The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

A unique Great War D.C.M., long distance flight A.F.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant-Major 1st Class H. A. Gamon, Royal Air Force, late Royal Flying Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (723 Fl. Sjt. H. A. Gamon, R.F.C.); Air Force Medal, G.V.R. (723 S.M. 1 H. A. Gamon, R.A.F.); 1914 Star (723 2 A.M. H. A. Gamon, R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals (723 T.S.M. H. A. Gamon, R.A.F.); Defence Medal 1939-45, contact marks, very fine and better (6) £5000-6000

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

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D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1917. The original recommendation states:

‘From February 1916 until the present date he has been employed as N.C.O. in charge of rotary engine testing. He has worked extremely long hours under arduous conditions and has maintained throughout a high standard.’

A.F.M. London Gazette 12 July 1920. The original joint recommendation states:

‘For excellent work carried out under very difficult circumstances, during their flight from England to Egypt in July and August 1919. It was largely owing to their keenness and devotion to duty that made the flight so successful.’

Herbert Alfred Gamon was was born in Gravesend, Kent in February 1895 and enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps in May 1913. Embarked for France in August 1914, he remained employed there until February 1918, and was awarded his D.C.M. while serving at No. 1 Aircraft Depot. Posted to No. 216 Squadron in November 1918, Gamon was awarded the A.F.M. for his good work in the Squadron’s long distance flight to Egypt in the summer of 1919, and afterwards transferred to No. 14 Squadron, another unit of the Palestine Brigade. Returning to the U.K. as a substantive Sergeant-Major 1st Class in July 1920, he was discharged in June 1921.

Retaining his interest in aviation post-R.A.F. career, Gamon was for many years a member of the Aeronautical Inspection Department, served in a Home Guard anti-aircraft battery at South Yardley in the last war, and died at New Milton in August 1976; sold with copied service record and two or three original Great War portrait photographs.