Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The British War Medal awarded to Second Lieutenant G. E. Pratt, Royal Air Force, late Honourable Artillery Company, who was killed in whilst piloting a Daimler Airway commercial flight from Croydon to Manchester on 14 September 1923 - the first fatal domestic airline accident to occur in the United Kingdom

British War Medal 1914-20 (2/Lieut. G. E. Pratt. R.A.F.) good very fine £100-£140

George Edward Pratt was born in West Kensington, London, in 1896, and attested for the Honourable Artillery Company, serving with the H.A.C. Artillery during the Great War in Egypt from 1 May 1915. Seconded to the Royal Flying Corps, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force on 5 November 1918, and was advanced Flying Officer on 13 August 1920.

Pratt was killed whilst piloting a Daimler Airways de Havilland DH.34 from Croydon to Manchester on 14 September 1923 - whilst flying over Buckinghamshire a storm was encountered; witnesses stated that one engine stopped, but was then restarted. It appeared to them that an emergency landing was going to be made at Ford End, lvinghoe when the aircraft dived to the ground and crashed at lvinghoe Beacon. The accident happened at about 18:05. The wreckage come to rest upside down, with both crew and all three passengers being killed. One witness reported hearing a violent explosion, but was not sure whether this was before the aircraft crashed or as a result of the crash. An investigation was conducted by the Accidents Investigation Branch of the Air Ministry, which concluded that the accident was caused by a pilot error, the aircraft stalling whilst a precautionary landing was being attempted. This was the first fatal domestic airline accident to occur in the United Kingdom.

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