British Groups

Lot 5688    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    British Groups

Estimate $8,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF EIGHT: Military Cross (GRI); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45. First medal and last four medals unnamed; 2 Lieut. C.A.A.Hiatt. Norf.R. on second medal, Major C.A.A.Hiatt. R.A.F. on third and fourth medals. All named medals impressed. Court mounted, extremely fine.

MC LG Supplement 1/1/1917, p.35 Recommendation by Brigadier General C.A.H.Longcroft, Commanding 5th Brigade, RFC, 11 October 1916. Shows Hiatt's unit as 2nd Norfolk Regiment and Royal Flying Corps. 'For continuous good work over a long period as a Flying Officer and later as a Flight Commander. From September 1915 to July 1916 Captain Hiatt has shown exceptional skill and gallantry as a pilot especially while carrying out contact patrol duties, being among the first to set the example of coming down low over the enemy to gain information.' Mentioned in Press Communique published by the War Office on 13 March 1918. Cuthbert Ambrose Anthony Hiatt born in 1890 was commissioned into the Norfolk Regiment on 17 February 1915. Also in February 1915 he left Sandhurst and commenced pilot training on the Maurice Farnham Biplane at the Military School, Shoreham. He graduated at the Royal Aero Flying Club with Pilot's Licence No.1223 on 5 May 1915. He transferred to the RFC on 14 September 1915 being appointed Flying Officer, 9 Sqn, a scouting unit flying B.E.2s. On 29 March 1916 he was appointed Acting Commander of 4 Sqn and on 11 April 1916 he was appointed Temporary Captain from 2/Lieutenant. No.4 Sqn was the first squadron to use air-to-ground radios. On 3 July 1916 on Contact Patrol, Be2c, near Thiepval Capt C.A.A.Hiatt/Lt G.E.F.Sutton were shot up and damaged. 17 July 1916 posted to a Home Establishment and on 2 August posted to 66 Sqn being appointed Flight Commander from 30 November 1916. On 17 December 1916 Hiatt was appointed Temporary Major. Flying Sopwith Pups and the squadron was deployed to France on 17 March 1917 for Home Defence at Calais. Hiatt was now appointed Temporary Major and Squadron Commander. On 2 November 1917 he was posted to 57 Sqn flying DH4s and appointed Squadron Commander on 16 November 1917 until 11 September 1918 when he transferred to Home Establishment. In 1928 Hiatt was Captain/Adjutant to the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps, Reserve Officer 19 February 1931 (Major) and retired 4 June 1932. In 1939 he was Honorary Flight Lieutenant MC, RAFVR (Major Ret'd), Assistant Commandant to No.11 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School in Perth, Scotland. On 15 December 1939 he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer and on 1 January 1943 promoted to Flight Lieutenant serving in Administration and Special Duties Branch. With research.