Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 5005    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $5,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $8,000

DFC GROUP OF NINE: Distinguished Flying Cross GVIR (GRI 1918); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, - clasp - Air Crew Europe (see note below); Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45 with 2 MID emblems; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Malta George Cross 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal 1992. The first medal with 1941 on reverse of lower arm, Hugh Milton Birch around reverse centrepiece, Hugh Milton Birch in arch pattern above R.A.A.F on second to fifth medals, 156 H M Birch on sixth to eighth medals, last medal unnamed. The first five medals engraved (see note below), the sixth to eighth medals impressed. Swing mounted and fitted with plastic device for fitting into jacket pocket when worn, cleaned, very fine.

The first medal naming privately engraved as usual. As is common with the campaign stars, particularly for some air force issues, they were issued unnamed and subsequently privately engraved. Birch's Statement of Service does not mention an entitlement to the Air Crew Europe award and the clasp in question is a later copy.

Together with the following,

1. DFC case.

2. Swing mounted trio of association medals: European Combattant's Cross; Belgium Cross of King Albert 1 Veterans with oak leaf emblem; Battle of Dunkirk 1940 Commemorative Medal, all unnamed. Also receipt for Dunkirk Medal and photo of presentation of this medal by the Mayor of Dunkirk in June 1972 and copy of certificate for award of Belgium Veterans' Medal dated 19 October 1975 and another for 1973.

3. Swing mounted miniature medal group matching above full-size group but instead of Malta Medal at end are two other medals, namely Dunkirk Medal and Belgium Cross of King Albert 1 Veterans.

4. Miniature Malta Medal. Also letter from Office of the Prime Minister of Malta 9 March 1993 advising of the award of the Malta Medal by the President of Malta, and box for medal with ribbon.

5. Framed MID certificate (LG 4 November 1940) to Acting Flight Lieutenant H.M.Birch Royal Australian Air Force. Mentioned in despatches from Air Chief Marshall Sir Frederick Bowhill K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. for gallant and distinguished services.

6. Framed MID certificate (LG 24 September 1941) to Squadron Leader H.M.Birch, D.F.C., Royal Australian Air Force for distinguished service.

7. RAAF aircrew jacket fitted with bullion pilot's wings (KC), dry cleaning note attached reads, 'Received in damaged condition' (damage to epaulettes which are frayed, also remnants of stitches where riband bar has been previously sewn), inside is the jacket tag marked, 'A.F./M.TX/Size 12/1943'.

8. RAAF 10 Squadron association tie, also lapel badges in silver and enamel (2, pins missing) for Air Force (KC) and Thailand.

9. RAAF bullion pilot's wings (KC) (2) both small size (57x30mm), one on blue/grey background and one on black background.

10. Silver pilot's wings (KC), full-size, marked on reverse, 'K.G.Luke/Stg.Sil./1952/Melbourne', together with K.G.Luke Pty Ltd Melbourne cardboard box of issue for RAAF badge, Metal, Aircrew/Pilot.

11. Epaulettes (3) with metal King's crown over air force eagle, one for rank of Group Captain and two for rank of Pilot Officer.

12. Bronze RAAF officer's cuff eagle badges (KC) (3).

13. RAS badge (KC) reverse numbered AF 10879.

14. Pilot's Log Book for No.1 Flying Training School, RAAF, Point Cook, Vic.

15. AAF Cloth Map - South West Pacific Area, No.17 New Britain, a large, to scale, coloured map, 1944, by Army Map Service, US Army, in protective sleeve.

16. Another as above but No.26 East Java.

17. Another as above but CM - Otomari (Japan), Eastern Asia on one side and on the other, Vladimiro - Alexsandrovskoye (USSR), by US Army Map Service, 1943.

18. Another as above but No.34 Southeast China and No.C-40 Luzon Island.

19. Another as above but No.C-41 Luzon Island and No.C-41 Mindoro Island.

20. Cloth map for Tokyo - AMS5301 2nd edition, 1943.

21. Silk map for New Guinea Western (stained).

22. Silk map Europe North Eastern Area (totn around edges and stained).

23. Silk map untitled for Europe (Great Britain coast, France, Belgium and Holland).

24. Silk map untitled for France.

25. Copper metal printing block (8x4.5cm) engraved with script in reverse, 'Flight Lieutenant/Hugh M. Birch/Royal Australian Air Force'.

26. Low Pressure Chamber Flight accreditation card 7.8.1943 to Wing Comdr Hugh M. Birch.

27. Letter for DFC Investiture at Buckingham Palace.

28. Letter of congratulations for award of DFC from Air Chief Marshall P.B.Joubert, C-in-C HQ Coastal Command, RAF Middlesex.

29. No.10 Squadron Xmas cards to Hugh Birch's wife (2 different cards) and numerous wartime letters to her prior to their marriage.

30. Letter from WCdr J.A.Cohen, RAAF Station, Rathmines, NSW, to Sqn Ldr H.M.Birch DFC, being a jovial letter in relation to acting as his 'Best Man' at his wedding. Birch was also 'Best Man' at Cohen's wedding.

31. Draft script of a broadcast by Sqn Ldr H.M.Birch, No.10 Sqn, RAAF, describing a fight between his flying boat and two German bombers, both of which were destroyed (in Atlantic).

32. Laminated pencil caricature sketch of H.M.Birch by Terry Duigan - Rathmines 1943-44. Duigan was a flying boat pilot and was awarded DFC and MID and was also an instructor at Rathmines. Being an architectural graduate he was an accomplished drawer and produced many wartime sketches. Post war he worked as an architect designing many significant buildings and also designed the Memorial at Mia Mia, Victoria to the first powered flight by an Australian built aircraft.

33. Numerous other documents, photos and newspaper clippings, including, programme book for RAAF Graduation Day 21st Course, Point Cook, 15 December 1937; British (C of A) Passport dated 10 Jul 1939; RAAF No.10 Squadron Christmas Dinner Menu 23 December 1940 at Dingle's Restaurant, Plymouth, with numerous autographs; Officers Mess R.A.A.F., Port Moresby, Bar Chit 1d (2); RAAF Statement of Service; unused ration cards (3) and British post unused WWII POW lettercards (2); Invitation from the Governor to G/P Capt. & Mrs. H.M.Birch to attend a ball on 2nd June 1953 on occasion of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II approved souvenir programme and a souvenir booklet with a Map of the Route for the Coronation march; dozens and dozens of other items.

DFC: LG 1/7/1941, p3770, posn 1, to Sqn Ldr H.M.Birch for exceptional skill on numerous operational sorties.

MID: LG 17/3/1941, p1574, posn 1.

MID: LG 24/9/1941, p5571, posn 1.

Group Captain Hugh Milton 'Smokey' Birch, born 26Jun1916 at Collingwood, Victoria and educated at Scotch College, Melbourne; joined RAAF at Point Cook, Vic, as Air Cadet 18Jan1937; appt Pilot Officer 16Dec1937; graduated Point Cook 18Dec1937; 16Dec1938 Flying Officer; 01Sep1939 Flight Lieutenant; 01Jan1941 Squadron Leader; 01Apr1942 Wing Commander; 01Dec1943 Group Captain; Disch.16Jul1946 as Group Captain ex HQs North Eastern Area; 06Sep1948 enrolled in Air Force Reserve.

Group Captain Hugh Milton 'Smokey' Birch joined the RAAF as an Air Cadet in 1937. He qualified as a pilot in 1937 with his examiner being Squadron Leader (later Air Marshall) Sir Frederick Scherger. He later held the appointment of OC Cruiser Flight No.5 Fleet Co-operation Sqn, RAAF Base Richmond which operated Supermarine Seagull amphibian aircraft and supplied pilots to Royal Australian Navy cruisers. While at Richmond he made a number of pelagic fishery flights for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research throughout the Bass Strait Islands, Southern Tasmania and South Australian waters.

In 1939 he went to England to take delivery of Sunderland flying boats for the RAAF and when war broke out he was seconded to 210 Sqn RAF until the formation of the first Australian squadron overseas, No.10 Squadron, the first RAAF squadron to go into action. After flying anti-invasion patrols in the English Channel for six months he was attached to a French Squadron in the south of France.

In July 1940 Birch became the first pilot to put down a Sunderland in the Atlantic when he assisted in the rescue of some torpedoed seamen. Then on 29 July 1940 he was pilot of the first air battle ever between two flying boats. It was off the coast of France. The German Dornier's tailgunner was put out of action but not before he inflicted severe damage on the No.10 Squadron Sunderland. Birch's front gunner was severely wounded also in the battle but later recovered. The battle finished when the Dornier broke off. Birch was mentioned in despatches for this action.

In The Argus (Melbourne) Fri 27 June 1941, p1 is a report as follows,

WINS DFC ON BIRTHDAY; CANBERRA, Thursday. - Sqd.Ldr. Hugh Milton Birch, a Melbourne-born pilot serving with the RAAF Sunderland flying-boat squadron, has been awarded the DFC for 'untiring and devoted services, with flashes of brilliance whenever a critical situation occurred.'

Mr. McEwen, Air Minister, said today the award coincided with the airman's 25th birthday. He was the fifth member of the squadron to be decorated. The official citation made particular mention of a successful fight with 2 Ju.88's. Although the Junkers were modern twin-engined fighter bombers with a maximum speed of nearly 100 mph greater than that of the Sunderland, Sqd.Ldr. Birch destroyed one and damaged the other. The flying-boat was searching for survivors of a torpedoed merchant vessel when the Junkers were sighted flying on a parallel course a mile and a half away.

Ju.88 Shot Down. The Germans swerved and followed the Sunderland 3 or 4 miles astern. They disappeared in clouds, but emerged later firing their port guns. After breaking away from the first engagement the Junkers launched another attack from the rear. The Sunderland had gradually descended almost to sea level, and, despite a heavy attack, the gunners held their fire until the Junkers were at close range. They then poured several bursts into the leading enemy aircraft, which crashed into the sea with smoke pouring from the engine.

The second German continued to attack grimly, but eventually had to break away with smoke issuing from its starboard engine. Constantly losing height, it dropped its bomb load and made off into a rainstorm. It was thought likely the second German crashed. Search for the lifeboats was then resumed by the Sunderland. In his official report of the incident Sqd.Ldr. Birch concluded with: 'An uneventful patrol was completed at 5pm.'

Smokey Birch had many encounters with the Germans. In fact he had so many that he gained the nickname of the 'Jerry Magnet'. Shortly after this nickname was given to him in the English press, he received a parcel containing socks and mittens from a woman in England and the address on the parcel was simply, 'Jerry the Magnet'. At the age of 26 he was promoted to the rank of Group Captain thus becoming the youngest Group Captain in the RAAF.

He flew many secret missions transporting important government and service personnel. One such person was W.Averell Harriman who later sent Birch a copy of his 1976 book, Special Envoy to Churchill and Stalin' and on the front fly page was the handwritten inscription, 'To Hugh Birch with vivid remembrance of your skilful evasion of enemy aircraft at times 100 feet altitude! And our safe arrival at Malta. And my gratitude to you and the crew you commanded of the Sunderland.' He was then posted to RAF Ferry Command and in April 1942 Smokey Birch returned to Australia flying the first B25 Mitchell medium bomber to be delivered from San Francisco to Brisbane and in 1943 made several other ferry flights from San Diego across the Pacific flying Catalinas. He was also CO of RAAF Station at Rathmines, the RAAF flying boat base.

With research.

See also lots E3577, 3578 and 3580.