Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War M.M group of four awarded to Chief Master Mechanic C. I. Collett, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps, who served as an Observer in R.E. 8s of No. 12 Squadron

Military Medal, G.V.R. (413 Fl. Sjt. C. I. Collett, 12/Sq. R.F.C.); 1914-15 Star (413 Cpl. C. I. Collett, R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (413 T.S.M. C. I. Collett, R.F.C.), generally good very fine (4) £1100-1300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force.

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M.M. London Gazette 27 October 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘On the evening of 17 March 1916, a British aeroplane had to land just W. of Arras in full view of the German lines. No. 12 Squadron sent a party to render assistance. Flight Sergeant Collett, Corporal Beddows and 1st A.M. Gill salved the instruments, Lewis gun and mountings under very close and accurate shell fire. At the ninth shot the machine was hit direct and set on fire. During this time a French officer and soldier, who were standing close by, were hit, one being killed and the other wounded.’

Charles Inglis Collett, who was born in Stratford-on-Avon in February 1890, originally served as a Bombardier in the Warwickshire R.H.A. (Territorial Force), from which he transferred to the fledgling Royal Flying Corps in October 1912, in common with two of his brothers. Appointed an Air Mechanic 1st Class in No. 5 Squadron in August 1914, he first went out to France in April 1915, but returned to the Home Establishment in the following month. Then in October of the same year he returned once more to active service in France.

And he was serving on the strength of No. 12 Squadron by the time of his M.M.-winning exploits on the Arras front early in the following year. After then being advanced to the temporary rank of Sergeant-Major, he qualified as a Gunner & Observer in September 1916 and flew in the Squadron’s R.E. 8s, gaining mention in at least one R.F.C. communique for good work in assisting our gunners in hitting an enemy battery. Ordered back home in October 1917, Collett was appointed Chief Master Mechanic in the newly established Royal Air Force in April 1918, and was discharged in October 1920; sold with a file of research.