Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine and scarce 1918 Great War Sopwith Camel fighter ace’s D.F.C. and Second Award Bar group of three awarded to Captain S. C. Joseph, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force - who was the highest scoring Jewish ace of the Great War - claiming at least 13 aerial victories through a combination of destroyed, forced down out of control and shared destroyed enemy aircraft. All with 210 Squadron, over the Western Front between May - October 1918. A ‘gung-ho’ pilot and Flight Commander, Joseph had a traumatic September during which he nearly succumbed to anti-aircraft fire, and was later wounded in aerial combat leading to a crash landing

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., with bar for second award, unnamed as issued. British War and Victory Medals (Capt. S.C. Joseph, R.A.F.) mounted for wear, generally very fine (3) £15,000-£18,000

D.F.C. London Gazette 21 September 1918 (Sea Patrol):

‘A gallant pilot who has accounted for eight enemy aircraft within the past four months. On many occasions the enemy, were numerically superior to Lieutenant Joseph's patrol, but this did not prevent his attaining success.’

D.F.C. Second Award Bar London Gazette 2 November 1918 (Sea Patrol):

‘A very gallant and skilful officer. He led his formation under a large force of enemy aircraft with a view to inducing them to descend to attack him. In this ruse de guerre he was successful, and, in accordance with arrangements previously made, another formation of our machines then appeared on the scene, and a combined attack was made on the enemy, resulting in the destruction of four Aeroplanes and three more being brought down completely out of control. Since the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was conferred on this officer less than two months ago he has personally destroyed one enemy machine, brought down another out of control, and has helped to destroy a third. Captain Joseph was wounded on the occasion of the combined attack.’

Approximately 66 D.F.C. and Bars awarded for the Great War.

Captain S. C. Joseph was the highest scoring Jewish Ace of the Great War, and the only Ace of the conflict to hail from Birmingham.

Solomon Clifford Joseph was born in Birmingham in April 1893, and was the son of a fine art dealer specialising in jade. The family home was 14 Speedwell Road, Edgbaston, and his father’s business was based in Birmingham. Joseph joined the Royal Naval Air Service in August 1917, and carried out pilot training at Crystal Palace from 12 August 1917, and at Vendome from 15 September 1917. He trained on the Caudron Biplane at the British Flying School, Vendome, France, attaining his Royal Aero Licence (No.5475) on 7 October 1917. Subsequent training postings were to Cranwell and Manston, before being posted to Dunkerque on 16 February 1918.

After a brief posting to 12 (N) Squadron R.N.A.S. in February 1918, Joseph then went to 10 (N) Squadron R.N.A.S. later the same month. He was posted as a pilot for operational flying to 210 Squadron in March 1918, and transferred with the Squadron into the Royal Air Force the following month. Flying in Sopwith Camels from various bases in France, Joseph remained with the Squadron until 28 November 1918. The Squadron, of which Joseph was to become a Flight Commander, were initially engaged on ground-attack duties in an effort to help stop the German Spring Offensive. They were subsequently engaged on offensive patrols and bomber escort missions over Belgium.

May, and into the Fray

Joseph claimed 13 victories with 210 Squadron, between May and October 1918. His first victory came when he forced down an Albatros DV out of control over Armentières on 8 May 1918. A précis of the Combat Report gives an early indication of his close-up style of fighting:

‘In general engagement with 14 Albatros and Pfalz scouts over Armentières got on tail of one of former and after firing 90 rounds from 50 – 10 yards E.A. went down out of control. Confirmed by Lieut. F.V. Hall.’

The following day Joseph shared another Albatros forced down out of control near Bailleul:

‘Patrol attacked an Albatros two-seater near Bailleul and after Capt. Carter had shot the observer in firing 60 rounds from 30-20 yards. Lieut. Joseph got behind & above E.A. and fired about 60 rounds into the pilot from 20 yards. Pilot collapsed & E.A. went down out of control diving on its back. Not seen to crash owing to ground mist, but did not reappear.’ (Ibid)

On 14 May, Joseph attacked a further three enemy aircraft and forced an Albatros DV down out of control near Ypres-Zillebeke:

‘Between Ypres & Zillebeke at 12,000ft. In general engagement with 12 E.A. Lieut. Joseph attacked 3 individually in successive dives. Then observed Albatros Scout below dived & fired at 50-40 yards, E.A. went down Out of Control unable to observe result as I was attacked by 5 E.A. & chased back to the line, my machine being hit in the tail.’ (Ibid)

The following day Joseph was involved in an inconclusive aerial combat with a Pfalz Scout near Armentières, when he fired 150 rounds at 50-100 yards. The enemy aircraft was seen to turn on its back and go down in a deep spiral dive, but no result was observed. He concluded his success for the month, with the shared destruction of a Kite Balloon near Pont Riqueu on 21 May.

A Summer ‘Ace’

The clear skies of summer continued to appeal to Joseph, and he had his most successful day to date on 6 June 1918, when he destroyed an enemy aircraft near Neuf Berquin, and shared in the destruction of another near Vieux Berquin:

‘Attacked wireless E.A. near Neuf Berquin diving & firing 300 rounds at 80-40 yards, observer was killed & collapsed in the cockpit, Lieut. Joseph followed E.A. down to 800ft. & saw him still descending when at 200ft. Pulled off thereafter to attack 2 other E.A. circling over Estaires. Wireless E.A. is confirmed by A.A. 'J' Battery to have crashed near Neuf Berquin... Lieut. Joseph then with Lieut. Campbell attacked (another) wireless machine at 4,000ft. Over Morris, Joseph dived & fired 400 rounds at 60-40 yards range. Observer was killed & collapsed in the cockpit. Lieut. K.Y. Campbell fired burst of 50 rounds at pilot from close range from side of E.A. which was followed down to 800ft. Owing to machine-gun fire from the ground, Pilots had to pull off & did not observe results. E.A. confirmed by A/A 'J' Battery to have crashed near Vieux Berquin.’

Three days later, Joseph added to his score when he forced a Pfalz DIII down out of control near Ploegsteert Wood:

‘While on Offensive Patrol, our formation observed 7 Pfalz scouts at 8,000ft. Over Ploegsteert Wood and dived to attack. Shortly after, 7 more Pfalz and 3 tri-planes came up from the East and a general engagement ensued. I attacked one Pfalz scout and fired a burst of about 60 rounds at close range. E.A. spun down out of control. I could not observe result as I attacked a Triplane immediately after, but without decisive results.’ (Ibid)

There was a flurry of activity for Joseph at the end of June, when he firstly shot down an LVG C Type in flames north of Armentières on the 26:

‘While leading Offensive Patrol I observed a L.V.G. 2-seater at 15,000ft. And fired a burst of 160 rounds at 60 yards to point blank range. E.A. dived omitting smoke and afterwards burst into flames. When last seen was still falling out of control and emitting volumes of smoke. This is confirmed by Lieut. Highstone. Pilot was unable to watch final result as he was attacked by 3 Triplanes.’ (Ibid)

The above was closely followed by a Fokker DVII destroyed in the same area three days later. The Combat Report for the latter giving:

‘In a general engagement with 11 E.A. Pfalz and Fokker Biplanes over Armentières, I attacked above E.A. firing 140 rounds from 80 yards to point blank range. E.A. went down in a sickly dive, obviously out of control. This is confirmed by Capt. Coombes. This machine was seen by Lieut. Buchanan to crash near Armentières.’

The following month, whilst leading his flight on patrol, Joseph was attacked from above:

‘While leading a flight I observed 6 Fokker Biplanes and Pfalz Scouts E. of Dixmude. Two dived on me, one was attacked by Lieut. Sutcliffe. The other after firing a burst overshot and I turned and fired a burst from his left side at 50 to 20 yards as we converged. E.A. then side-slipped, stalled, spun and went down in a steep dive out of control. Last seen at 10,000ft. still falling out of control. Confirmed by Lieut. Sutcliffe.’ (Ibid)

The above patrol had taken place on 30 July 1918, resulting in yet another Fokker DVII forced down out of control to be added to Joseph’s tally. This was shortly followed by another Fokker DVII destroyed within the same week, this time west of Ostend:

‘While on Offensive Sweep, patrol attacked 8 Fokker Biplanes near Ghistelles. I dived on one and fired a burst of 100 rounds at 50 yards to point blank range. E.A. dived and manoeuvred. At 5,000 feet. He straightened out. I again attacked and followed him down to 2,000 feet. Firing a further 300 rounds. E.A. went down out of control and I saw him crash between one and two miles W. of Ostend.’ (Ibid)

September - nearly the end of the line

The new month started on a similar theme, with Joseph adding yet another Fokker DVII destroyed to his score on 3 September 1918:

‘While on Offensive Patrol, 'C' Flight was attacked by one Fokker Biplane over Roulers. The Flight engaged E.A. which went down in a dive changing to a slow spin. The whole Flight confirms this E.A. out of control. Capt. Joseph went down to 3,000ft. And saw it crash. The pilot of this E.A. was exceptionally good. He engaged the Flight of 8 machines for 10 minutes and handled his machine with remarkable skill and daring.’ (Ibid)

Three days later Joseph’s Sopwith Camel was damaged by anti-aircraft fire near Zevecote. Having survived, his luck nearly ran out when he was wounded in aerial combat with Ltn. Wilhelm of Jasta 4 on 24 September. Joseph was forced to crash land, with Wilhelm claiming him as one of his two victories for the Great War.

Joseph, having recuperated from his wounds, was back up in the air by the end of October 1918. He claimed one final Fokker DVII destroyed near Rombies-Estreaux on the 30:

‘In general engagement with 7 Fokker Biplanes I saw Capt. Gorringe 'huffing' with one E.A. After a few minutes Capt. Gorringe drew off. I then dived on the E.A. and fired a long burst at 100 to 20 yards range. E.A. went straight down and crashed... Confirmed by Lieut. Burns.’ (Ibid)

Joseph returned to Birmingham after the war, and enjoyed a prosperous manufacturing career. Using his middle name for inspiration, he formed The Clifford Group, which by the time of his retirement in April 1960 consisted of up to 16 companies, including: Clifford Aero and Auto Ltd. Spring Road, Hall Green, Birmingham; New Imperial Motorcycles; Clifford Covering Ltd.; Clifford Cultivators Ltd.; Clifford Motor Components; and Clifford Developments, Farnborough Engineering Valves Ltd. At Joseph's retirement, his group had companies covering Birmingham, Coventry and Farnborough.

Captain Joseph died in the Queen Elizabeth hospital, Birmingham, in March 1966, and is buried at Witton, Jewish Cemetery.

Sold with a file of copied research including photographic images of the recipient, 16 Combat Reports, Aviators' Certificate, service papers, London Gazette's, medal roll, Census etc.