Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual Second War A.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant The Reverend Canon C. E. Young, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Army Service Corps and Royal Flying Corps, who flew operationally in R.E. 8s and Bristol Fighters of No. 9 Squadron in the Great War: Headmaster of Rossall School by the renewal of hostilities, he quickly returned to uniform and ‘despite his age’, was decorated for his fine work as a Flying Instructor

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’, with Royal Mint case of issue; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. C. E. Young, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. C. E. Young, R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for display in a fine-quality glazed display frame, generally very fine and better (6) £3,000-£4,000

Dix Noonan Webb, June 2012.

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1943.
The original recommendation states: ‘This officer was Headmaster of Rossall School and, in response to a call for experienced personnel, volunteered for flying instructor duties in July 1940, being commissioned on 5 July 1940. He performed his duties with great efficiency but in July 1942, at the request of the Board of Directors of the School, he resigned his commission to return to his headmastership. At the same time he volunteered to give his services in any capacity during the August vacation. Flying Officer Young, despite his age, has an exceptional record of devoted service with a high number of flying hours and has at all times been a source of inspiration to the instructors and pupils alike.’

The Reverend Canon Charles Edgar Young was born in Bristol in 1897, the son of a Professor of Chemistry, and was educated at Castle Park Prep School, Dublin, and Charterhouse. Commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps shortly after the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he went out to France in the following year, but subsequently transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and qualified for his aviator’s certificate (No. 4809) in June 1917. Posted to No. 9 Squadron that August, he flew numerous bombing, photographic and artillery-spotting sorties throughout the Third battle of Ypres, and beyond, as well as carrying out low-level strafing of enemy troops and trenches. This was the most costly period of No. 9’s operational career: in August alone, 24 aircrew were lost to enemy action, among them one of Young’s early Observers, Second Lieutenant F. J. A. Wodehouse; indeed Squadron records reveal frequent interception by enemy aircraft, Young driving off one enemy aircraft at 6,000 feet over Pilckem on 11 September 1917, and a large two-seater during an artillery observation patrol on 25 January 1918. But he came through unscathed and ended the War as a flying instructor back in the U.K.

Having then attended Exeter College, Oxford, Young taught Classics at Fettes School up until 1929, when he was appointed Headmaster of Lincoln School and, after fulfilling that role with great success, he was invited to take over the helm at Rossall. Here, as made clear by accompanying obituaries, he was responsible for saving the school from closure in the wake of the depression in the 1930s and, with the exception of his wartime exploits as a flying instructor, remained in charge for 20 years. In the interim, Young had been ordained and on retiring from Rossall he became vicar of Thornthwaite-with-Braithwaite in the Lakelands. He died in 1977.

Sold with a large quantity of research, including a photocopy of the recipient’s Flying Log Book for the period May to August 1917, the original of which forms part of the Imperial War Museum’ s collection; and various photographic images of the recipient.