A Collection of Army Gallantry Awards to the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Air Force


‘Suddenly, the German machine-gunners opened fire. A hail of bullets from the hills slanted across the clearing among the men now dashing for scanty cover, and into the soldiers and airmen in the river; almost immediately other Spandaus opened fire from the hills around us. We unslung our rifles. McKenna and Stevenson were standing in the line of fire, then, ducking low, searching the hills in vain for a target. A soldier got to his feet. I saw the big man standing there in the clearing, swaying, and then he collapsed. Four bullets thudded into Jack Diamond from “A” Flight, as he lay face downwards in the mud by the water's edge. A corpse in the river turned over and started to drift away. Men were trying to crawl stealthily backwards the way they had come. The Germans, sitting tight behind their guns, still sprayed the clearing. While we floundered, helplessly, the bushes ahead moved and parted and then a hulking Maori stood surveying us and grinning from ear to ear. He reached down for our rifles and dragged us out dripping, one by one. The Maori, who had a bullet wound in the leg, said: “You jokers should be all right now. This is Maori territory.” When I showed concern for his leg he only grinned again. “I’m just waiting here to catch the bastard who done it”, was his only comment.’ (ibid).


After walking overland to Sfakia which was under heavy air attack, Comeau was evacuated on 30 May by destroyer H.M.S. Kelvin, which was damaged by JU88s on the way to Alexandria. Of the 229 RAF personnel at Maleme airfield at the time of the airborne invasion no less than 50 were killed in its defence. The need for RAF ground crew to participate in defending the airfield was one of the key factors that led to the creation of the RAF Regiment the following year. After further service with 33 Squadron in North Africa, where its Hurricanes supported the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, Comeau qualified as a Sergeant pilot in Rhodesia in 1943. He died in Huntingdon in 1999, aged 78.


In 1991 on the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Crete, Royal Mail produced a commemorative cover limited to 900 issues which were flown in an R.A.F. Hercules of 30 Squadron from R.A.F. Lyneham to Suda Bay, Crete and thence to R.A.F. Akroitiri, Cyprus, before returning to R.A.F. Lyneham. Of the two veterans of the Battle of Crete who signed each copy of the commemorative cover, one was ‘Mr. M.G. Comeau, MM’ of 33 Squadron and the other ‘Mr. N.J. Darch, MM’ of 30 Squadron, both awarded the Military Medal for bravery during the pre-invasion bombing of 18 May 1941. Darch’s award was for bravery as a Medical Orderly in an R.A.F. Ambulance during the pre-invasion bombing of 18 May 1941, and these were the only two gallantry awards to the R.A.F. for the Battle of Crete.


Sold with a copy of the recipient’s book Operation Mercury; and a Battle of Crete 50th Anniversary First Day Cover signed by Comeau.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


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