Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Kite Balloon officer’s D.F.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant W. B. Ward, Royal Air Force, late Royal Field Artillery

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., privately engraved (Lieut. Wilfred B. Ward, 3-9-18); 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.), mounted as worn, very fine (4) £2000-2500

D.F.C. London Gazette 2 November 1918:

‘During the recent operations this officer has shown great enterprise and initiative in observing from kite balloons the fire of our artillery, and his services have been of the greatest value. Whilst on this duty Lieutenant Ward’s balloon has been shot down on three occasions; displaying remarkable coolness and courage he has at once ascended in a fresh balloon and completed his task.’

Wilfred Beckwith Ward, a Cigar Merchant, from Sunderland, entered the Great War as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, having had previous service with the 7th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. Transferring to the R.F.C., he attended the Balloon Training Wing at Roehampton in May 1917 and was appointed Temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 1 June 1917. He was promoted to Lieutenant (Kite Balloon Officer) in the R.A.F. on 1 April 1918 and served with the 16th Balloon Company with the B.E.F. in the latter part of the War. Awarded the D.F.C. for his ballooning exploits, he was placed on the Unemployed List in March 1919; sold with copied service papers.