Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Great War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Group Captain G. P. Grenfell, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col., R.A.F.), the last with officially re-impressed naming, generally good very fine (4) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the R.F.C. and R.A.F. formed by Wing Commander Bill Traynor.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

George Pascoe Grenfell was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps in May 1915 and entered the Egypt theatre of war with an appointment as an Equipment Officer in 5th Wing, R.F.C., in October 1915 - his 1914-15 Star, officially named in smaller than usual impressed capitals was issued to him in November 1922 (his MIC entry refers). Advanced to Captain in January 1916 and to Temporary Major in December of the same year, he was awarded the D.S.O. His final wartime appointment was as a Lieutenant-Colonel in charge of the Instrument Design Establishment at No. 1 Group, Biggin Hill.

Post-war, Grenfell served as a Wing Commander and Assistant Director of Scientific Research at the Air Ministry and as a Group Captain on the staff of Air Marshal Sir Edward Ellington and was placed on the Retired List in February 1934. Recalled on the renewal of hostilities, he was appointed Commandant H.Q. Bristol District, with overall charge of assorted Elementary and Reserve Flying Training Schools, prior to being placed back on the Retired List as a Group Captain in January 1946.