Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Captain G. Chadwick, Manchester Regiment, later Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, who flew with 19 Squadron and was twice wounded in aerial combat - the latter, on 3 May 1918, resulting in him ‘going down spinning’ near Neuve Chappelle and being taken Prisoner of War

1914-15 Star (Lieut. G. Chadwick. Manch R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G. Chadwick. R.A.F.); Serbia, Kingdom, Order of the White Eagle, Fifth Class breast badge, with swords, silver-gilt and enamel, crude enamel repair to blue enamel riband to the reverse of the last, otherwise generally good very fine (4) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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Serbian Order of the White Eagle, 5th Class London Gazette 15 February 1917.

George Chadwick was born in Adlington, Lancashire, in June 1894. He initially served during the Great War as a Lieutenant with the 1/7th Battalion, Manchester Regiment (T.F.) in the Egyptian theatre of War from 5 November 1914. Chadwick transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in October 1916, and advanced to Temporary Captain in November of the same year. He carried out initial training as a pilot, and gained his ‘Wings’ with Royal Aero Club Certificate Number 4294, taken on a Beatty-Wright Biplane at Beatty School, Hendon, in February 1917.

Chadwick was posted for operational flying with 19 Squadron (Spads and Dolphins), Vert Galand, Belgium in May 1917. He was wounded in action when he was ‘shot through knee after combat, forced landing near Dickebusch’ on 4 June 1917. After a period of recuperation, and employment as an instructor, Chadwick returned to 19 Squadron as a Flight Commander in March 1918.

Chadwick was wounded, shot down, and taken Prisoner of War on 3 May 1918:
‘An offensive patrol at 4.56pm engaged six or seven enemy aircraft Pfalz scouts with indecisive results. Captain Chadwick was seen by Lieutenant Irving to have fabric torn from the righthand top plane and go down under partial control, subsequently seen to be attacked by further enemy aircraft and go down spinning near Neuve Chappelle, east of lines.’

Chadwick was repatriated on 2 January 1919.

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