A scarce and well-documented Great War R.N.A.S. Observer’s 1917 D.S.C. and 1918 Second Award Bar group of eight awarded to Wing Commander C. Chapman, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, for his skill and gallantry in flying photographic reconnaissance missions behind enemy lines, combined with spotting for Monitors and Naval Siege Guns on successful shoots over the Belgian coast. Based at Dunkirk and operating in Sopwiths with 2 Squadron, Chapman was regularly subjected to frostbite as well as hostile fire from anti-aircraft and enemy aircraft during his isolated missions. He was awarded the Bar to his D.S.C. for flying lead spotter for the bombardment of Ostend, 21 March 1918.

After the war Chapman retrained as a Pilot and saw service in Bristol F.2b’s with 6 Squadron in Iraq, and with 14 Squadron in Palestine. He served as Deputy Chief Royal Air Force Advisor to the Chief Press Censor during the Second World War.

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R. (hallmarks for London 1917), with Second Award Bar, reverse of cross additionally engraved ‘Lieut. C. Chapman. R.N.A.S. Dec. 12th 1917’; British War Medal 1914-20 (Capt. C. Chapman. R.A.F.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Cyril Chapman); Victory Medal 1914-19 (Capt. C. Chapman. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Iraq, Active Service Medal, no clasp, Second War medals loose as issued, remainder mounted as worn, light contact marks overall, nearly very fine or better (8) £4,000-£5,000

D.S.C. London Gazette 19 December 1917:
‘In recognition of the great gallantry and skill displayed by him on the 18th October 1917, when he carried out a photographic reconnaissance in spite of adverse conditions and intense cold, as a result of which he was severely frostbitten. He has repeatedly carried out valuable photographic reconnaissance at long distances behind the enemy lines under very heavy and extremely accurate anti-aircraft fire and despite the tactics of enemy aircraft.’

The recommendation states: ‘With reference to the attached report of operations by No. 2, Squadron, I beg to call your attention to the performance of Observer Lieutenant C. Chapman, who in spite adverse conditions and intense cold, as a result of which he was severely frostbitten, carried out the duties allocated to him.
For a period of 8 months he has repeatedly carried out valuable photographic reconnaissance at long distances behind the enemy lines under very heavy and extremely accurate anti-aircraft fire and despite the tactics of enemy aircraft.
He has also carried out successful spotting with the Monitors and Naval Siege Guns.
In connection with the work carried out by this Squadron it is desired to emphasise the fact that the nervous strain of proceeding such long distances over the lines unaccompanied or accompanied by only one machine is very great. So much so that pilots and observers unable to stand the strain in the past have asked to transfer to other 2 or 4 seater squadrons.
This Officer is strongly recommended for a D.S.C. or other decoration.’

D.S.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 26 April 1918:
‘In recognition of his services on the 21st March 1918 when he carried out successful spotting for the bombardment of Ostend. On other occasions he has carried out valuable reconnaissance for the Fleet.’

Cyril Chapman was born in October 1893, and was a native of Little Wakering, Essex. Prior to the Great War he served as a Private with the 10th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Chapman was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant, for Observer’s duties, in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 30 June 1916. He carried out initial training at Crystal Palace, Signal School Portsmouth and at Eastchurch before being posted to R.N.A.S. Dover at the start of 1917. He flew operationally with 2 Squadron (Sopwiths), R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk from February 1917. The Squadron were primarily engaged on Spotting and photo reconnaissance of Nieuport, Zeebrugge and Ostend. Chapman was appointed Observer Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service, 1 April 1917. Four days later his Log book gives, ‘Photo to Zeebrugge shelled by mole. Companion Mach. hit.’

Chapman continued to fly a large number of such sorties throughout the remainder of 1917, culminating in the award of the D.S.C. Despite being a victim of frostbite, and regularly coming under fire from both hostile aircraft as well as anti-aircraft fire, Chapman continued with his isolated work into 1918. Described as a ‘plucky and determined Observer’, and having advanced to Observer Lieutenant, Chapman often flew as 1st Wireless Transmitter on successful shoots over the Belgian coast. One such occasion was 21 March 1918, when he carried out successful spotting for the bombardment of Ostend and ultimately was awarded a Bar to his D.S.C. The circumstances surrounding the operations on that date are described in Big Gun Monitors by I. Buxton:

‘The big German land offensive started on 21 March 1918. That night a minor diversion was made by three groups of German destroyers bombarding the railway between Dunkirk and Nieuport. As usual, a force of monitors and destroyers was anchored offshore to frustrate such operations, the enemy vessels being spotted in the early hours of the 21st. As the latter opened fire from seaward Terror fired star shell and followed up with her 6in. British and French destroyers from Dunkirk had slipped and were approaching fast, so the German forces retired to Ostende, hotly pursued. Terror and her patrol consort, M.25, were of course too slow for such an engagement, but when Keyes heard of the action he ordered Terror to bombard the enemy ships, now holed up in Ostende. In the afternoon she anchored offshore and from 26,500 yds put thirty-nine rounds into the dockyard before enemy return fire and smokescreens prevented further bombardment. Considerable damage was done in the Gare Maritime area, although none of the destroyers was hit. Inevitably there was also casualties to Belgian civilians and houses.’ (Big Gun Monitors by I. Buxton refers)

Chapman flew with Flight Commander Bayley as his pilot for the operation. During the latter they flew as 1st W/T, and the Squadron Record Book gives the following detail:

‘W/T machine arrived in position at 1458 and sent by W/T code to Monitor “Ready to Observe”. No answer was received so continued to send C.B. at intervals until 1508. The long buzz was then received and after usual time of flight of shell, observed burst about 900 yards West of Piers just on the edge of water. Another shot followed and fell about 100 yards east of the first. These shots were spotted and corrections given as “Under 1500 yards and starboard 800”. Following shots probably fell in the town roundabout the railway station, as bursts were observed in the vicinity of the station, which owing to the thick smoke screens, were exceedingly difficult to judge between bursts of shell and bursts of smoke screen. Later, two shots were observed to fall on the Ateleries de la Marine and a further two or three just alongside in the water slightly to starboard of target. Observer noted that after about half an hour, it appeared a difficult matter for the enemy to keep their smoke screen going as it became very thin and spotting could have been continued without any great difficulty. After the long buzz was received recording the firing of the first shot by the Monitor, a defect developed in the Wireless Receiving Instrument of the 1st W/T machine, but all messages were received by the second W/T machine.

The first machine told the Monitor of the defect and carried on spotting, sending down all signals until the Monitor stopped firing and was under way for Dunkirk. The smoke screens were started directly after fall of first shot, but the enemy had undoubtedly received the first C.B. about ten minutes before - preparing him for possible bombardment. On a Reconnaissance earlier in the day, Spotter noted a large number of trains in Town Station. These were reported in usual way. Observer Spotter believes that considerable damage may have been done to the Station, but could not definitely state owing to its being at the time screened by smoke.’

In April 1918, Chapman was posted to the Armament Experimental Establishment on the Isle of Grain. He retrained as a pilot and gained his ‘Wings’ in 1921. Chapman was posted as a pilot to 6 Squadron (Bristol F.2b’s), Hinaidi, Iraq, December 1923. The Squadron was largely engaged with patrol duties, and Chapman records a number of flights ferrying political officers, the High Commissioner and the Iraq Minister for War. Having advanced to Flight Lieutenant, he also carried out bombing operations throughout May 1925. Chapman was posted to 14 Squadron (Bristol F.2b’s), Ramleh, Palestine, December 1925. The Squadron were engaged in flying patrols between Palestine and the Transjordan.

Chapman subsequently served at the R.A.F. Depot, Aboukir, Egypt, March 1927 - December 1928. He returned to the UK, and served at R.A.F. Upavon, 1929-1931, and as a Flight Commander with 54 Squadron, Hornchurch, 1931-1933. Chapman was promoted Squadron Leader and appointed to the command of 29 Squadron (Bulldogs and Demons), North Weald, August 1934. He took the Squadron to Egypt in October 1935, returning to the UK in January of the following year.

After a period of employment at the Electrical & Wireless School, R.A.F. Cranwell, Chapman advanced to Wing Commander and served on the staff of Rear Admiral G. P. Thomson, Chief Press Censor:
‘Wing Commander Cyril Chapman, D.S.C., R.A.F. served throughout the [Second World] war as my Deputy-Chief Royal Air Force Adviser. In the many important and often complicated air questions with which, as Chief Press Censor, I had to deal, I received every possible assistance from Wing Commander Chapman. He had complete understanding of the need for giving the public the fullest information consistent with the requirements of security - an understanding which required initiative, tact and the courage of his convictions.’ (copy of letter Rear Admiral G. T. Thomson, originally dated September 1948, refers)

Sold with the following related items and documents: Second War campaign medals card box of issue, addressed to ‘W/Cdr. C. Chapman, 9 Burlescoombe Road, Thorpe Bay, Essex’, with enclosure; Commission appointing C. Chapman a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, dated 13 June 1916; Commission appointing C. Chapman as Observer Sub-Lieutenant in Royal Naval Air Service, dated 21 June 1917; Commission appointing C. Chapman as Temporary Captain in the Royal Air Force, dated 1 December 1918; Commission appointing C. Chapman Observer Officer in the Royal Air Force, dated 2 August 1919; 8 Flying Log Books, 2 of which are Royal Naval Air Service Pilot’s Flying Log Books, 2 are Army Book 425 Log Books and the remainder are Royal Air Force Pilot’s Flying Log Books (covering the periods 1 January 1917 - 14 May 1917, 14 October 1920 - 12 August 1921, 1 December 1921 - 14 July 1923, 16 July 1923 - 24 May 1926, 24 May 1926 - 30 June 1928, 2 July 1928 - 14 October 1932, 11 October 1932 - 15 February 1937 and 30 November 1936 - 4 May 1938); R.A.F. Identity Card; with a number of portrait photographs of recipient in uniform, one of which is framed and glazed; newspaper cuttings and other ephemera.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 1209.