Six: Flight Lieutenant T. J. Long, Royal Air Force

1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1953; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Flt. Lt., R.A.F.); Czechoslovak Medal for Military Merit, 1st Class, minor contact wear, good very fine or better and rare (6) £280-320

Thomas John Long was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in September 1943 and served as an Air Liaison Officer in Ottawa. His rare Czechoslovak Medal for Military Medal, which was announced inThe London Gazette on 18 November 1947, was awarded to him for the following services:

‘During the War many Czechoslovak airmen, within the framework of the R.A.F., proceeded to Canada for training. The negotiations with the Canadian authorities which this involved were conducted by the United Kingdom Air Liaison Mission at Ottawa, and, in his capacity as a member of this Mission, Flying Officer Long consulted the interests of the Czechoslovak airmen in every way.’

Long, who was advanced to Flight Lieutenant in March 1948, received his Coronation 1953 Medal while employed as an administrator at the R.A.F. Hospital, Wroughton. He was placed on the retired list in November 1957, aged 49 years.