Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An important and evocative wartime signature board from the officers’ mess at R.A.F. Tangmere, 56cm. by 45cm., the central illuminated R.A.F. crest and motto encircled by the signatures of approximately 140 airmen (see examples below), the majority applied directly to the board but others on pasted-down sections of paper, old gilt-plastered wooden frame, varnish / nicotine staining overall and with signs of (beer?) spillage, and quite a few signatures now illegible as a consequence of fading and wear, but otherwise a well-preserved wartime relic of the highest rarity £3000-5000

By way of illustrating the pedigree of the signatures, the following dozen or so examples have been chosen, many of them with obvious association with R.A.F. Tangmere:

‘R. R. Atcherley’

Actually Richard Llewellyn Roger Atcherley, afterwards Air Commodore, C.B.E., A.F.C. and Bar, and the twin brother of David “Batchy” Atcherley, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C. (see A Pride of Unicorns by John Pudney).

‘John R. D. Braham, W./Cdr.’

The celebrated night fighter “Bob” Braham, who equalled John “Cat’s Eyes” Cunnigham’s score of 19 victories, winning three D.S.Os and three D.F.Cs in the process.

‘E. F. J. Charles, W./C., Tangmere’

A noted ace who claimed a total of 15 confirmed victories in Spitfires in 1941 and 1943, winning a D.S.O. and two D.F.Cs in the process.

‘J. Checketts’

A highly successful New Zealander ace, with 14 victories to his credit and the D.S.O. and D.F.C. (see his Road to Biggin Hill).

‘D. Crowley-Milling’

Later Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C., an ace who served in Hurricanes of No. 242 Squadron in the Battle of Britain and added to his score in Spitfires of 610 Squadron in 1941-42.

‘Al Deere’

The famous New Zealander ace who claimed at least 17 confirmed victories, winning the D.S.O. and two D.F.Cs in the process (see his autobiography Nine Lives, and Dix Noonan Webb, 2 April 2003, Lot 66).

‘Jim Hallowes, ex-43’

A famous ace who claimed at least 17 victories, the majority of them in Hurricanes of No. 43 Squadron (”The Fighting Cocks”) during the fall of France and the Battle of Britain, winning a D.F.C. and two D.F.Ms in the process.

‘Taffy Higginson, S./L.’

The 56 Squadron Fall of France and Battle of Britain ace with 12 victories to his credit, and the D.F.C. and D.F.M.

‘H. Jacobs, F./Lt., Jacko’

A night fighter Navigator who shared in the destruction of at least five enemy aircraft with Bob Braham, winning two D.F.Cs in the process (for further details see Dix Noonan Webb, 2 March 2005, Lot 996).

‘G. Jameson, Jamie’

George Esmond “Jamie” Jameson, the highest scoring New Zealander night fighter ace of the War, with a D.S.O. and two D.F.Cs to his credit.

‘J. E. Johnson, 144 Wing’

The highest scoring British ace of the War, a household name with three D.S.Os and two D.F.Cs to his credit (see his autobiography, Wing Leader).

‘George Keefer (126 Wing)’

The famous Canadian ace with 12 victories to his credit and two D.S.Os and two D.F.Cs.

‘Roy Lane’

One of the more poignant signatures - having flown in the Battle of Britain in No. 43 Squadron (”The Fighting Cocks”), he went out to Burma as an R.A.F. Liaison Officer in the Chindits and was murdered by the Japanese after being brought down over the jungle.

‘Bobby Oxspring, W./C.’

The famous Battle of Britain ace and Wing Leader who claimed 14 victories before the War’s end, winning three D.F.Cs in the process (see his autobiography, Spitfire Command).

‘A. G. Page’

The gallant Geoffrey Page, who claimed an enemy aircraft for each of the operations he had to endure as a founder member of the Guinea Pig Club, winning the D.S.O. and two D.F.Cs in the process (see his Tale of a Guinea Pig).

‘J. G. Pattison, F./L.’

A New Zealander who fought in the Battle of Britain with 92 and 266 Squadrons and ended the War with a D.S.O. and D.F.C.

‘James Rankin’

One of the most successful British aces to emerge from the War, “Jamie” Rankin claimed over 20 victories in Spitfires of 92 Squadron and with the Biggin Hill Wing, winning two D.S.Os and two D.F.Cs in the process.

‘D. J. Scott, D.S.O., D.F.C. (2), R.N.Z.A.F., 486 (N.Z.)’

One of the most highly decorated New Zealander aces of the war, claimed his victories in Hurricanes of No. 3 Squadron and in Typhoons of No. 486 Squadrons, and winning the D.S.O, and two D.F.Cs in the process. He was also C.O. of the Tangmere Typhoon Wing (see his Typhoon Pilot).

‘E. H. Thomas’

A Battle of Britain veteran and ace, who ended the War with the D.S.O. and two D.F.Cs to his credit.

‘R. H. Thomas’

A Battle of Britain veteran who ended the War with a D.S.O. and D.F.C. to his credit. He was appointed a Wing Leader at Tangmere in July 1943.