Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

The poignant Great War D.S.O. group of four awarded to Flight Lieutenant C. W. Graham, Royal Naval Air Service, a pioneer scout pilot in No. 1 Wing at Dunkerque who downed ‘a large German seaplane’ off the Belgian coast in December 1915; he was killed in September 1916, when, having taken off on an operational patrol from Great Yarmouth, his Short 184 Seaplane dived into the sea from 200 feet, the impact exploding his bomb load

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star (Flt. S. Lt. C. W. Graham. R.N.A.S.); British War and Victory Medals (Flt. Lt. C. W. Graham. R.N.A.S.) together with Memorial Plaque (Charles Walter Graham) generally extremely fine (4) £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 24 February 1916:

‘For his services on 14 December 1915, when with Flight Sub. Lieutenant Ince as observer and gunner he attacked and destroyed a German seaplane off the Belgian coast.’

Charles Walter Graham was born at St. Helier, Jersey on 12 November 1893, the son of Charles Knott Graham and his wife Helen. He was educated at Merchant Taylors’ School, where he excelled as a gymnast and fostered an interest in engineering. Shortly after leaving school, in 1913, he won the private owners’ prize and gold medal in the Warwickshire Club’s 100-Mile Open Motor Cycle Event.

He was at Stuttgart when war broke out in August 1914 but managed to get home via Switzerland, following which he took up aviation at Hendon and qualified for his Royal Aero Club certificate (No. 2238) in a Grahame-White biplane on 12 February 1915; he also collected Third Prize in an “Impromptu” Speed Contest held there on 5 April 1915.

A week later, Graham obtained a commission as a Temporary Flight Sub. Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service and was posted to No. 1 Wing at Dunkerque, where he became a pioneer scout pilot.

On 14 December 1915, flying Nieuport 3971, with Flight Sub. Lieutenant Ince as his Observer, he attacked and shot down ‘a big German seaplane’ off La Panne:

‘A merchant vessel was stranded on the sandbank near the Whistle Buoy on the 12th, owing to stormy weather, and was unable to be towed off. At 10 a.m. a report was received that two German Aviatiks were attacking her with bombs. Machines were sent out, and from 10.30 a.m. onwards, a continuous patrol was maintained, all hostile machines being driven off. At 3.15 p.m. on the 14th Flight Sub.-Lieutenant B. (sic) Graham, with Sub.-Lieutenant Ince as observer, in a Nieuport Scout, which was much faster, gave chase, and got within 100 yards’ range, the position being practically over the steamer. Flight Sub.-Lieutenant Graham dived and manoeuvred his machine so as to enable his passenger to train his gun upwards under the enemy’s tail at fifty tards’ range. This manoeuvre was repeated altogether three times, a number of rounds being fired into the enemy on each occasion. Upon the third occasion, when five rounds had been fired, the hostile machine suddenly turned sharply down, nose-dived vertically into the water, and was observed to be a flaming wreck. The pilot then vol-planed down to investigate more closely; his engine failed to pick up, and he was forced to descend into the sea close to the paddle minesweeper Balmoral. The Nieuport turned over on striking the water, and Flight Sub. Lieutenant Graham had great difficulty in releasing his belt under water and extricating himself. Eventually both he and his observer got clear, and within a few minutes the Balmoral had lowered a boat and with great promptness rescued the two officers.’ (The Dover Patrol, refers).

A confidential report on his services was submitted on 22 December 1915: ‘Exceptional skill and courage. Has been continually employed on reconnaissance work and hostile aircraft patrols over the enemy’s lines. Specially recommended for promotion.’

He was indeed promoted to Flight Lieutenant in January 1916, shortly before the announcement of his well-deserved D.S.O.

On 8 February 1916, Graham was seriously injured in a flying accident, following engine failure. He was admitted to the R.N.H. Haslar with ‘severe injuries to head, concussion and possibly base fracture of skull’ and there he remained until discharged on sick leave on 14 March 1916. In the interim, on the 15 February, the Vice-Admiral Dover Patrol mentioned Graham in despatches ‘for continuous meritorious service over the enemy’s lines’ and recommended him for special recognition and reward.

His service record further states that he was still unfit to be medically re-surveyed in mid-April 1916, followed by the tragic news that he had been killed flying a Short 184 Type Seaplane (No. 8385) on 8 September 1916. Having taken off on an operational patrol from Great Yarmouth, his aircraft dived into the sea from 200 feet, the impact exploding his bomb load. It took two weeks to recover the wreckage and his body, his father taking possession of the latter on 27 September 1916.

Just 23-years-old, Graham was buried in the Old Cemetery at Barnes, London, near where his parents were living at the time.

Sold with an impressive array of awards for Gymnastics at Merchant Taylors’ School, comprising a winner’s cap, in velvet, with silver-wire embroidered ‘MTS’ motif, ‘Gymnasium’ and the dates ‘1910’, ‘1911’ and ‘1912’; a prize medal, in bronze, the obverse with school motto and crest, and reverse engraved ‘Gymnastics’ and ‘C. W. Graham, June 1907’, in its fitted Kenning & Son case of issue; together with others identical (2), but in silver, these named and dated ‘1911’ and ‘1912’, and in fitted Kenning & Son, London cases of issue; and his London Aerodrome Hendon prize medal for Third Place in the “Impromtu” Speed Contest, bronze, the obverse engraved, ‘Won by C. W. Graham, April 5th 1915’, 50mm. diam., in its fitted red leather Elkington & Co. Ltd. case of issue.

Also sold with a copy Freedom of the City of London certificate, in the name of ‘Charles Walter Graham, son of the late Charles Knott Graham, Citizen of London and Merchant Taylor’, and Buckingham Palace forwarding slip for his memorial plaque.