Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce 1937 ‘North West Frontier’ D.F.C. pair awarded to Squadron Leader F. A. Holmes, Royal Air Force, who flew Wapitis with 5 (AC) Squadron, before serving as a Wellington pilot and Flight Commander of 429 (Bison) Squadron, R.C.A.F., during the Second War. He was shot down and killed in action by a night-fighter whilst returning from a raid on Mannheim, 16/17 April 1943

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., reverse engraved ‘F. A. Holmes 9-4-37’; India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (F/O. F. A. Holmes. R.A.F.) officially renamed, with mounted related miniature awards generally good very fine or better (2) £2,600-£3,000

D.F.C. London Gazette 21 December 1937:

‘For gallant and distinguished services rendered in connection with the Operations in Waziristan during the period 17th January to 15th September, 1937.’

Frederick Arthur Holmes was the son of E. G. Holmes, of Broadstairs, Kent. He was commissioned Acting Pilot Officer on probation in the Royal Air Force, 14 September 1934, and advanced to Pilot Officer in September the following year. Holmes was posted as a pilot to 5 (AC) Squadron (Wapitis) on the North West Frontier, and carried out operational flying from Miramshah and Risalpur. He advanced to Flying Officer in April 1937, and to Flight Lieutenant in April the following year.

Holmes had advanced to Squadron Leader by the advent of the Second War, and was posted as ‘A’ Flight commander of the newly formed 429 (Bison) Squadron (Wellingtons), Royal Canadian Air Force, at East Moor, Yorkshire, in November 1942. He carried out a number of operational sorties with the Squadron, including to Cologne, Kiel and Stuttgart.

Holmes was killed in action whilst carrying out a raid on Mannheim, 16/17 April 1943, ‘T/o 2123 East Moor. Homebound at 12,000 feet, hit by light flak near Reims. Moments later the Wellington was attacked by night-fighter [Ltn. Helmut Bergmann] and crashed 0215 at Septmonts (Aisne), 8km SE of Soissons, France.’ (Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the Second War refers)

One of the crew survived and evaded capture, whilst Holmes and the remaining four are all buried in the Septmonts Chuchyard, Aisne.

1 of 13 D.F.C.’s awarded for Waziristan, North West Frontier 1936-39.

Sold with the following original documents: letter from the Air Ministry (Casualty Branch) addressed to the recipient’s wife regarding confirmation of him being killed in action, dated 11 September 1943; letter from the Ministry of Pensions to the same recipient regarding a service widow’s pension, dated 18 October 1943.