Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The mounted group of eleven miniature dress medals attributed to Captain R. F. L. Dickey, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., with two bars; 1914 Star; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf; General Service 1918-62, one (slip-on) clasp, Iraq; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; France, Croix de Guerre 1939-1940, bronze palm on ribbon, mounted Court style as worn, generally good very fine (11) £80-120

Ex Sotheby’s 21 March 1988, part lot 493.

D.S.C. London Gazette 20 July 1917.

1st Bar to D.S.C. London Gazette 11 August 1917.

2nd Bar to D.S.C. London Gazette 30 November 1917. ‘For service in action with enemy submarines.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 August 1917 and 19 December 1917. ‘For services in action with enemy submarines.’

Robert Frederick Lea Dickey served as a Petty Officer Mechanic and 1st Class Air Mechanic with the Royal Naval Air Service from 19.4.1915 until 9.6.1916. Appointed Temporary Probationary Flight Sub Lieutenant, R.N.A.S. on 10.6.1916, rank confirmed, 14.2.1917; Flight Lieutenant, R.N.A.S., 1.10.1917; Captain ‘Aeroplane’, R.A.F., 1.4.1918; Captain ‘Aeroplane and Seaplane’, 9.5.1918; permanent commission as Flight Lieutenant, 1.8.1919; Half Pay, 24.1.1924; resigned commission, 14.1.1925.

Dickey flew as a co-pilot, later as a pilot in a two-engined ‘Felixstowe flying boat. His D.S.C. was awarded for the destruction of the zeppelin L.43 on 14th June 1917. ‘...At 8.40 a.m. we were again off Vileiland at 500 feet when we sighted a Zeppelin 5 miles on our starboard bow at about 1,500 feet, steering due N. ... We at once proceeded to attack at full speed climbing to 2,000 feet. Flight Sub Lieut. Hobbs piloting the machine, Sub Lieut. Dickie (sic) manned the bow gun; W/T operator H. M. Davis ... manned the midship gun and A.M.T.(E) A. W. Goody ... manned the stern gun. As we approached the Zeppelin we dived for her tail at about 100 knots. Her number L.43 was observed on the tail and bow, also Maltese Cross in black circle. Midship gun opened fire with tracer ammunition and when about 100 feet above Sub Lieut. Dickie opened fire with Brock and Pomeroy ammunition as the machinepassed diagonally over the tail from starboard to port. After two bursts the Zeppelin burst into flames. Cutting off engines we turned sharply to starboard and passed over her again; she was by this time completely enveloped in flames and falling very fast. Three men were observed to fall out of her on the way down...’ (Flight Sub Lieutenant Hobb’s account of the downing of Zepelin L.43).

Dickey’s bars to his D.S.C. were for attacks on enemy submarines. From his log book, a bombing attack of 3rd September 1917 resulted in a ‘submarine believed to have been destroyed’; that of 13th September 1917, ‘bomb hit submarine beside conning tower on port side and exploded. Submarine commenced to sink ..’ and an attack on 28th September 1917, ‘.. we sighted a hostile submarine ... we attacked this and dropped one 230lb bomb which got a direct hit on the tail’ Additionally on 30th April 1918 his log book notes, ‘Sighted enemy aircraft. Gave chase and shot one out of five down in flames’. Dickey was forced down in Dutch waters and interned on 5th June 1918.

Sold with copied research details. Not entitled to the 1914 Star and G.S.M. 1 bar, Iraq.