Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A most unusual ‘military division’ O.B.E. group of five awarded to Wing Commander A. F. P. H. Somerset-Leeke, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who served as personal pilot to ‘Father of the Royal Air Force’ Hugh Trenchard in 1916. He was M.I.D. for services in Kurdistan in 1924, and received 2 Greek Awards for service with the British Air Mission to Greece, 1930-32 - a unique combination to the R.A.F.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, hallmarks for London ‘1927’; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. A. F. Somerset-Leeke. R.F.C.); Greece, Kingdom, Order of the Redeemer, 2nd issue, Knight’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Medal for Military Merit, 3rd Class, bronze, with bronze laurel wreath on riband; with M.I.D. Emblem, all mounted on card for display, generally good very fine or better (5) £1,400-£1,800

O.B.E. London Gazette 4 June 1928. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer is in charge of the technical training at No. 1 School of Technical Training (Apprentices) and has shown unflagging energy, determination and devotion to duty at all times. He possesses a considerable knowledge of workshop practice and organisation, and it was largely due to this knowledge that the change from bulk to wing training was effected so smoothly.

Squadron Leader Somerset-Leake is confident and cheerful, and deals with the various problems in connection with his work in a most tactful manner. He exercises a great influence over the officers under his command, and the record success of the last passing-out at the School was in a large measure due to his personal efforts.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 June 1918 and 11 June 1924 (Kurdistan).

Greece, Order of the Redeemer, 4th Class London Gazette 4 November 1932.

Alan Fitzroy Plantagenet Henry Somerset-Leeke was born in Gillingham, Kent in January 1891. He appears to have been commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps in April 1915 as plain ‘Alan Fitzroy’, dropping his third and fourth forenames (however his M.I.D. quotes all four initials). The forenames and ‘Somerset’ are all family names of the Dukes of Beaufort.

Somerset-Leeke advanced to Lieutenant in December 1915, and transferred to the Royal Air Force as a Temporary Captain in April 1918. He served as a pilot in the French theatre of war with 13, 21, 2 and 16 Squadrons during 1916. At the end of 1916, Somerset-Leeke was declared ‘unfit for flying duties’. It would appear that as aircraft became more advanced and were capable of attaining greater height, he began to suffer from aerial vertigo. Although he later regained his flying category he had limitations placed on the height at which he was allowed to fly. It is interesting that whilst he qualified for a Mention in Despatches for Kurdistan in 1924, he never qualified for the G.S.M. with ‘Kurdistan’ clasp. And again, until the change of rules in 1947 he was not permitted to wear the Oak Leaf on his uniform to signify this recognition.

Somerset-Leeke advanced to Squadron Leader in January 1926, and to Acting Wing Commander in September 1932. His two Greek awards were given in recognition of his services with the British Air Mission to Greece, 23 September 1930 - 23 September 1932, when he was employed as a Technical Adviser to the Greek Air Ministry. Somerset-Leeke became an engineering specialist whilst continuing to fly and it was because of his undoubted ability that he was selected for the Greek mission.

Somerset-Leeke retired in October 1935, only to re-engage as Acting Wing Commander for service during the Second World War in 1939 (entitled to Defence and War Medals). He was discharged in May 1945, and died in October 1959.

A number of lots of documentation relating to Somerset-Leeke appeared at auction with Sotheby King & Chasemore at the Warnham War Museum in April 1980. Included amongst these were his four log books - these were purchased by R.A.F. Hendon. An entry from the one the Log Books dated, 20 May 1916, states ‘transferred to 21 Squadron, St. Andre, Hesdin, as pilot for General Trenchard.’ The same source gives his first flight as personal pilot for Trenchard as 22 May 1916 in BE2c 1702 (photocopies of the relevant catalogue entries included in lot).

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