A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars

Pair: Captain (Pilot) A. T. Greg, No. 55 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, formerly Cheshire Regiment, killed in aerial combat on 23 April 1917, a ‘Bloody April’ casualty

1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut., Ches. R.); Victory Medal (Capt.); together with memorial plaque (Arthur Tylston Greg); and a renamed B.W.M., all contained in an attractive contemporary fitted display frame, extremely fine (4) £250-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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Arthur Tylston Greg was born in 1895, and educated at Rugby School. He was commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment in August 1914, being attached temporarily to the Notts. & Derby. Regiment, until he was invalided home in December. On returning to the Front in January 1915, he was attached to the 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, with whom he remained until he was severely wounded at Ypres on 6 May 1915. On his recovery he rejoined his old battalion, and was promoted to Captain in November 1915, subsequently qualifying as a Bombing Instructor, he acted in this capacity with the battalion.

In September 1916 he was selected as a candidate with the Royal Flying Corps, and after preliminary training in England and at Vendome in France, he was sent to Grantham to complete his training, after which he joined No. 55 Squadron in France on 4 April 1917.

Just nineteen days later, on 23 April 1917 six of his squadron were sent to bomb an ammunition dump, and were returning, when they were attacked by ten enemy machines. He was shot and killed at an altitude of about 18,000 feet, and his Observer, who managed to land the machine (a DH4 aeroplane) just inside the French lines at Urvillers, near St Quentin, died of wounds the following month. Captain Greg is buried at Jussy Communal Cemetery, Aisne, France.

The following exert from a letter, written by the Major in charge of Bidston Camp, where Greg did much of his trainng, is reproduced from the Rugby School Memorial book: ‘Of all the younger officers with whom I have been associated since the outbreak of war, I have always regarded him as the best, both as a type and in capabilities. He was wonderful with the men, and as Bombing Officer to the battalion obtained by far the best results we have ever had. During the six months that he was with me at Bidston, I got to know him so well and to appreciate and admire him both as a man and as a soldier.’

See Lot 1188 for the medals to his brother.