Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Lot 4513    Session 14 (4.30pm)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,200

GROUP OF SIX TO A LEGENDARY NAVAL AVIATOR: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member (Military) (type 2) (MBE Mily); Distinguished Service Medal (GVIR Indiae Imp); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, - clasp - North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star, - clasp - Pacific; War Medal 1939-45. FX.79446 A.Nelson. Airmn 1 F.A.A. on second medal, other medals unnamed. Named medal impressed. Swing mounted, contact marks, otherwise very fine.

Together with case for MBE with Statutes book for The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; appointment document for MBE dated 2 June 1973 signed by QEII; letter forwarding appointment document and other letters re the Order of the British Empire; various newspaper cuttings, photos and documents. Also, tally band of H.M.S.Ark Royal; silver napkin ring impressed 'H.M.S./ Ark Royal/1955' on one side and the number 212 on the other side; silver Bosun's call (whistle) with side engraved, '1st Call Boy/Winter 1937' and long silver chain (138cm); matching set of miniatures except OBE (gold coloured) instead of MBE (silver coloured).

DSM: Supplement to LG 1/7/1941, p3745, to Naval Airman First CLass Allan Nelson, FAA/FX.79446. MBE: Supplement to LG 2/6/1973, p6477, to Lieutenant-Commander Allan Nelson, D.S.M., Royal Navy.

Lieutenant Commander Allan 'Smokey' Nelson was born in Newcastle, England. He joined the Royal Navy at HMS Ganges as a boy seaman in January 1937. In 1938 while serving with the battleship HMS Ramilles he was the sight-setter of the right gun of B turret. While with Ramilles he was also charged with carrying sacks of coal from the coaling sheds at Gibraltar. This was a great inducement for him to get away from battleship service so at the start of WWII he trained first at RNB Portsmouth and then at RNAS Worthy Down to become a telegraphist air gunner. He joined his first squadron at RNAS Donibristle (767 Sqn) which detached to Hyeres in Southern France to dive-bomb Italian targets. With the fall of France imminent, the squadron, operating Swordfish, evacuated to Malta in June 1940.

In May 1941 'Smokey' was drafted to 806 Sqn operating Fulmars from HMS Formidable over the Western Desert. After he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal he was flying in Walruses from the cruiser HMS Newfoundland giving anti-submarine protection to Atlantic convoys. By 1945 he was flying in Avenger aircraft of 854 Sqn from HMS Illustrious against the Japanese. He became a commissioned observer in 1952. He retired in 1971 but was re-employed because the Royal Navy wanted a senior instructor to assist in training of Federal German Naval aircrew in the Royal Observer School, first at Lossiemouth and then Culdrose. He was awarded an MBE in 1973.

In 1974 the legendary 'Smokey' Nelson retired after just over 36 years Royal Naval service. When he made his last flight as an observer instructor he was the longest serving active aviator in the Fleet Air Arm. When the Sea Princess aircraft of his last flight touched down, he was given a special reception to celebrate his aviation career. Nursing Sister Myra Lloyd had a wheel chair waiting for him and after 'Smokey' was lowered into it, Surgeon Michael Boyle, the Senior Medical Officer at the RNAS Culdrose, placed a drip feed on the retiring officer's wrist and held aloft a bottle (of brandy) which looked more at home in the ward room rather than in sick bay. And then the party began.