine (2) £300-350

William John Dingley was born in Birmingham in September 1899 and enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in September 1917. He was subsequently among those who volunteered for the Zeebrugge-Ostend operations of 22-23 April 1918, his service record stating, ‘Participated in a ballot for a V.C. granted for operations against Zeebrugge & Ostend, 22-23 April 1918 (London Gazette 23 July 1918)’. Unfortunately, however, due to the worn state of his service record, it is not possible to discern aboard which ship he was serving at that time. Dingley was demobilised in February 1919.