The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals Relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of the Sudan

Three: Major Owen Mostyn Conran, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, who settled the Miri uprising with Major Balfour and, being a qualified pilot, was then given leave to join the R.F.C. on the Western Front, where he was killed returning from a night sortie with No. 10 Squadron in July 1917

British War and Victory Medals (Major); Khedive’s Sudan 1910-22, 2nd issue, 2 clasps, Darfur 1916, Fasher (Capt., King’s Own Regt.) engraved naming; together with a Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Orange Free State, Cape Colony, unnamed, erasure to edge, good very fine (4) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of The Sudan 1896-1956.

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Owen Mostyn Conran was born in Brondyffryn, Denbigh, on 1 April 1881. Educated at Shrewsbury, he was commissioned into the 3rd South Lancashire Militia on 4 April 1900. He joined the Royal Lancaster Regiment from the Militia in 1901 and was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1901. Conran served in the Boer War with the regiment. He was promoted to Captain in July 1907 and in June 1913 was seconded for service with the Egyptian Army, being attached to the XIV Sudanese Battalion, June 1913-June 1916. He was appointed Bimbashi (Major) in the Egyptian Army in June 1913.

Conran learned to fly with No. 3 Squadron, gaining his ‘wings’ flying a Maurice Farman biplane in France on 14 August 1913. He was promoted to Major in September 1915 and took part in the Darfur campaign of 1916. In July 1916 he was sent to England on sick leave and while at home he obtained permission to become attached to the R.F.C. On 23 April 1917 he went to France and was posted to No. 10 (Bombing) Squadron R.F.C., being made a Flight Commander in November 1916. As a pilot flying Armstrong Whitworth bombers, Conran took part in the battles of Messines and Ypres, the planes of his squadron mostly engaged in bombing and artillery observation.

On 29 July 1917 Conran took off on a night mission with Lieutenant H. Mitton as his observer, over Carvin, flying Armstrong Whitworth bomber S.No.B.262. They dropped 2 x 112lb bombs on Carvin and four drums of ammunition were fired by the observer. Following a failed attempt to land, their aircraft crashed near Marle-les-Mines Church, and both Conran and Mitton were killed. Conran was buried in the Chocques Military Cemetery.

With a folder containing extensive copied research.