A rare Great War D.S.O., Waziristan 1920s O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Richey, Royal Artillery, an early aviator of 1911-vintage who was seconded to Royal Flying Corps and commanded No. 21 Squadron 1915-16

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Capt. F. W. Richey, R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Col. F. W. Richey); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (Lt. Col. F. W. Richey); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24, with M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Col. F. W. Richey, R.A.); Russia, Order of St. Anne, 3rd class breast badge, with swords, by Osipov, St. Petersburg, 35mm. by 35mm., gold and enamel, with maufacturer’s mark on reverse, partial ‘56’ gold mark on eyelet and St. Petersburg koloshnik marks for 1908-17 on sword hilts, mounted as worn, minor enamel damage, generally good very fine (8) £2500-3500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals The Property of a Gentleman.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

O.B.E. London Gazette 30 May 1924:

‘For valuable services rendered in the field in connection with military operations in Waziristan, January 1922 to April 1923.’

Russian Order of St. Anne London Gazette 15 February 1917.

Frederick William Richey was born in August 1875, the son of Sir J. B. Richey, K.C.I.E., and was educated at Harrow and the R.M.C. Woolwich. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1895, he served out in India and Burma in 22 Company, R.G.A. 1895-1901, in 3 Company, R.G.A. in Bermuda 1904-07, and again in India 1908-14, latterly as a Captain in 27 Indian Mountain Battery.

Mobilised on the outbreak of hostilities, Richey was embarked with his unit, a component of Indian Expeditionary Force “C”, for East Africa, in which theatre of war he served from October 1914 to March 1915, and gained advancement to Major (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel). Having then returned to the U.K., his pre-war flying experience - he had qualified for his aviator’s certificate (No. 142) in March 1911 - led to his secondment to the R.F.C. in June 1915, initally as an instructor at Upavon, but from early August as C.O. of No. 21 Squadron. A day or two before taking up this appointment, according to a reconnaissance report dated 1 August, he had come under fire over Peronne, so presumably he had been posted to another unit in France in the interim:

‘Major Richey and Major Smith report that while over Peronne a series of rockets were sent up apparently from four holders. The height of these rockets showed a gradual increase, possibly an attempt at ranging anti-aircraft guns on the machine, as anti-aircraft fire was fairly intense at the time. The rockets were white and ended in a white star.’

Initially based at Netheravon in Wiltshire, 21 Squadron was equipped with R.E. 7s, with which aircraft it commenced operational flying in France in January 1916, originally on reconnaissance patrols but later on bombing missions - among its Observers the Canadian Captain “Billy” Bishop of future V.C. fame. A lack of surviving squadron records, however, makes it difficult to gauge Richey’s part in such operations, although one source does credit him with training his pilots for night flying after earlier expertise gained during night Zeppelin raids in 1915. Departing 21 Squadron in June 1916, he served as O.C. Eleventh Army Wing, II Brigade (20 and 29 Squadrons) at Nieppe, in which role he was involved in the Somme offensive. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 26 April 1916, refers), and awarded the Russian Order of St. Anne.

Returning to the Gunners in January 1917, Richey commanded 72nd Army Brigade, R.F.A. from April of that year until the end of hostilities, both in France and in Italy, winning two further “mentions”, one of them for the latter theatre of war (London Gazette 30 May 1918 and 7 July 1919, refer), in addition to his D.S.O.

Post-war, he witnessed further active service in the Iraq operations, gaining advancement to Lieutenant-Colonel in May 1921, and in the Waziristan operations 1922-23, the latter resulting in his award of the O.B.E. and a “mention” from General Lord Rawlinson of Trent (London Gazette 30 April 1924 refers). Placed on the Reserve of Officers in February 1926, Richey retired to the West Country, where he resided at South Molton, Devon. He died in March 1934; sold with a full file of research.