A Great War D.F.C. group of ten awarded Awarded to Air Commodore A. R. Churchman, C.B., D.F.C., Royal Air Force, late Royal North Devon Hussars and R.N.A.S., who received one of the very first awards of the newly instituted D.F.C. for his gallant and valuable work in directing artillery fire on enemy positions

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., the reverse arms inscribed ‘Allan Robert Churchman Capt. R.A.F. Awarded June 11th 1918. Presented July 24th 1919 by H.M. King George V’; 1914-15 Star (F.2916. A. R. Churchman, A.M. 1, R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. R.Churchman. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953, mounted as worn, nearly very fine or better (10) £1800-2200

D.F.C. London Gazette 2 July 1918, one of the first 31 D.F.Cs. awarded; citation London Gazette 3 August 1918:

‘Lt. (temp. Capt.) Allan Robert Churchman.

Within the past month this officer has been successful in rendering very valuable services in directing our artillery fire on enemy positions.
Owing to his skill and judgement on many occasions concentration of our fire was brought on enemy batteries with such precision that great damage was effected.’

Sold with a copy of the original recommendation, dated 5 June 1918, for the Immediate award of the Military Cross to ‘Captain A. R. Churchman, Royal North Devon Hussars, att. Royal Air Force No. 10 Sqdn’, which lists in detail his services on seven occasions in the period 26 May to 2 June 1918.

Allan Robert Churchman was born 2 January 1896, and educated at Froebel and Latymer. He enlisted into the Royal Naval Air Service in 1914, was commissioned into the Royal North Devon Hussars in 1916, and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1917, accepting a permanent commission in the Royal Air Force 1919; Squadron Leader 1931; Wing Commander 1937; Group Captain 1940; Air Commodore 1942; Qualified Flying Instructor 1919; Commanded No. 16 Squadron 1931; 4No. 45 Squadron 1935; No. 50 (Army Co-op) Wing 1940; S.A.S.O. Air Headquarters Bengal 1942-43, and Ceylon 1943-44; A.O.C. R.A.F. Northern Ireland 1944; retired from R.A.F. 1946; President S.S.A.F.A. County of Cornwall; D.L. Belfast 1955. He was awarded the C.B. (Civil) in 1959 for services as Chairman, Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Association, Belfast. Air Commodore Churchman died on 13 January 1970.