A rare Great War ‘German East Africa’ D.S.C. group of four awarded to Major J. E. Maclean, Royal Air Force, late No. 8 Seaplane Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R.; 1914-15 Star (Flt. S. Lt., R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (Major, R.A.F.) together with related cap badge, very fine or better (4) £1600-1800

D.S.C. London Gazette 15 June 1917: Flight Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service “Since April 1916, has carried out constant flights over the enemy’s coast, including reconnaissances, bomb dropping and spotting; was wounded when flying over Bagamoyo.”

James Edward Baker Bere Maclean was born in 1894, and served in German East Africa with No. 8 Seaplane Squadron, R.N.A.S., from H.M.S. Manica, a kite balloon ship specially refitted for seaplane operations. The squadron left England early in February 1916 complete with four Short Sunbeam Seaplanes and four Voisins. It was engaged in bombing and reconnaissance during the offensive against Tanga in April, with two seaplanes on board H.M.S. Laconia. The following month another seaplane was put on board the Manica, and Maclean was one of the three officers who worked continuously from this ship. As seaplane Pilot and Flight Commander, Maclean took part in a good number of bombing and other missions during the squadron’s operations over the coast of Zanzibar during 1916 and 1917.

Bagamovo was captured towards the end of August 1916, operations being carried out principally by the aid of a photographic map which had been prepared by Maclean and his observer, Lieutenant Fitzherbert, from the Manica. ‘Maclean and Fitzherbert flew a reconnaissance over Sadani on the 26th where they came under machine gun fire and retaliated with bombs. Maclean took up W.O. Lacey as observer next day for a flight over Sadani which was bombed. Maclean and Fitzherbert were airborne again on the 28th spotting the fall of shot from the monitor Mersey, firing on a target at Sadani. The same aircrew flew a reconnaissance over Bagamoyo on 29 July, where incendiary and HE bombs were dropped. South of the town the Short came under machine gun fire. A bullet passed through the starboard float into the fuselage and hit the brass clip for the water bottles. The brass splintered, wounding Maclean in the leg and arm. The observer bandaged the pilot’s arm, and shortly after the seaplane was recalled to the ship.’

Maclean is shown as Temporary Major in 1918, and Flight Lieutenant in 1920. He served with No. 267 Squadron, Mediterranean Group, 1921-22, and with No. 70 Squadron, Iraq Command-Hinaida, in 1924, retiring in December that year. Sold with extensive research including many flight reports submitted by Maclean, amongst which he reports on his reconnaissance over the Koenigsberg in October 1916.