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

Three: Second Lieutenant (Pilot) N. Sales, No. 87 Squadron, Royal Air Force, and King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, killed whilst flying on 30 June 1918

1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., Yorks. L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.) good very fine or better (3) £400-450

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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Norman Sales was born at Sheffield on 10 September 1895, and educated at Uppingham School. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, K.O.Y.L.I. in September 1914, and subsequently attached to the 2nd Battalion. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 14 March 1915; was wounded on 20 December following, and invalided to England; on recovery he was appointed Instructor in Machine Gunnery at Grantham; before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He obtained his Pilot’s certificate on 5 October 1916, and returned to France the following December, where he contracted fever, and was again invalided to England; on convalescence he became Instructor of Aerial Fighting at Turnberry, Co. Ayr, before joining 87 Squadron in March 1918.

He was killed over the Western Front, whilst flying a Dolphin, on 30 June 1918, and is buried at Wavans British Cemetery, France.

His obituary in The Roll of Honour, by The Marquis De Ruvigny states: ‘died at Wavans, near Auxi-le-Chateau 30 June, following from wounds received in aerial action the same day.’