Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important C.B.E. group of seven awarded to Group Captain J. O. Archer, Commanding the Royal Air Force in South Russia
The Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) 1st type neck badge, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue, some small chips to the enamel on two arms; 1914 Mons Star (2080 Pte., Sea. Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Major, R.A.F.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (W/C., R.A.F.); Jubilee 1935; Russia, Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class breast badge with swords, gold and enamels, maker’s mark indistinct, generally good very fine (7)

C.B.E. London Gazette 12 July, 1920 (South Russia).
O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June, 1919 (Egypt)
M.I.D. London Gazette 12 July, and 16 July,1920 (South Russia); 26 June, 1931 (North West Frontier).
John Oliver Archer served in 1914 in the ranks of the Seaforth Highlanders, and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, R.F.A. (S.R.), on 16 July, 1915. He was selected for pilot training and gained Royal Aero Club pilots licence No. 2367 on 31 January, 1916. He served with the British Military Mission in South Russia and commanded “Z” Flight, a unit which had been formed as a small separate unit from volunteers serving with the R.A.F. training mission. Equipped with RE8s, the unit was sent to the Kharkov fighting zone at the beginning of December 1919. The group is sold with a copy of the War Diary of “Z” Flight in South Russia, signed by Archer, from 30 November, 1919, to 5 January, 1920. For his work in South Russia Archer was mentioned in despatches and awarded the C.B.E. and Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class with swords (confirmed in Air Ministry records which show that he was recommended for a C.M.G.). He was promoted Wing Commander on 1 January, 1926, and commanded No. 3 (Indian) Wing from 25 January, 1926. He returned to England to the staff of the Director of Personel Services at the Air Ministry on 16 March, 1931, serving in that post until his retirement in 1935. He continued, in a civilian capacity, on the Air Staff of the Department of the Chief of the Air Staff (Directorate of Operations and Intelligence) until the outbreak of war. He then received a commission as a Group Captain and served throughout the war in the staff of the Directorate of Intelligence.