The Roy Bartlett Collection of Awards to the R.N.A.S., R.F.C. and R.A.F.

Six: Squadron Leader R. R. Thompson, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Coldstream Guards, Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force: twice wounded in France with the Guards, he lived to claim his Air Efficiency Award in 1966, aged 71 years

1914 Star, with clasp (9937 Pte., C. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals; Air Efficiency Award, E.II.R. (Flt. Lt., R.A.F.V.R.), the second and third renamed, generally very fine or better (7) £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Roy Bartlett Collection of Awards to the R.N.A.S., R.F.C. and R.A.F..

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Richard Robertson Thompson, who was born in Newcastle and educated at Mill Hill School, enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in January 1913, aged 18 years.

Embarked for France with the 3rd Battalion in August 1914, he was wounded a few weeks later by a gunshot to his left thigh on 6 September, the day that his unit moved forward to positions around Nesles. Having then been evacuated to the U.K., he returned to his unit in the Field in the New Year, but was once again wounded in the fighting at Bethune on 8 February 1915, and evacuated to the U.K.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers in May 1915, he was attached to the Machine Gun Corps in February 1916, with whom he most likely witnessed further action out in France. Then in early 1918 Thompson transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and, having qualified for his “Wings” that September, was placed on the Unemployed List in April 1919.

Recalled on the renewal of hostilities, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and served in the Administrative and General Duties Branch for the remainder of the War. Awarded the Air Efficiency Award with effect from July 1944, he was released in the rank of Flight Lieutenant (retaining the rank of Squadron Leader) in December 1945. However, as verified by M.O.D. (Air) records, he was not issued with his A.E. until February 1966, when aged 71 years.