Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The D.F.C. and Bar mounted group of four miniature dress medals worn by Squadron Leader J. W. Stephens, Royal Air Force

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, Atlantic; War Medal 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted as worn, very fine (4) £200-£240

Provenance: The recipient’s full sized medals, together with his Flying Log Book ands other ephemera, were sold at Spink in July 2006.

D.F.C. London Gazette 20 February 1940
‘For gallantry and devotion to duty in the execution of Air Operations during period 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1939.’

D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 22 November 1940.
The original Recommendation states: ‘On 2 June 1940 Flying Officer Stephens was leader of an aircraft ordered to attack an enemy battery on the French coast, which had been harassing our naval forces engaged in the evacuation of Dunkirk. He showed great courage and determination in pressing home his attack at a very low altitude in the face of intense A.A. fire, which enabled the section to bomb the target with conspicuous success. Flying Officer Stephens was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on 20th February, 1940, for the good work he had carried out during the first five months of the war, and since that time he has continued to carry out valuable operational flying. He has displayed great determination and initiative on all occasions.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 31 January 1947:
‘For services whilst a prisoner of war.’

John William Stephens was born in Calcutta on 20 September 1917, the son of Captain J. W. Stephens, Lincolnshire Regiment, and was commissioned Acting Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force on 9 August 1937. Posted to 107 Squadron (Blenheims), based at R.A.F. Wattisham, Suffolk, on 7 March 1939, he flew with the Squadron during the initial stages of the Second World War in operational sorties including the Wilhelmshaven Raid on 4 September 1939, where he was the only member of 107 Squadron to return from the first raid of the War when the attack was carried out on the German battle fleet at Wilhelmshaven. For his services with 107 Squadron in the first few months of the War he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Promoted Flying Officer on 31 December 1939, and Flight Lieutenant on 31 December 1940, Stephens flew operational sorties with the Squadron until 23 June 1940, when he crashed over Holland. He was wounded and taken prisoner of war, whilst the two other members of his crew were killed. A letter from a German solider gives the following statement:
I have rescued Lieutenant Stevens [sic] out of the wreckage of his plane and rushed him on the fastest possible way to the Wilhelmina Hospital at Amsterdam. Lieutenant Stevens could only be saved by means of a blood transfusion. I volunteered as the blood donor.’

Stephens received a Second Award Bar to his D.F.C. whilst a Prisoner of War, having been recommended a month before his crash. His Commanding Officer, Basil Embry, wrote the following account:
‘As I was his Commanding Officer from the beginning of the War until the end of May I know how well he deserved it; he always did a magnificent job of work and personally I think his conduct and high courage whilst in action were always up to the very highest traditions of our Service and in fact, I doubt if they have been surpassed in this War. I sympathise with you on him being a prisoner, but I suppose you must consider yourself lucky that he is still alive... I feel sure that if your son gets the slightest chance he will get away, as I have not yet met a Hun that is good enough to hold him.’

Stephens spent six months recovering from his wound in the Wilhelmina Hospital, Amsterdam, before being moved to the French P.O.W. Hospital in Berilin for a further three month period. Having fully recuperated he was imprisoned in various camps, including Stalag Luft III at Sagan from April 1943 to January 1945. During his imprisonment in Sagan, Stephens was a code letter writer for ‘X’ Organisation and sent messages from the camp to I.S.9.; and also made twelve attempts to escape by tunnelling, all of which were unsuccessful (M.I.9. Debrief refers). He would also have been involved with the ‘Great Escape’ from Sagan, which led to the escape of 76 Allied Air Force Officers.

Following the cessation of hostilities, Stephens returned to service with 107 Squadron, and was promoted Squadron Leader on 1 August 1947. Posted Squadron Commander of 8 Squadron (Bristol Brigands and Buckmasters) on 5 February 1952, he was tragically killed in a crash whilst piloting Buckmaster RP209 on 21 April 1952, and is buried in the European Cemetery, Aden.

For the recipient’s father’s full sized and miniature medals, see Lots 277 and 644.