Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine and extremely well documented Great War 1918 ‘Western Front’ DH4 pilot’s D.S.C. group of four awarded to Flight Lieutenant C. F. Brewerton, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force, who served as a Flight Commander of 2 Squadron, R.N.A.S., and flew countless reconnaissance missions over Belgium - often engaging enemy aircraft, with his aircraft being hit by machine gun and anti-aircraft fire, and two observers suffering wounds as a consequence.

Brewerton went on to fly BE2b’s with 20 Squadron on the North West Frontier, with his letters home providing valuable insight into the extreme dangers of flying during that conflict. He commanded No. 423 (Fleet Spotter) Flight, Malta, and was killed in a flying accident whilst piloting a Bison, 18 January 1927

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., hallmarks for London ‘1917’; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. C. F. Brewerton. R.A.F.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (F/O. C. F. Brewerton. R.A.F.) with unofficial retaining rod between clasps, mounted for wear, edge bruising, very fine (4) £3,000-£4,000

D.S.C. London Gazette 17 April 1918 (in joint citation with H. A. Furniss, R.N.A.S.):
‘For skill and courage displayed by him in carrying out many long and valuable photographic reconnaissance's over enemy territory, particularly over Ostende, on 21 February 1918.’

Cyril Fraser Brewerton was born in Sevenoaks, Kent in 1898. He was appointed Flight Sub Lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Naval Air Service in July 1916. Brewerton carried out pilot training at R.N.A.S. Chingford, and gained his ‘Wings’ in December 1916. He was posted as a pilot to R.N.A.S. East Fortune at the end of January 1917, and subsequently to Pembroke and Dover in the following months.

Brewerton was posted for operational service with 2 Squadron, R.N.A.S., on the Western Front, 1 September 1917. The Squadron was employed primarily in DH4’s on photographic reconnaissance and light bombing operations. Brewerton’s Log Book shows him as flying numerous photographic reconnaissance operations over Ostende and Nieuport throughout September 1917, including carrying out spotting for Monitors. He continued in a similar role, also covering Bruges, the following month - including 27 October 1917, ‘Photos: Attacked by 5 E.A. at long range on return.’ (Log Book refers)

Four days later Brewerton was carrying out another reconnaissance over the same target, ‘Escort to photo m/c. Attacked two E.A. on return, gun jammed and just before crossing the lines was attacked by high patrol of 6 E.A. Gunlayer wounded in arm after shooting one down.’

Brewerton carried out a large number of reconnaissance missions into the New Year, including a two and half hour flight to Ostende, 21 February 1918. In a letter to his mother dated, 30 March 1918, Brewerton writes: ‘I got the D.S.C. the other day so I am quite pleased with life. I expect it will be in the papers in a day or two so look out for it...’

2 Squadron was renumbered 202 Squadron with the formation of the Royal Air Force in April 1918. Brewerton, who had advanced to Captain, stayed on with the squadron and was flying DH4 A7632 when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Ostende, 13 June 1918. His Observer, Lieutenant M. G. English, was wounded.

Brewerton’s letters home hint at difficult times, including one written, 15 June 1918:
‘I have got some fairly interesting news for a change and that is that I have been given a home job for a few months at Dover for a rest. I have had some rather rotten trips just lately ending up with my observer getting a piece of shell in his head over Hunland, so the CO put in for me to go to a home job for a bit...’

Brewerton was appointed to the command of No. 491 (Light Bomber) Flight in June 1918. The latter flew DH9’s from Guston Road, Dover, and Brewerton’s Log Book states, ‘total time at Guston Road on Submarine Patrols 70 hours.’

Brewerton advanced to Flying Officer in August 1919, and was posted for operational flying with 20 Squadron (BE2b’s) in India in February 1920. In a letter to his mother, dated 24 January 1921, Brewerton offers the following insight:
‘We ‘beat up’ some tribesmen yesterday and had the satisfaction of killing two women as well as several men. The women are much worse than the men up here if you are captured, one day I will tell you some stories about them.’

To put the above into context, there were examples of women carrying out castration amongst other atrocities on those being unfortunate enough to be captured.

Brewerton was subsequently appointed to the command of No. 423 (Fleet Spotter) Flight, Malta, and was killed in a flying accident, 18 January 1927. The following official statement was issued by the R.A.F. at the time:
‘The Air Ministry regrets to announce that as a result of an accident at Malta to an Avro Bison of No. 423 Flight on January 18 Flight Lieutenant Cyril Fraser Brewerton, D.S.C., Royal Air Force, the pilot of the aircraft; Edwin Chafe, Lieutenant, Royal Navy; Lieutenant Guy Owen Owens-Jones, Royal Navy and J.39729 Leading Telegraphist George William Burton, Royal Navy, were killed.

The aeroplane had just taken off, and, still flying directly into the wind, approached the coast where the cliff is about 300 feet high. Here the air was unusually disturbed by a gusty wind blowing seawards at about 30 miles an hour. The machine, at a height of 50 feet was thrown out of control, the starboard lower wing struck the ground near the cliff edge, and the machine plunged into the sea. There is no indication of any defect in the aircraft or engine. Flight Commander C. F. Brewerton, who commanded the Flight, was a most skilful pilot, with many years’ experience, both during and since the war.’

Brewerton’s brother Eric, who had been awarded a D.F.C., was officer commanding of No. 440 (Fleet Reconnaissance) Flight also based on Malta, at the same time as the accident. Flight Lieutenant Brewerton is buried in Pieta Cemetery, Malta.

M.I.D. unconfirmed.

Sold with the following original documentation: Royal Naval Air Service Pilot’s Flying Log Book (8 September 1916 - 11 February 1919); R.N.A.S. Pilot Graduation Certificate, dated 13 December 1916; 3 Service and Conduct Certificates; Gunnery and Bomb Dropping Qualification Certificates; 6 Appointment and Posting Certificates; several photographs of recipient from service; a large number of letters, predominantly written to recipient’s mother and mostly on R.N.A.S. Station East Fortune letter headed paper, from wartime service including on the North West Frontier; with other ephemera.