Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Wing Commander K. Fawssett, Medical Branch, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43, the clasp a genuine clasp but mis-struck; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Act. Wg. Cdr. K. Fawssett. R.A.F.V.R.) good very fine (5) £180-£220

Kenneth Fawssett was born in Croydon, Surrey, on 3 January 1910, the only son of Doctor Wilfred Fawssett and the nephew of Captain Rupert Fawssett, Royal Army Medical Corps, who died of fever at Bloemfontein during the Boer War. He was educated at St. Paul’s School and St. Thomas’ Hospital where he was a medical student, qualifying in 1932. After taking a house appointment in the Opthalmology Department at St. Thomas’ he ultimately decided to go into general practice in Newbury.

Commissioned into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 7 December 1937, Fawssett was called up for service at the outbreak of hostilities and promoted Flight Lieutenant with effect 23 September 1939. He was soon posted to the Middle East where he built on his experience in clinical opthalmology under the tutelage of Air Commodore Dr Thomas Keith Lyle, and was promoted Temporary Squadron Leader with effect 1 December 1941 (War Substantive on 11 June 1943). He relinquished his commission on 4 February 1955 retaining the rank of Wing Commander and died in 1974 at Inkpen, Berkshire.

Sold with a pair of Medical Branch collar insignia; two officers peak cap badges; a pair of ‘VR’ arm badges; one Squadron Leader’s shoulder rank insignia; and a quantity of copied research.