Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The impressive C.B., Great War D.S.O. and 1915 ‘French theatre’ M.C., ‘Old Contemptibles’ group of ten awarded to Air Vice-Marshal C. T. Maclean, Royal Fusiliers, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who was credited with at least 1 enemy aircraft destroyed whilst serving with 25 Squadron, commanded 11 Squadron 1916-17, and also held overall command of the Tenth (Army) Wing during the German Spring Offensive of 1918.

The highly decorated New Zealander went on to have a distinguished career between the wars - including as Officer Commanding British Forces in Aden, 1929-31; and Air Officer Commanding, R.A.F., Middle East, 1934-38

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, in Garrard & Co. Ltd case of issue, with white enamel damage; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top-riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (2. Lieut: C. T. Maclean. R. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. C. T. Maclean. R.A.F.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver and enamel, breast awards contemporarily mounted court-style by Collacott & Son, Cairo, with the exception of the Coronation 1953, which is loose as issued, housed in a Garrard & Co. Ltd leather case, with Great War period riband bars, remnants of lacquer, generally good very fine unless otherwise stated (10) £4,000-£5,000

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2000.

C.B. London Gazette 2 January 1933.

D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1919 (France).

M.C. London Gazette 18 February 1915.

M.I.D. London Gazettes 14 January 1915, 16 March 1916, and 8 November 1918.

France, Legion of Honour, Chevalier London Gazette 17 August 1918.

Cuthbert Trelawder Maclean was born in Wanganui, New Zealand, in October 1886. He was the son of the Reverend T. B. Maclean and was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and Auckland University. Maclean was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the New Zealand Land Forces in 1911, and served during the Great War as an infantry officer with the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) in the French theatre of war from 13 August 1914 (Mentioned in Despatches and awarded an early Military Cross).

Maclean was attached to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915, and after initial training as a pilot was posted for operational service with the newly formed 25 (Fighter) Squadron. Operating out of Auchel, and flying F.E.2b’s, Maclean was credited with the destruction of an enemy aircraft, 22 June 1916, ‘Capt. C. T. Maclean and Lt Barraclough, in a F.E. of 25 Sqn, attacked a Roland biplane east of Lens at 8 a.m. while on patrol duty at 10,000 feet. The F.E. dived at the Roland, and following it down to 5,000 fired two drums at close range. At 5,000 feet the German dived perpendicularly, the F.E. overshooting it. Subsequently Capt Maclean saw the Roland on the ground.’ (Royal Flying Corps, Communiques 1915-1916, Edited by C. Cole refers)

Maclean commanded 11 Squadron (F.E.2b’s and Bristol Fighters) at Le Hameau and Bellevue, 1916-17. During the latter period the Squadron, containing Albert Ball, were mainly tasked with offensive patrols and reconnaissance missions. At the start of the German Spring Offensive, 21 March 1918, Maclean held the overall command of the Tenth (Army) Wing’s 141 Camels, Bristol Fighters, D.H.4’s and S.E.5a’s at Bruay. Receiving a senior Permanent Commission in the Royal Air Force in 1919, Maclean’s subsequent postings included as Officer Commanding British Forces in Aden, 1929-31; Director of Postings, Air Ministry, 1931-34; Air Officer Commanding, R.A.F., Middle East, 1934-38; and A.O.C. No. 2 (Bomber) Group. He advanced to Air Vice-Marshal and was retired from the Service in 1940. In later life Maclean resided at Whiteway Copse, Cirencester, Gloucester. He died in 1969.

Sold with the following original documents: New Zealand Land Forces Commission, 9 September 1911; F.A.I. Aviator’s Certificate No. 1899, 16 October 1915; Three M.I.D. Certificates dated 14 January 1915, 16 March 1916 and 8 November 1918; Bestowal Document for Legion of Honour, dated 21 July 1918; Two R.A.F. Commissions, (Temporary) Lieutenant-Colonel, 1 April 1918, and (Permanent) Wing Commander, 1 August 1919; Bestowal Documents for the C.B. and the D.S.O.; Four agency photos of the recipient as A.O.C. 2 Group.

For the recipient’s related miniature awards, see Lot 1494; and for his Sword, see Lot 1631.