Orders, Decorations and Medals

Royal Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (27800 Serjt. Mec. W. Helmsley, R.A.F.), surname officially corrected, extremely fine and scarce £250-300

William Helmsley, who was from Ashby, joined the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in May 1916 and was embarked for France in the following month - most probably to join the strength of No. 15 Squadron, from which unit he would return to the U.K. as a Sergeant Mechanic in February 1919. Originally going into action in BE2c aircraft, No. 15 was re-equipped with R.E. 8s in June 1917, and received special recognition from Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig for its sterling work in the Ancre Salient. The award of Helmsley’s M.S.M. was announced in the London Gazette of 1 January 1919, and he served on the strength of No. 43 Squadron from March 1919 - then based at Bickendorff as part of the Army of Occupation - until transferred to the R.A.F. Reserve shortly after his return to the U.K. that May; sold with copied service record.