The British War Medal 1914-20 awarded to Flying Officer R. B. Luard, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force - a S.E.5a pilot with 64 Squadron who was shot down by German ‘Ace’ Leutnant Otto Fruhner of Jasta 26, over Inchy, 30 August 1918. Luard was taken prisoner of war, and then went on to serve in D.H.9a’s with 27 Squadron in India. He was killed, serving as an Observer, when his aircraft stalled on take off from Dardoni for a bombing raid, 17 August 1922. The deaths of him and his pilot leading to a dramatic review of the Royal Air Force in India, carried out by Sir John Salmond

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. R. B. Luard. R.A.F.) very fine £120-£160

Robert Blaine Luard was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, in June 1898 and was the son of Major William Du Cave Luard, R.E., of 14 Woodlane, Falmouth. He was educated at Wellington College, and initially commissioned in to the Royal Artillery before being attached to the Royal Flying Corps in November 1917. After initial training Luard was posted for operational service as a pilot to S.E.5a’s 64 Squadron (S.E.5a’s) in January 1918.

Luard was shot down by the German ‘Ace’ Leutnant Otto Fruhner (27 ‘Victories’) of Jasta 26, over Inchy, 30 August 1918. He was taken prisoner of war and was repatriated 9 December 1918 (entitled to Great War Pair). Luard advanced to Flying Officer in September 1919, and was granted a permanent commission in March 1921. He served with 27 Squadron in India after the war (entitled to I.G.S. 1908-35, with ‘Waziristan 1921-24’ clasp), and was killed on active service, whilst flying as an observer in D.H.9a 17 August 1922, ‘Killed result of aero acc. at Dardoni. Leaving on Bombing Raid, machine stalled on turn. Burst into flames on touching ground. Killed instantly’ (R.A.F. Casualty Card refers).

The accident was obviously tragic in itself, however, it did lead to a dramatic review of the Royal Air Force in India carried out by Sir John Salmond. The condition of aircraft, and supply of parts for repair, for the R.A.F. in India was a badly kept secret. The pilots were very aware of the dangers that they faced from flying their own aircraft. Indeed, Luard had already been involved in another accident, and been injured, whilst flying with a different pilot at Rissalpur Aerodrome, 9 March 1922. On this occasion the aircraft had flipped over on landing.

The fatal accident occurred with Flying Officer D. C. Duncan as pilot. The latter had written the following home to his mother seven days prior to the accident:

‘The tribes around Makin, in Waziristan, have started to cut up rough again, so we have got to bomb them again, and it is to be a ten days’ intensive bombing show so we are moving four machines up to Dardoni just up the Tochi Valley from Bannu. I am taking mine off tomorrow, all being well - that is, if the shock absorber for the wheels arrives tonight, and then we are to stay in tents at Dardoni for ten days and bomb each day, if not twice a day. We are to do our own work, as we cannot take mechanics - there is no room except for our observers.

It is a disgraceful state of affairs in India. There is no shock absorber for D.H.9a and it is a vital thing in a machine, as it cannot land without it. Someone has blundered, so we are waiting for some very thin stuff to arrive by the mail tonight from Lahore. This thin stuff will not last long. Still, we must carry on with it just now until someone wakes up. All leave cancelled. Oh! what a happy family is ours Eh?

I have been working all day on my machine as I do not want to come down amongst the Abdul Raheus, as one would not get back; that is certain. Yet one has to trust to a deuce of a lot out of any old machine. Still, it should be good fun, and I pray I am lucky, as I do not want to come down again in tribal country as on Christmas Day, 1919, when I had to run like..... for my life and then nearly lost it, for snipers.

Still, all misses are as good as miles, and the papers said then that I did the mile in record time. No, my boat is getting too near for chances. Eh? But don’t be anxious.’ (Extract from Flight, 7 September 1922, refers)

Luard’s father took the issue up with a very strongly worded letter published in The Times, and despite it being too late for his son improvements to the force were made.

Flying Officer Luard is buried in Bannu, Lahore, Pakistan.

Sold with extensive copied service papers and research.