Orders, Decorations and Medals

BARRINGTON-KENNETT TROPHY, R.A.F. Halton, silver prize medal (2), (A/A. Belk E.L.) with bronze bar 'High Jump Junior 1938'; (A/A. Toogood W.G.) very fine (2)

571310 Sergeant Edward Leslie Belk served during W.W.2. as Flight Engineer, No. 7 Squadron, R.A.F. His Stirling bomber was shot down during a raid on Essexn 26/27 March 1943, one of eleven aircraft lost on the raid. The crew of 8 were all lost and were buried at Gendrigen Roman Catholic Cemetery, Holland.

Squadron Leader W.G. Toogood was awarded the B.E.M. when serving with 209 Squadron, equipped with Catalina flying boats. His recommendation reads as follows: '568613 Sergeant Wilfred George Toogood, No. 209 Squadron. This airman is a flight engineer and has served with the squadron for 18 months. On one occasion he was in a Catalina which struck a coral reef in the Seychelle Islands. The aircraft was badly holed with a four foot gash and was sinking rapidly when the pilot ran it up on the beach of Cerf Island. Sergeant Toogood led the crew immediately in stripping all equipment and in getting the aircraft safely ashore. As a result of his efforts none of the aircraft's equipment, wireless apparatus etc. was damaged. Then, with the rest of the crew he lived in a nearby hut and started to organise the repair of the hull. Working by day and by night with improvised tools and an entirely unsuitable plate of metal he spent many hours lying on his back in the water carrying out his repair duties. He showed great resource in almost impossible conditions but his efforts resulted in the aircraft being able to fly back to Mombasa after a fortnight. Sergeant Toogood showed great persistence throughout.’

Sold with further research.