Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Somaliland 1920 M.S.M. group of six awarded to Flight Sergeant W. H. Cheffins, Royal Air Force, late Lincolnshire Regiment

1914 Star, with clasp but this with remains of brooch fitting to reverse (7883 Pte., 1/Linc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2-7883 A.C. Sjt., Linc. R.) these two possibly later issues: Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (338009 F/Sjt., R.A.F.) official corrections to naming; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (338009 F/Sgt., R.A.F.); R.A.F. Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (338009 Flt. Sgt., R.A.F.) generally good very fine (6) £1000-1200

M.S.M. London Gazette 12 July 1920. An award for the operations in Somaliland 1920.

William Henry Cheffins was a regular soldier in the Lincolnshire Regiment at the outbreak of the war. He subsequently transferred to the Royal Air Force and served with “Z” Flight in Somaliland in the campaign against the ‘Mad Mullah’, for which he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The R.A.F. contingent which formed “Z” Flight in Somaliland comprised of 36 officers and 189 other ranks, of which 4 officers and 25 other ranks formed the Medical Section. They were equipped with eleven DeHavilland 9A aeroplanes and one DH9 fitted out as an aerial ambulance.