A Collection of Awards to the Royal Air Force between the Wars (1919-1939) formed by Group Captain JE Barker

A scarce ‘Mahsud 1919-20’ three clasp I.G.S. group of six awarded to Second Lieutenant W. J. Sutherland, Royal Air Force, later Detective Sergeant, City of Glasgow Police Force

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. W. J. Sutherland. R.A.F.); India General Service 1908-35, 3 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Mahsud 1919-20, Waziristan 1919-21 (2-Lt. W. J. Sutherland, R.A.F.) unofficial connections between clasps; Defence Medal; Police Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Sergt. William J. Sutherland); Corporation of Glasgow Bravery Medal, 2nd type, silver (hallmarks for Birmingham 1949’, reverse inscribed, ‘Detective Sergeant William J. Sutherland Marine Division 1951’, this complete with brooch bar, first five awards mounted for wear, generally nearly very fine (6) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Air Force between the Wars (1919-1939) formed by Group Captain JE Barker.

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Provenance: Christie’s, March 1988.

The Corporation of Glasgow Bravery Medal was awarded to ‘Detective Sergeant William Sutherland, Marine Division (now retired), for rescuing a child from a fire in a tenement building in Anderson Street.’ (Chief Constables’ Annual Report for 1951 refers).

William James Sutherland was born at 25 Gordon Street, Whiteinch, Partick, Lanarkshire, in December 1898. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant Observer Officer in the Royal Air Force, 7 October 1918. After the Great War, Sutherland served on the North West Frontier and was one of approximately 175 men of the R.A.F. who qualified for the ‘Mahsud 1919-20’ clasp. Only members of two squadrons, Nos. 20 and 31, qualified for all three clasps that Sutherland was awarded.

Sutherland returned to the UK, and was placed on the unemployed list in February 1920. The son of a police officer, Sutherland joined the City of Glasgow Police Force in September 1921. His initial service was with ‘B’ (Western) Division, before being promoted to Detective Constable with ‘L’ (Partick) Division in February 1928. Sutherland returned to ‘B’ Division, advanced to Detective Sergeant, and retired to pension on 6 September 1951. The occasion of his rescue of a child from fire occurred at 54 Anderson Street, Glasgow, 3 June 1951.

As well as receiving the Corporation of Glasgow Bravery Medal, Sutherland was also awarded the Police Long Service Medal in 1951. The latter being amongst the first awarded, given the medal’s institution that year. Sutherland died in Glasgow in 1974.

Sold with a file of copied research.