British Groups

Lot 5689    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    British Groups

Estimate $8,400
Bid at live.noble.com.au

TRIO: Distinguished Flying Cross (GRI); British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. First medal unnamed, Major H.A.Coysh. on second and third medals. Both named medals impressed. The first medal is in the original case by John Pinches, extremely fine.

Recommendation for DFC by Brigadier General C Longcroft, Commanding 3rd Brigade, RAF 14 September 1918. Shows Coysh's unit as RGA & RAF, No 15 Sqn, RAF. 'Throughout the operations this officer has done consistently good work as an Observer on Contact and Counter Attack Patrols. In conjunction with his pilot he carried out very successful contact patrols on four successive days (21st to 24th August 1918), bringing back very valuable information despite heavy machine gun fire. On 24th August 1918, he attacked enemy Infantry in the neighbourhood of Pozieres from a height of 100 feet, causing many casualties. On the 2nd September 1918, he engaged a concentration of troops at Le Tresnoy, causing a large number of casualties and great confusion. On the 23rd August 1918, when over Grandcourt, his machine was very heavily engaged by fire from the ground, he located the enemy Infantry in trenches and engaged them causing casualties and silencing the ground fire. He has taken every opportunity of locating and successfully engaging A.. machine guns, thereby greatly facilitating the work of his pilot in getting accurate information as to the location of our troops. His work has at all times been marked by gallantry and resourcefulness worthy of the highest praise.' Confidential record of officers recommended for DFC immediate award sent to OC, 18th Wing, RAF. 'This officer has flown with Lieut Cross continuously during present operations, and has ably assisted his pilot in bringing information as to the disposition of ours and enemy troops. He has taken every opportunity of engaging enemy troops with Lewis Gun fire, notably on 23rd inst.' Supplement to Confidential letter by Major Commanding No 15 Squadron, RAF, In the Field 3/9/18., sent to Headquarters, 18th Wing, RAF. Describes Coysh's involvement, with another aircraft, in driving out the enemy from Le Transloy on 2 Sep 1918 with machine gun fire and attacking a Grman machine gun position despite the aircraft being hit. DFC LG 3/12/1918 p.14320, 2nd Lieut. (A/Lieut) Harold Arthur Coysh (R.G.A.) (France) Citation: 'A capable and gallant Observer who has done consistent good work in contact and counter-attack patrols. His success in locating and engaging anti-aircraft guns has materially assisted his pilot in obtaining accurate information as to the locality of our troops.' Harold Arthur Coysh was born in 1897. He was a dental student from 1914-16 and on 4 November 1916 he is shown as an Officer Cadet with RGA entering the Special Reserve and the Siege Battalion as a 2/Lieutenant. On 24 March 1917 he was appointed Acting Captain and on two occasions was appointed Acting Major. On 24 December 1917 he was attached to the RAF and graduated from Flying School (Observer) on 28 May 1918. He went to France with No 15 Sqn where he performed exceptional work as on Observer resulting in the award of a DFC in December 1918. The award was presented to him by King George V on 20 February 1920. After the war he went on to become a Dental Surgeon. On 12 October 1940 he applied for service with RAFVR. Ex Sotheby's 1977; Liverpool Medals, November 1988. With research.