The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A rare Great War Mesopotamia operations M.C., A.F.C. group of six awarded to Major J. O.C. Orton, Royal Air Force, late Norfolk Regiment and Royal Flying Corps

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Major J. O. C. Orton, 2/Norfolk R. & R.F.C., Mesopotamia 1918’; Air Force Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Major J. O. Orton, Buckingham Palace, 1919’; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. J. O. C. Orton), an official replacement; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Major J. O. C. Orton, R.A.F.); Serbia, Order of Karageorge, Fourth Class breast badge, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, slight enamel damage to the last, otherwise generally good very fine (6) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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M.C. London Gazette 2 December 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during three months’ operations. He showed splendid qualities as an Observer and rendered most valuable service. His intimate knowledge of the country enabled his reports to be most accurate throughout. He was three times in action against enemy aircraft, and on the last occasion returned with twenty bullet holes in his machine, after one and a half drums of ammunition from the Lewis gun had been emptied at the adversary.’

A.F.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

John Overton Cone Orton, who was born in St. John’s Wood, London in August 1889, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Norfolk Regiment in November 1909 and was serving out in India with the 2nd Battalion at the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914. Subsequently engaged in the Mesopotamia operations, he was present in operations on the Tigris and was wounded at Shaiba in the following year, and evacuated to Bombay.

Seconded for service with the Royal Flying Corps in December 1915, Orton served as an Observer in No. 30 Squadron out in Mesopotamia until September 1916, gaining the M.C. and a mention in despatches (London Gazette 19 October 1916 refers), in addition to the 4th Class of the Serbian Order of Karageorge (London Gazette 15 February 1917 refers): accompanying extracts from No. 30’s war diary reveal a number of reconnaissance sorties and a supply drop to the beleaguered garrison at Kut.

Appointed to No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron on his return to the U.K., and having qualified as a pilot in April 1917, Orton was “scrambled” on at least one occasion, namely a Goths raid on London on 13 June 1917. Subsequently employed at the Air Ministry from April 1918, he returned to regimental employ with the 1st Battalion, the Norfolks in Ireland in January 1920, but shortly thereafter was posted to the regimental depot in England and thence as Adjutant to the 5th (Territorial) Battalion. He was placed on the Retired List in January 1925.

Sold with copied service record and MIC entry, the latter confirming that his 1914-15 Star was replaced in January 1955.