Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.B.E. group of three awarded to Captain W. R. B. Clarke, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who died on 1 December 1918

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver (hallmarks for London 1918), the reverse later engraved ‘R.A.F. Capt. W. R. B. Clarke’, in Garrard, London, case of issue; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. W. R. B. Clarke. R.A.F.) both in named card boxes of issue, extremely fine (3) £240-£280

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 7 November 1917.

William Robert Bruce Clarke was born on 24 June 1886 and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He served during the Great War initially in the 14th Battalion, County of London Regiment (Territorial Force), before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 6 December 1915, and promoted Lieutenant on 1 June 1916, and Captain on 11 May 1917. Admitted to hospital whilst serving at R.A.F. Headquarters, British Expeditionary Force, he was repatriated to England, and died in No. 1 General Hospital, Cambridge, on 1 December 1918. He is buried under a C.W.G.C. Headstone in Cottenham Churchyard, Cambridgeshire. His M.B.E., whilst authorised in his lifetime, was announced posthumously in the London Gazette a month later.