British Groups

Lot 5685    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    British Groups

Estimate $32,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF NINE: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Officer) (2nd Type Civil); Military Cross (GRI); Distinguished Flying Cross (GRI); King's Police Medal (GV) (2nd Type); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937. First medal unnamed, 2nd/Lt Paul Wilkins on second medal; Lieut Paul Wilkins on third medal, Paul B Wilkins, Indian Police Service on fourth medal, 108080 Cpl. P.Wilkins, R.E. on fifth medal, Lieut. P.Wilkins RAF on sixth and seventh medals, P.B.Wilkins I.P. on eigth medal, last medal unnamed. Fifth - seventh medals impressed, other named medals engraved. Court mounted, extremely fine.

Multiple decoration Group of Nine to Lt P B 'Willie' Wilkins, RE/RAF MC LG 18/10/1917 to T/2nd Lt Paul Wilkins, RE Citation: 'T/2nd Lt Paul Wilkins RE for Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He himself laid out the assembly tapes for the first wave over a wide front, and was slightly wounded while doing so, in spite of this, when a whole section of tape was destroyed by shell fire he returned and replaced it, and afterwards directed the second and third waves. He had previously reconnoitered the whole ground under heavy shell fire.' DFC LG 3/6/1919 to Lt Paul Wilkins, MC (RE) (France) Royal Air Force recommendation for Royal Engineers attached to No.100 Sqn, RAF 2/Lieut Paul Wilkins, MC, 26/9/1918 'This observer has done excellent work participating in 23 night bombing raids and has shown at all times a fine offensive spirit, devotion to duty and unfailing energy, and great keenness. Full of pluck and on several occasions has done two or three raids in a night. His skill as an observer is remarkable.' Recommended for MBE, awarded DFC KPM LG 9/2/1931 to Paul Burgman Wilkins, Assistant Superintendent Bombay Police. Citation: 'For Distinguished service in a difficult district. He has a high reputation as an Investigating Officer and leader of men.' Personally decorated with the King's Police Medal by HM King George VI at Buckingham Palace on Thursday 26 February 1931. OBE LG 11/6/1942 to Paul Burgman Wilkins, Esq, MC, DFC, India Police, District Superintendent of Police Poona Bombay No 100 Sqn (Independent Force) RAF flying Fe2bs and Handley-Page bombers carried out 213 raids, dropped 185 tons of bombs, fired 450,000 rounds of ammunition and brought down 5 enemy aircraft. At the end of hostilities, Major General Hugh Trenchard, writing to the last war time unit CO, Major C.Gordon Burge, stated '..100 Squadron..started with a splendid name and within a few weeks I was counting on it as one of my best weapons for hitting the enemy..I can only say that it was "one of the great squadrons" of the war. I was very proud to have had the honour to command such an efficient squadron.' Paul Burgman Wilkins, born 11 August 1896; 24 May 1915 enlisted Royal Engineers, age 18 years 9 months, occupation at that time was Surveyor; 5 November 1915 promoted to Corporal; 3 December 1915 to BEF; 10 July 1916 wounded; 14 July 1916 Home; 9 March 1917 commissioned RE; 23 October 1917 attached RFC; 13 June 1918 granted temporary commission as 2nd Lt Observer Officer by Flying Branch of Air Ministry and attached 100 Sqn (Independent Force) RAF; 13 December 1918 temporary appointment as Lieutenant by Flying Branch of Air Ministry; demobilized on 1 May 1919; joined India Police 11 November 1923 (Bombay); attained rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bombay. Together with a large amount of documentation including copy of Lt Wilkins' complete military service record and some photos with the RAF. Also a book, 'The Annals of 100 Squadron', a record of the War activities of the Pioneer Night Bombing Squadron in France March 1917 to November 1918 by Major C.Gordon Burge, OBE. Lt Wilkins' name appears several times. A seven page extract from a book or journal which appears to be connected with Handley Page bombers and giving an account of the operations undertaken using this type of aircraft in September - November 1918 and Wilkins' name appears regularly throughout in various operations.