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CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS 524


Three: Flight Lieutenant D. Davis, Royal Air Force, who flew operationally in Spitfires of No. 72 Squadron over Italy in early 1945, prior to securing a permanent commission and graduating from the Central Flying School


1939-45 STAR; ITALY STAR; WAR MEDALS, good very fine (3) £300-400


Davis enlisted in the Royal Air Force in September 1942 and trained as a pilot in Canada, returning to the U.K. in August 1944. Having then embarked for the Middle East, he attended No. 71 O.T.U. at Ismailia and joined No. 72 Squadron, a Spitfire unit operating out of Ravenna, as a Flight Sergeant, in March 1945.


Thus ensued a flurry of operational activity, namely about 30 sorties before the month’s end, the majority of them offensive “Rovers” with much bombing and strafing of enemy strongpoints, troops and armour, together with strikes on barges and communications. Flak of the 88mm. variety was a constant danger, a case in point being an attack on 50 lorries in the Udine area on the last day of the month - ‘Cloud less than 2000. Hell. Flak terrific’.


Davis remained with No. 72 up until the Squadron’s disbandment in Austria in 1946, when he returned home. Thereafter, in addition to extensive service in Shackletons of 120, 204 and 269 Squadrons in the period 1952-57, he entered the jet age and served as a Flying Instructor, having qualified in the latter trade at the Central Flying School in August 1957. He was placed on the Retired List as a Flight Lieutenant in the early 1970s.


Sold with a complete run of the recipient’s original Flying Log Books, comprising R.C.A.F. Pilot’s type, covering the period March 1943 to November 1953, with several pasted down photographs, including one of his 72 Squadron Spitfire; and R.A.F. types covering the periods December 1953 to August 1957; September 1957 to June 1959; June 1959 to February 1962; March to June 1962 and July 1962 to December 1972; together with Central Flying School certificate, dated 31 August 1957 and H.Q. 23 Group letter in respect of him being granted a permanent commission, dated 16 February 1960.


525


The Second World War and Korean War campaign group of seven awarded to Private R. W. Hughes, 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, late Wiltshire Regiment, who was killed in action at the Battle of Imjin on 25 April 1951


1939-45 STAR; ITALY STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE ANDWAR MEDALS 1939-45; KOREA 1950-53 (5570070 Pte. R. W. Hughes, Glosters.), rank and initials officially corrected; U.N. KOREA, in its named card box of issue, together with Army Council condolence slip in the name of ‘5570070 Pte. R. W. Hughes, Glosters’, nearly extremely fine (7) £2800-3200


Robert William Hughes was born in Birmingham in May 1920 and enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment in August 1938. A member of the 2nd Battalion, he saw action with the B.E.F. in France in May 1940, in addition to the Madagascar operations of 1942


Next embarked for the Middle East in June 1943, he was wounded in action in Italy on 3 June 1944 and treated at 158 Field Ambulance, prior to being evacuated to a General Hospital. Rejoining his battalion in late 1944, he saw further action in North-West Europe from March 1945 and was discharged as a Lance-Corporal to the Royal Army Reserve in July 1946.


Recalled to the Colours in August 1950, he joined the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and was embarked for Korea, where, as cited above, he was killed in action at the battle of Imjin on 25 April 1951.


A member of ‘D’ Company, under Captain Harvey, he was likely among the 81 men who tried to reach the U.N. rearguard on the morning of the 25th. For the first three miles of their journey they managed to avoid contact with the enemy but on reaching a junction of two rivers just north of Taechon village, they came under very heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, several casualties being incurred as they crossed one of the rivers. Moreover, those in the rear of ‘D’ Company’s column found themselves engaged in hand to hand combat. Here, then, the point at which Hughes likely fell in action.


At length, on reaching a Commonwealth tank unit, the Company came under friendly fire and sustained further casualties. Of Captain Harvey’s original party of 81 men, 41 reached safety, 16 of whom were wounded. At least ten men were killed in the fighting at Taechon village and the remaining 30 were captured; sold with copied service records.


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