Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The original grant of the squadron badge for ‘No. 217 G. R. Squadron’, hand-illuminated badge and motto, as painted by an artist of the College of Arms, dated February 1938, and signed by the Chester Herald and Inspector of Royal Air Force Badges, J. Heaton-Armstrong, and H.M. King George VI, mounted on card, in excellent condition £100-£150

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2009.

No. 217 Squadron was formed from No. 17 (R.N.A.S.) Squadron at Bergues, near Dunkirk, in April 1918, and participated in a number of daylight raids in D.H. 4s before the War’s end, being disbanded in October 1919. Reformed as a general reconnaissance unit in March 1937, with Ansons at Boscombe Down, the Squadron began patrol work over the Western Approaches on the renewal of hostilities, by then being based at St. Eval. Teething troubles aside, No. 217 was eventually re-equipped with Beauforts and ordered to Ceylon - but lent gallant service for two months in Malta en route. Thereafter the Squadron remained actively employed out of Ceylon, and finally moved to Cocos Island, latterly operating in Beaufighters. No. 217 was disbanded in September 1945, reformed as a maritime reconnaissance unit in January 1952 and once more disbanded in November 1959.