Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Lot 3714    Session 12 (11.30am Thursday 26 March)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Countries

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,100

AIR FORCE CROSS, (GVIR) (GRI reverse), in case of issue. 1945 on reverse of bottom arm. Engraved. Extremely fine.

Together with photocopies of various documents including letter of invitation dated 16 September 1975 to Investiture at Government House, New Zealand, addressed to Sqd. Ldr. H.A. Nash MVO, AFC; photo and newspaper clipping relating to investiture; telegrams of congratulations (3).

AFC: Supplement to LG 21/5/1957, p 3018.

Citation: 'A thoroughly efficient and sound captain of transport aircraft with a particularly high sense of duty and a fine record of reliability. Flight Lieutenant Nash has over 3,500 hours to his credit, including 970 hours in the last nine months, and 400 hours between 1st April and 31st June, 1944. Joining the Royal Air Force as an aircraft apprentice in 1925, he was mustered in a technical trade but later qualified as a pilot, and served in India and Egypt. In Britain he reverted to his basic trade and in 1939 was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for engineering duties in 1941, being commissioned that year, and after serving with a bomber reconnaissance squadron, became chief instructor on Walrus flying boats of the Seaplane Training Flight. An outstanding rescue was effected by Flight Lieutenant Nash in September, 1943, when he landed in the open sea to pick up four members of the crew of an aircraft that had been forced down. Due to the excessive load and rough seas, he was unable to take off after five attempts, and so taxied 38 miles to the lee of an island where he finally took off after five hours on the water. Throughout his career, Flight Lieutenant Nash has displayed similar qualities of devotion to duty and loyalty to the Service.'

Squadron Leader H.A. Nash was on loan to the RNZAF attached to 40 Squadron during WWII when he was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1945. Before it could be issued to him he was transferred back to England. Arrangements were made to present the medal to him in 1949 as King George VI was scheduled to make a Royal Tour and Sqd Ldr Nash was to be the King's pilot. Unfortunately, the King was ill and the tour cancelled. About that time Nash decided to retire from the RAF and return to New Zealand with his family as his two daughters had been born there. During a reunion of the General Reconnaissance Squadron that Nash attended, Sir Denis Blundell, the NZ Governor-General was also attending and heard of his plight. In due course, Sir Denis made the arrangements for the award to be presented by himself to Sqd Ldr Nash in 1975. Much overdue, it complimented the Royal Victorian Order (5th Class) that was awarded to Sqd Ldr Nash in the New Year Honour's list of 1952 in recognition of his service as King's pilot.

With research.