Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. B. L. McCarthy. R.A.F.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (2) (2/Lieut. H. Wearing. R.A.F.; Capt. G. D. F. Keddie. R.F.C.) good very fine (3) £80-£100

Basil Leo McCarthy, from Johannesburg, South Africa, was born on 31 December 1894. He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force and served during the Great War on the Western Front with 201 Squadron. He was wounded whilst flying his Sopwith Camel in aerial combat on 1 August 1918. Upon recovery, he returned to duty and was discharged on 13 July 1919.

Henry Wearing was born in April 1876, and resided with his wife at 28 Rowallan Gardens, Glasgow. He was employed as a solicitor before he enlisted in the ranks of the Royal Flying Corps in his home city in January 1916. Wearing served at Farnborough and with the Motor Transport at the Repair Depot, before being discharged to commission as a Temporary Second Lieutenant (on probation) in February 1918. He was employed as Equipment Officer at the School of Instruction, Henley on Thames, and at No. 1 Depot, Hurst Park. Wearing advanced Second Lieutenant in October 1919.

George Douglas Fletcher Keddie was born in Lymington, Hampshire, on 9 November 1895. He was commissioned into the 5th (London Rifle Brigade) Battalion, London Regiment for service during the Great War, and served on the Western Front from 30 April 1915. Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps, he gained his Royal Aero Aviator’s certificate on 20 December 1915, and saw later service with 60, 101 and 45 Squadrons, Royal Air Force.

Transferred to the unemployed list on 29 April 1919, he later joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, with whom he served during the Second World War, with the Administrative and Special Duties Branch, and was later appointed Squadron Leader. He died in Essex, aged 61, on 5 October 1957.