The Victory Medal awarded to Lieutenant A. O. Balaam, Suffolk Regiment and Royal Flying Corps, a R.E.8 pilot who served with 16 Squadron, and was shot down and killed by the German Ace Julius Buckler, on the Western Front on 24 October 1917

Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. A. O. Balaam.) good very fine £100-£140

Augustus Orlando Balaam was the son of a tailor from Essex, and resided at 9 Ashgrove Road, Goodmayes, Essex. He was commissioned in the 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, and volunteered for service with the Royal Flying Corps in 1917. Balaam carried out pilot training at the Central Flying School in May 1917, advanced to Lieutenant in June, and was posted for operational service with 16 Squadron (RE.8s) in France in August 1917.

Balaam undertook a number of photographic reconnaissance missions throughout August and September 1917. These were carried out with a variety of Observers, including on one occasion with Captain Woolf Barnato, R.F.A., a racing driver who went on to win at Le Mans on three occasions after the War. A similar flying pattern carried on through into October, but a more regular partnership with Second Lieutenant D. Prince-Smith started to form towards the end of the month. This culminated with the pair being shot down and killed as the 19th ‘Victory’ of the 36 ‘Victory’ German Ace Julius Buckler, of Jasta 17, on 24 October 1917:

‘On 24 October the weather cleared up and plenty of aerial combat ensued. Buckler once again found an RE 8 (from No. 16 Sqn) out on an artillery-spotting mission over Méricourt at 0320 hrs. The pilot, Lt. A. O. Balaam, and his observer, 2Lt. D. Prince-Smith, put up the best fight they could, but against a foe of Buckler’s calibre they had little chance. The doomed RE 8 (B5896) was hit hard and spun down out of control to 180 metres, at which point it nose-dived in flames into the sodden ground - both men were killed.’

Balaam and Prince-Smith were buried next to each other at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension.

Sold with copied research, and a memory stick, containing further copied research, a photographic image of recipient and images from various of his photographic reconnaissance missions.