Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (2) (143234 2 A.M. J. Simmonds, R.A.F.; 34983 2 A.M. W. H. Gear, R.A.F.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2) (28087 1 A.M. A. E. Coles, R.A.F.; L. 11003 A. E. Rapson, Boy Svt., R.N.), this last stamped ‘replacement’, generally very fine and better (4) £40-60

John Simmonds, who was born in 1878, originally enlisted in the Army in March 1916, and was serving out in France at the time of his transferral to the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in December 1917. His subsequent appointments included No. 16 Squadron and he was transferred to the R.A.F. Reserve in March 1919; sold with copied R.A.F. service record.

William Henry Gear, who was born in 1888, enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in June 1916 and served out in France from January 1918 until the War’s end, latterly on the strength of No. 27 Squadron; sold with copied R.A.F. service record.

Albert Edward Coles, who was born in Bristol in 1885, originally enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry in October 1903, and served in that capacity out in France from August 1914 until transferring to the Royal Flying Corps as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in January 1916. Remaining on active service until the War’s end, he was advanced to Air Mechanic 1st Class and served latterly as an Armourer on the strength of No. 16 Squadron; sold with copied R.A.F. service record.