Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant J. Brookes, Royal Air Force, a veteran of the Northern Kurdistan operations who died in one of 40 Battles downed over Sedan on 14 May 1940

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Northern Kurdistan (560537 L.A.C., R.A.F.), surname spelt ‘Brooks’; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45 the first with edge bruise, otherwise generally good very fine and rare (3) £800-1000

James Brookes, a Sergeant Observer in No. 142 Squadron, was killed on 14 May 1940 when his aircraft, Fairey Battle WT-P2333, crashed during operations against the Sedan - his pilot, Sergeant A. N. Spear survived and evaded capture: the terrible battle of 14 May stemmed from Barratt’s Advanced Air Striking Force’s attempt to break the German bridgehead at Sedan - no less than 40 Battles and seven Blenheims were lost.

Four days earlier, during No. 142’s first bombing mission of the War, Brookes’ aircraft had been hit by ground fire and forced- landed near Colmey, north of Verdun. The crew rejoined the Squadron the next day.

Brookes, who came from Harwich, Essex, and was 29 years old, lies buried in Choloy War Cemetery (Meurthe-et-Moselle), France.