Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Malaya operations D.F.M. group of nine awarded to Master Signaller J. Murray, Royal Air Force, who was decorated for a total of 65 operational sorties in Brigands of No. 84 and Sunderlands of No. 88 Squadrons

Distinguished Flying Medal, E.II.R. (1822833 Sgt. J. Murray, R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (1822833 Sgt. J. Murray, R.A.F.); Korea 1950-53 (1822833 Sgt. J. Murray, R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (M. Sig. J. Murray (1822833) R.A.F.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, mounted as worn, minor contact wear, very fine and better (9) £4000-5000

D.F.M. London Gazette 6 October 1953:

‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Malaya.’

Then original recommendation states:

‘Sergeant Murray has now completed 65 operations against the bandits in Malaya. Before joining No. 88 Squadron, he was a Signaller with No. 84 Squadron with whom he carried out 29 of these operational sorties. Notwithstanding the fact that, in the Flying Boat Wing, a large percentage of his time is spent away from this area of operations and that he has also operated in the Korean theatre with the United nations Forces, this N.C.O. has completed a further 36 sorties in Sunderland aircraft over Malaya. His great experience on this type of operations has proved invaluable. His keenness, his quiet efficiency as Signaller, Gunner, and in charge of “bombing up” in the air have proved of great assistance in the war against the Malayan terrorists. Sergeant Murray has an excellent record of determination and skill during a period of protracted operations of different types over the Malayan jungle.’

John Murray qualified as a Wireless Operator in May 1944, although whether he flew operationally remains unknown, or indeed whether he remained in the R.A.F. after the War. More certain is the fact he attended No. 4 Radio School in March-April 1951, prior to being ordered to the Far East in May, where, as cited above, he joined No. 84 Squadron, a Brigand unit actively engaged in Malaya - he flew his first operation as a Signaller against a target near Kluang and, by the time of his transfer to No. 88 Squadron in September of the same year, had flown a further 28 sorties; for further details of Brigand operations in Malaya, see the D.F.C. awarded to Wing Commander A. P. Norman, onetime C.O. of No. 84 Squadron, ex-DNW, 19 June 2013 (Lot 800).

Immediately back in action in 88’s Sunderlands - he flew his first “Firedog” sortie on 15 September 1951 - Murray raised his Malayan operational tally to the 65 mark by mid-February 1953, these in addition to a further 24 operational sorties flown in support of the United Nations Forces in Korea in the same period; moreover, by the time of his return to the U.K. to take up an appointment at R.A.F. Kinloss in March 1954, he had flown another 14 sorties on the Korean front.

His subsequent postings included No. 210 Squadron, flying Neptunes, 1954-56, the Station Flight Gibraltar 1957-58, and No. 224 Squadron, flying Shackletons, 1958-59, followed by service at the Air Sea Warfare Development Unit 1959-62, again flying Shackletons. And his final ‘airborne appointment’ was in the M.O.T.U. up until late 1965.

Sold with the recipient’s original R.A.F. Flying Log Book, privately bound, commencing with Certificates of Qualification entries for W./Op. AIR, w.e.f. 19.5.44 and W./Op. II (E.) w.e.f. 13.1.45, and covering the period March 1951 to October 1965, together with four photographs of Sunderlands in Malaya.