Campaign Groups and Pairs 502
A ‘Battle of Britain’ casualty group of four awarded to Sergeant H. C. R. Hopwood, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, an Avro Anson Air Gunner and one of the ‘Other Few’ of Coastal Command, who was killed during an enemy air raid on R.A.F. Detling on ‘Eagle Day’, 13 August 1940
1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals, with named Air Council condolence slip in the name of ‘Sergeant H. C. R. Hopwood.’, in Air Ministry card box of issue addressed to ‘H. Hopwood, Esq., 94 Coleherne Court, London S. W.5’, extremely fine (4)
£180-£220
Hervey Cecil Rowan Hopwood was born in 1919, the son of Hervey Hopwood, and served during the Second World War as an Air Gunner with 500 (County of Kent) Squadron. Equipped with the Avro Anson Mk1, the Squadron became an active service unit in September 1939, engaged with Coastal Command duties while based out of R.A.F. Detling. The Squadron was involved in convoy escort duties, photography of shipping, the locating of loose mines and the bombing of enemy harbours. They had also been successful in raids against the enemy surface vessels that were trying to attack the armada of small boats picking up servicemen at Dunkirk. They lost a number of Ansons to enemy action during the summer of 1940 and claimed kills of their own.
On Tuesday 13 August 1940, R.A.F. Detling was subjected to a catastrophic attack by the Luftwaffe’s Lehrgeschwader 1. It was, in fact, on this day, codenamed ‘Adlertag’ or ‘Eagle Day’, that the Luftwaffe launched a total of 1,485 sorties against the airfields and naval bases of the British Isles. In, Battle over Britain, Francis K. Mason describes the ferocity of the particular raid against R.A.F. Detling thus: ‘Forty Ju 87s made for the airfield at Detling, near Maidstone, Kent. At 17.16 hours the dive-bombers arched into their attacks and struck the airfield with a veritable storm of well-aimed bombs just as the station personnel were flocking to their canteens for their evening meal. Three messes were demolished, as were all the hangars; the operations block suffered a direct hit which killed the Station Commander, Group Captain Edward Davis. Sixty-seven service and civilian personnel civilians were either killed; runways, tarmac taxIways and hardstandings were cratered, and twenty two aircraft were totally destroyed.’ Sergeant Hopwood was among the dead.
Although not aircrew with one of the stipulated squadrons of Fighter Command and therefore technically not one of ‘The Few’, Hopwood, might be regarded as one of the ‘Other Few’ of Coastal and Bomber Commands whose contribution to the Battle of Britain and their sacrifice is often overlooked.
Sold together with photographs of the recipient’s headstone in Wimbledon (Gap Road) Cemetery and a Post Office Telegram sent on 13 April 1938 containing the message ‘Heartiest Congratulations on very fine effort, Cecil.’ This addressed to ‘Hopwood, Park Barn, Broad Street Common, Guildford’, matching the home address given by the recipient at the time of his passage to Ceylon in 1938 aboard the Ormonde.
503
Six: Sergeant P. G. Jemmett, Royal Air Force
1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Arabian Peninsula (543340 Sgt. P. G. Jemmett R.A.F.); Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (543340 Sgt. P. G. Jemmett. R.A.F.) mounted as worn, good very fine (6)
£140-£180
Philip George Jemmett was born in Plymouth in 1920; his service number indicates enlistment in the Royal Air Force as a civilian around October 1939.
Sold with the recipient’s Royal Air Force Driving Permit, and two named National Rifle Association Member’s Passes.
504
Five: Attributed to Mr. E. Garrett 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in R.E.M.E. and R.A.V.C. card box of issue addressed to ‘Mr E. Garrett. 50 Bridge Road. Maidenhead. Berks.’, with related campaign award issuance slip, nearly extremely fine
Four: Attributed to Mr. A. E. Butcher 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in Air Ministry card box of issue addressed to ‘A. E. Butcher Esq., 11 Pamela Row, Holyport, Nr Maidenhead, Berks.’, very fine
Pair: Attributed to Mrs. A. E. Butcher Defence and War Medals 1939-45, in Air Ministry card box of issue addressed to ‘Mrs. A. E. Butcher Esq., 11 Pamela Row, Holyport, Nr Maidenhead, Berks.’, with related campaign award issuance slip, nearly extremely fine
One: Attributed to Miss Eunice M. D. Fish War Medal 1939-45, in Air Ministry card box of issue addressed to ‘Miss E. M. D. Fish, 2 Challoner Court, Challoner Street, West Kensington, London W.14.’, nearly extremely fine (12)
£60-£80
Miss Eunice Maud D. Fish was born in Lewisham in 1919 and at the time of the 1939 Register was living at 15 Charleville Court, West Kensington, London.
505
Six: R. G. Flannery, Australian Forces 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘NX16377 R. G. Flannery’, good very fine
King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (358 Sjt: J. E. Davies. Kimb: Vol: Regt.) very fine (7)
£70-£90
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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