Eight: Flying Officer J. Richmond, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

1914-15 Star (4240 2 A.M. I. Richmond, R.F.C.), note initial; British War and Victory Medals (4240 F. Sgt. J. Richmond, R.F.C.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; France, Medaille Militaire, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, enamel work crudely repaired on the last, otherwise very fine and better (8)
£250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force.

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Joseph Richmond enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class (Rigger) in March 1915 and joined No. 3 Squadron out to France in the following month. And he remained similarly employed on ground duties until being appointed a Probationary Observer in the rank of Corporal in January 1917, by which time No. 3 was operating in Moranes out of Lavieville. Richmond is believed to have served as an Observer until March 1918, a period encompassing the delivery of Bristol Fighters and the advent of No. 3’s success as a fighter unit, and was advanced to Flight Sergeant and awarded the French Medaille Militaire (London Gazette 14 July 1917 refers). Latterly a Chief Mechanic in the newly established Royal Air Force in April 1918, he was recalled in the 1939-45 War, when he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F.V.R. in July 1942 and advanced to Flying Officer in the following year; sold with the recipient’s original Medaille Militaire award document and photocopied entries from his Flying Log Books which are held at The National Archives, Kew.