A rare Southern Desert Iraq General Service Medal awarded to Leading Aircraftsman R. J. Burton, Royal Air Force, who was killed in an enemy air raid in November 1940

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq (355278 L.A.C. R. J. Burton, R.A.F.), in its original named card box of issue, with related forwarding envelope, the latter addressed to the Officer Commanding, R.A.F. Upavon, good very fine £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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Reginald James Burton was born in Salisbury in June 1904 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in August 1923. Advanced to Leading Aircraftsman in December 1926, he was present in the Southern Desert Iraq operations of January-June 1928, and by the time of the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939 was serving at R.A.F. Duxford. Subsequent entries on his service record reveal several appointments in Balloon Sections, the last of them being in 907 Squadron from August 1940, so, too, that he was ‘killed in an enemy air raid’ on 12 November 1940. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the memorial at Brookwood Military Cemetery; sold with copied service record.