Orders, Decorations and Medals

The important Royal Flying Corps D.S.O. and Bar group of five awarded to Lieutenant Colonel A. M. Wilkinson, Hampshire Regiment, an early Scout Pilot with Nos. 24 and 48 Squadrons, only the sixth Commonwealth Pilot to gain the status of Ace, and second only to Captain Albert Ball in achieving a double-figure score
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Major A. M. Wilkinson, R.F.C.); Defence and War Medals, M.I.D., good very fine (5)

D.S.O. London Gazette 20 October, 1916: Lieut. (Temporary Capt.), Hampshire Regt., and Royal Flying Corps. “For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He has shown great dash in attacking enemy machines, and, up to the end of August, he had accounted for five. On one occasion while fighting a hostile machine he was attacked from behind, but out-manœuvred the enemy and shot him down. Finally he got back, his machine much damaged by machine-gun fire.”
Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 26 May, 1917: Lieut. (Temporary Capt.), Hampshire Regt., and Royal Flying Corps. “For great skill and gallantry. He came down to a low altitude and destroyed a hostile scout which was attacking on of our machines, the pilot of which had been wounded, thereby saving it. In one day he shot down and destroyed six hostile machines. He has destroyed eight hostile machines during the past ten days and has displayed exceptional skill and gallantry in leading offensive patrols.”
M.I.D. (WWI) London Gazette 4 January, 1917, 11 December, 1917.
M.I.D. (WWII) London Gazette 17 March, 1941, 1 January, 1942.

Alan Machin Wilkinson, the son of H. Wall Wilkinson of Ealing, was born in Eastbourne on 21 November, 1891, and was educated at Repton and Oriel College, Oxford. He won a soccer Blue in 1913 and toured the Argentine with the University side. Commissioned into the 9th Hampshire Regiment (T.F.) on the outbreak of war he transferred as a Lieutenant to the Royal Flying Corps and underwent training with No. 1 R.A. Squadron in October 1915, prior to joining No. 24 Squadron commanded by Major Lanoe Hawker V.C., D.S.O., on 16 January, 1916. Arriving in France on 8 February, he was promoted next day to the command of ‘C’ Flight following the death of 2/Lt. Archer who returning from his first trip over the lines spun into St Omer airfield and was killed. With other members of 24 Squadron, Wilkinson became one of the first RFC pilots to fly fighting scouts in action, the Squadron’s mount being the new single-seater D.H.2, with pusher engine and nose mounted Lewis gun. Soon after his debut on the operational scene, Wilkinson upset the authorities by arming his regular aircraft, ‘Wilkie Bus’ D.H.2 5966, with an additional machine gun. He was subsequently ordered to remove the offending weapon.

Joining the vigorous struggle for air supremacy over the Somme, Wilkinson scored his first two air combat victories within half an hour of each other, early on the morning of 16 May, 1916, in the Peronne area, when he shot down an AGO GII and a Fokker E out of control. A month later, on the evening of 17 June while escorting a BE.2c on artillery duty in the locality of Miraumont, he claimed his third ‘kill’, a Fokker E, driven down out of control between near Le Sars. Next day, he was patrolling at 9,500 feet when he saw six enemy aircraft followed by three more flying in a westerly direction. Wilkinson immediately attacked from beneath, while two other de Havillands engaged the formation from above. The German formation broke up and Wilkinson turned on the nearest German machine, an Albatross C, loosing off half a drum of ammunition at about 100 yards range. Unperturbed that he was now the target of another H.A., he continued after his chosen quarry and after considerable manœuvering succeeded in getting on its tail and emptying half a drum at 30 yards’ range. The Albatross dived vertically, hotly pursued by Wilkinson who, changing drums, pulled out of his dive at 7,000 feet. The Albatross continued its descent and, after an abortive attempt to land, crashed in a small field south east of Aichet-le-Grand.

On returning to the lines, Wilkinson attacked a lone enemy aircraft, but experiencing difficulty with his gun which continually jammed, he was only able to get half a drum off while following it through various turns for some distance. The German unexpectedly dived and effected an unscheduled landing west of Grevillers. Wilkinson, however, declined to follow and deliver the coup de grace, being unsure of the airworthiness of his own machine, which in his own words had been ‘considerably knocked about’, in the earlier combat. As he again turned for the lines he saw another enemy machine, this time heading south from Thiepval. On spotting Wilkinson, the pilot turned away, passing about 1,000 feet above him. Wilkinson gave chase and, as he began to overhaul him, came under fire from about 400 yards range. When at about 150 yards, Wilkinson replied, opening fire in short bursts with his last serviceable drum (the other remaining drum had been damaged in the one of the earlier fights). Breaking off at 40 yards, a burst of white smoke or steam erupted from the German machine which then entered a steep powerless glide. Evidently throwing his earlier caution to the wind, Wilkinson followed despite being out of ammunition, and dived on the stricken aircraft in an attempt to terrorize the pilot into making a fatal mistake. But to his dismay he finally saw his opponent make a safe landing on an aerodrome south east of Baupaume.

For his ‘conspicuous skill and daring’ in driving down three aircraft on that hectic patrol, Wilkinson was recommended an immediate Military Cross by Brigadier-General E.B. Ashmore, commanding the 4th Brigade R.F.C., who made special mention of the fact that ‘Captain Wilkinson’s machine came back riddled with bullets’. This award however was not forthcoming, but nothing could alter the fact, that with five ‘kills’ to his credit, Wilkinson had now attained Ace status. Indeed, he was only the sixth Commonwealth piolt to become an Ace.

He was accredited with his next victory, a Fokker E, encountered over the Bapaume - Peronne Road, on 19 July. He was slightly wounded in action on the following day, but on 21 August when leading a patrol of five de Havillands he had a share in a victory with Second Lieutenant H.A. Wood in the Le Sars area. A week later another H.A. was added to his tally, and on 31 August he was further credited with the destruction of a Roland C and a LVG C out of control, when out on a defensive patrol with Lieutenant Capon, who had joined the squadron only two weeks before. Their Combat Report reads:

‘About 11 H.A. were observed attacking 3 F.Es. and some B.E.12s near GREVILLERS, but the de Hs. were underneath. Climbing, Captain Wilkinson attacked the nearest, a Roland, which was engaged with an F.E. He fired 50 rounds at about 60 yards and the H.A., leaving the F.E., dived east under the de H. Capt. Wilkinson followed, but was attacked from behind by another Roland; this he succeeded in outmanœuvring by spiralling upwards finally getting on the H.A’s tail, firing 40 rounds at about 80 yards. The H.A. dived almost vertically, and was afterwards seen on the ground near VILLERS at 07b24 (Albert Com. Sheet). Lt. Capon, diving at a Roland, was shot through the leg below the knee; he finished his drum at close range, and returning landed successfully at CHIPILLY. 3 more Rolands approached to attack, but Capt. Wilkinson climbed and they made off east as soon as he reached their height. Later Capt. Wilkinson saw an L.V.G. approaching HIGH WOOD. He dived, keeping to a flank, and when within seventy yards, turned on to the H.A’s tail. At this moment, Capt. Wilkinson was fired on from behind, but he continued his attack on the L.V.G. under heavy fire from 4 Rolands, firing 50 rounds at about 20 yards range. The L.V.G. dived almost vertically under the de H., and probably crashed, but Capt. Wilkinson had to turn to meet the attack from behind. The 4 Rolands were just above, and manœuvred to take advantage of the de H’s fixed gun, but Capt. Wilkinson raised the mounting and engaged 3 of them with short bursts. Apparently taken by surprise, the H.A. immediately retired east, one going down steeply, but apparently under control. Capt. Wilkinson then retired owing to shortage of petrol, his emergency tank having been shot through. Also 2 struts were damaged, 2 main spars pierced and six wires cut through.’

Thus by the end of August 1916, Wilkinson, with ten victories, was fast emerging as one of the most successful scout pilots in the R.F.C., having claimed four destroyed, four out of control, two forced to land, one driven down and one captured. The improved weather conditions of September 1916 saw a marked increase in aerial activity on both sides of the lines, preparatory to the third phase of the Battle of the Somme, and although Wilkinson did not add to his tally he was constantly engaged in aerial combat. On 2 September he flew an offensive patrol of particular note with Lieutenant A.G. Knight who on that occasion is believed to have attacked Hauptman Oswald Boelcke. Knight, himself soon to become an Ace, later fell to the guns of Manfred von Richthofen at the end of the year.

In October 1916 Wilkinson was awarded the D.S.O., which was gazetted on the 20th, but by that time he had been ordered to the Home Establishment on the 13th to join No. 48 Squadron. At the close of 1916, Wilkinson’s ten victories placed him second only to Albert Ball on the Aces list. Two other airmen, F. Libby and A.P. Langan-Byrne, had equalled Wilkinson’s total in 1916, but of these Libby was an observer / gunner, and Langan-Byrne was dead. At the Armistice Wilkinson would remain the top scoring DH2 pilot.

In early 1917, No. 48 Squadron became the first unit to be equipped with the new two-seater Bristol F2A fighter. The Squadron went to France in March 1917 and its command passed to Major ‘Zulu’ Bettington, who had as his flight commanders, Captain W. Leefe-Robinson, who had been awarded the Victoria Cross for the destruction of the German airship S.L.11 over north London on the night of 2/3 September 1916, Wilkinson and another veteran of 24 Squadron, Captain D.M. Tidmarsh, M.C. The Squadron flew its first operational sorties on 5 April - the start of the period known as ‘Bloody April’. A break in the weather and the build-up to the Arras offensive brought forth aircraft from both sides. German and British headquarters both needed aerial photographs for new maps, the former in expectation of the retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the latter preparatory to closing-up operations on the new enemy trench system. As the observation squadrons were ordered into the air, so too were the new Bristol fighters of 48 Squadron. Great things were expected of the Bristol F2A’s, but fatally Leefe-Robinson, who led the first patrol of the day, adopted entirely the wrong tactics by refusing to engage the enemy with the pilot’s front gun and leaving the work of defending the aircraft, if attacked, to the observer. Over the lines Leefe-Robinson’s flight of six aircraft met Richthofen’s Jagdstaffel 11 in the Douai area with disastrous consequences. Four Bristols, including Leefe-Robinson’s, were shot down.

Despite this catastrophy, Wilkinson and Tidmarsh led their Flights on patrols later in the day and both claimed victories without loss, thereby proving the Bristol F2A’s combat capabilities from the outset. For his part Wilkinson, with Lieutenant L.W. Allen as his observer, shot down an Albatross D III out of control. ‘Zulu’ Bettington’s three-page recommendation for the Bar to Wilkinson’s D.S.O., states that he made his initial attack with the front gun, which unfortunately jammed, whereupon he dived steeply to give Allen the shot. Having begun this fight at 10,000 feet, Wilkinson carried it on down to 3,500 feet, by which time the Flight had driven down a total of three H.A’s and dispersed the rest.

“Bloody April” was to be a ferocious month of air fighting with Wilkinson being credited with at least nine victories, seven in the course of only four days and six in one day! This was on the 9th April when he destroyed a two-seater near Lens; drove down an Albatross two-seater out of control in the same vicinity; destroyed an Albatross D III near Arras; and drove down another Albatross D III out of control also near Arras. Having successfully despatched the first of these four victims, Wilkinson’s wing man was obliged to return to base owing to engine trouble, but Wilkinson ‘fully appreciating the importance of events taking place on the ground beneath him and knowing that he was being relied on by me [‘Zulu’ Bettington] to maintain a patrol carried on alone. Very shortly afterwards finding three large 2-seater H.A. (flying low near our lines obviously trying to range hostile artillery) and being escorted by 3 fast Scouts much higher up, Capt. Wilkinson hung round skillfully keeping his own machine out of sight as much as possible by getting between the Artillery machines, the sun and clouds; waiting a favourable opportunity to attack this far superior number, an opportunity soon presented itself when a big cloud came over between the escorting Scouts and the artillery ranging machines, he dived among them from behind and both pilot and observer opened fire; the attack being so sudden and swift none of the H.A. attempted to fight but dived hard, however Capt. Wilkinson dived equally fast getting a series of bursts of about 100 rounds altogether into one at between 50 and 75 yards, which promptly went down hopelessly out of control; meanwhile the Observer Lt. Allen brought his gun to bear on another enemy machine at about 150 yards range sending the second down obviously hard hit. The third H.A. was not seen again; neither were the Scouts overhead when Capt. Wilkinson reappeared from under the cloud.’

On Wilkinson’s next patrol on the same day, when only one other Bristol remained with him, two more H.A. were spotted and attacked. Wilkinson selected the lower of these two and then swiftly turned up on the other giving Allen a favourable shot at 10 yards. But unfortunately Allen’s gun jammed. One of the H.A. then fastened on to the tail of the other Bristol, damaged it and at some point killed the observer. Wilkinson immediately swung his machine so as to allow Allen, who had cleared the previous jam, the chance to drive the H.A. away from the stricken Bristol. Having injected a burst from about 30 yards as he passed across the H.A’s bows, Wilkinson was attacked by another enemy machine into which Allen pumped the best part of a drum and a half, causing it to fall away out of control. The other Bristol was still receiving the unwelcome attentions of the enemy, and Wilkinson, his own gun now jammed, again manœuvred to give Allen a shot. After a good burst from the latter the H.A. attacking Wilkinson’s partner was seen to drop away out of control, just as Allen’s gun jammed again. Wilkinson put his machine into a vertical spiral, while Allen with exemplary calmness attempted to rectify the problem. Then a third HA, realizing their difficulty, endeavoured to latch on to their tail, firing bursts all the time. Once Allen had fixed the gun he signalled to Wilkinson who immediately assumed the offensive. The HA banked and an accurate fire from Wilkinson’s Bristol at 15 yards range sent it earthward out of control.

The above account, which has been culled from Bettington’s three page recommendation (Combat Reports for the month of April are not avalible in the Public Record Office), thus credits him with six victories on 9 April, 1917, two more than he is accorded by Shores, Franks and Guest in Above the Trenches, who state that he accumulated a total 19 victories during the war. Other sources, however, maintain that he scored twenty-one victories, a contention supported by the official citation for the award of his Bar to the D.S.O., which emphatically states ‘In one day he shot down and destroyed six hostile machines’. In accepting this official statement, fully supported by the recommendation, it must also be accepted that Wilkinson was therefore the first Commonwealth pilot to destroy six in one day.

Flying again on 12 April with Lieutenant Allen, who took part in all Wilkinson’s subsequent ‘kills’ and ultimately ended the war with 7 observer / gunner victories, he shared the credit in driving down out of control one of a flight of seven Albatrosses with 2/Lts Winckler and Moore. On an evening patrol on the following day, Wilkinson and Allen destroyed another Albatross when about twenty H.A’s were engaged near Vitry-en-Artois. In the same combat they also shared in a victory brought about through the combined efforts of themselves, Lieutenant Warren and his oberver, 2nd Lieutenant Davies.

On the 22nd Wilkinson scored his final combat victory, an Albatross D III, of ‘Bloody April’ 1917. On 26 May 1917, the award of his Bar to the D.S.O. appeared in the London Gazette, and after the legendary Captain Albert Ball, he became only the second Royal Flying Corps officer to be thus decorated. Only 23 D.S.O. and Bars were awarded to the R.F.C., R.N.A.S., and R.A.F. during the Great War, twelve of which were to Aces and, of those, five received the Victoria Cross. That May, Wilkinson was appointed to the command of No. 23 Squadron, a Spad S VII unit hitherto of little distinction with only one kill to its credit. But, with the able assistance of his ‘C’ Flight commander, Captain Cochran-Patrick, he forged the squadron into a superbly efficient fighting unit and within three months it had accounted for 45 certain victories. However, tied down by administrative duties, Wilkinson found little time to fly and, as Shore concludes, ‘the combat career of one of the truly outstanding fighters of the R.F.C. came to an end’.

Having commanded No. 8 Aerial Fighting School until 1919, Wilkinson joined the London Press Exchange, then one of the country’s leading advertising agencies, and became a director of the company in 1938. He was responsible for handling some of the agency’s best known accounts, Imperial Tobacco and Daimler to name but two. On the outbreak of the Second World War he joined the R.A.F., and became the ‘Stationmaster’ at Martlesham and later at West Malling. He returned to the London Press Exchange in 1946, and for two terms before retiring was one of the Institue of Practitioners in Advertising’s most distinguished presidents. Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Wilkinson, D.S.O., died at the age of 81 in 1973.

The lot is sold with a comprehensive file of research which includes award recommendations and combat reports.