Medals from the Rob Campbell Collection relating to Clevedon, Somerset

Pair: Lieutenant F. K. Laverton, Gloucestershire Regiment attached Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in a flying accident, 18 December 1917

British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. F. K. Laverton.) mounted for display, nearly extremely fine (2) £180-£220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Rob Campbell Collection relating to Clevedon, Somerset.

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Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, July 2001.

Frederick King Laverton was born in Dawlish, Devon, in July 1898, and was ‘the eldest son of Mr F. W. K. Laverton... late of Oxstalls End, Churchdown, [he] succumbed to injuries received in a flying accident on Tuesday last [18 December 1917] in Kent. The deceased officer, who was educated at Brymelyn School, Weston-Super-Mare, and for a short time at Cheltenham College, joined the Army [as Second Lieutenant (on probation) 3/9th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment] in 1916, at the age of 17 years, and served for some time on the Somme. Later, he returned, to England to join the Royal Flying Corps and was accepted on 1st September. By the middle of September he had obtained his flying certificate and in October he was awarded his Wings. Since then he has been at various aerodromes in the country, being qualified in photography, wireless and aerial gunnery.’ (Obituary from the Gloucestershire Chronicle refers)

Laverton resided with his parents at ‘Lithgow’, Victoria Road, Clevedon, and another obituary (this time from the Clevedon Mercury & Courier) adds the following:

‘Writing to Mrs Laverton, Lieutenant-Colonel C. Cooper of the RFC says, ‘I feel I must write to you to say how grieved I was to hear about the accident to your son, and to offer you my sincerest sympathy. He was a personal friend of mine. We were pupils together last year, and only recently I specially applied for him to be allowed to join me in Scotland. He was one of my best pilots, and you may be glad to know that he was in no way to blame for the accident. I am glad to say he suffered no pain, he was unconscious at once and never regained it.’

The accident referred to took place whilst Laverton was based at No. 3 Auxiliary School of Aerial Gunnery at New Romsey, Kent. Laverton’s Sopwith Strutter collided with another aircraft whilst taxiing on the ground.

Lieutenant Laverton is buried in Barnwood (St. Lawrence) Churchyard, Gloucestershire.

Sold with extensive copied research, including photographic images of recipient in uniform.