Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 17
A very rare and well-documented post-War ‘Berlin Airlift’ O.B.E., Second War ‘Martin B-26 Marauder operations’ D.F. C., and ‘V.I.P. Flight’ A.F.C. group of ten awarded to Wing Commander H. S. Grimsey, Royal Air Force, late Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew in operations in support of the 8th Army in 1942, becoming a member of the Caterpillar Club after bailing out after one such raid, and flying B-26 ‘Widowmakers’ in 1943-44, taking part in over 50 operational sorties; was later assigned to the ‘V.I.P. Flight’ missions, and led 11 of the aircraft assigned to the Yalta Conference in January 1945; and subsequently post-War took part in the Berlin Airlift
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Flying Cross,
G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1944’; Air Force Cross,
G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1947’; 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953; together with the recipient’s Caterpillar Club membership badge, gold, with glass ‘ruby’ eyes, the reverse engraved ‘Sgt. H. Grimsey’, mounted court-style, generally good very fine (12)
£4,000-£5,000
Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, June 2005. O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1949. D.F.C. London Gazette 7 April 1944.
The original recommendation states: ‘Wing Commander Grimsey has recently assumed command of No. 52 Squadron after a long tour of duty with No. 14 Squadron. He began his tour from England against shipping off Zeebrugge. He was then posted to the Middle East where he made 16 bombing sorties in close support of the Eighth Army. After the Squadron had converted to Coastal Reconnaissance in November 1942, this officer carried out many reconnaissance’s in the Aegean Sea, and laid mines in the Bay of Tunis with accuracy and determination, his mines being dropped at night into the channel at a height of less than 200 feet. On 31 January 1943, this officer was the leader of two reconnaissance aircraft on offensive patrol. He sighted a 4000 ton merchant vessel escorted by two destroyers and five Ju. 88s. Despite this opposition he made his attack with determination. The results of the torpedo attack were not observed for he was chased away by a Ju. 88 which he probably destroyed. On 5 April and 19 August 1943, while engaged on long range reconnaissance’s, this pilot sighted valuable enemy convoys. In each case, all the vessels were reported accurately and expeditiously by wireless to his base. On 31 January 1943, this officer was the leader of two reconnaissance aircraft on offensive patrol. He sighted a 4000 ton merchant vessel escorted by two destroyers and five Ju. 88s. Despite this opposition he made his attack with determination. The results of the torpedo attack were not observed for he was chased away by a Ju. 88 which he probably destroyed. On 5 April and 19 August 1943, while engaged on long range reconnaissance’s, this pilot sighted valuable enemy convoys. In each case, all the vessels were reported accurately and expeditiously by wireless to his base. From 25 August 1943 to 2 February 1944, this officer was in command of a detached flight of No. 14 Squadron at Taranto. The closing of the Adriatic to the enemy and the successful strikes against enemy shipping in that sea and down to Corfu are in large measure due to the work of this flight in which Wing Commander Grimsey played an important part. I strongly recommend this officer for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’
A.F.C. London Gazette 12 June 1947.
The original recommendation states: ‘Squadron Leader Grimsey is a Flight Commander and Deputy Squadron Commander. He has been employed as a V.I.P. Flight pilot with his present unit for three years. During this period he has flown many important missions in all weathers with outstanding skill. In particular he led eleven aircraft in “Operation Argonaut” for the Yalta Conference in February 1945. In April 1946, he made a most urgent special flight, in exceptionally poor weather conditions, to bring the Governor of Gibraltar to the United Kingdom. As a Flight Commander he has trained and encouraged his V.I.P. Flight crews to the same high standard as himself and has consistently chosen the most arduous and difficult missions himself; he invariably accomplished these with skill and determination. Squadron Leader Grimsey has set a fine example and has been an inspiration to the whole squadron.’
Harry Spencer Grimsey was born at Stowmarket in July 1913. Having taken private flying lessons in early 1939, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in October of that year. After Pilot training, he was posted to 110 Squadron as a Sergeant Pilot, flying Blenheim IV’s and Sunderland’s, from R.A.F. Wattisham, Suffolk, in June 1941. Gimsey flew his first sortie on 5 June, against enemy shipping at Zeebrugg. However after just over a month, he was posted to 14 Squadron in the Middle East. Again piloting Blenheim IV’s, the first few months consisted in the main of non offensive flights and leaflet raids over enemy troops. However from mid November 1941, he took part in eight anti-tank strikes on the El Adem-Tobruk, in support of the 8th Army. On 9 December, he and his crew were compelled to bail out their Blenheim on returning from a strike against El Timini aerodrome.
According to fellow crew member, Pilot Officer Speller, ‘We returned from a solo raid about the middle of December last in our aircraft, but darkness had fallen and visibility was nil, and we were unable to find our base in the desert. Being short of petrol we could not make one of the emergency landing grounds. The pilot [Grimsey] therefore climbed but as we reached 3000 feet the engines started to cut. He gave the order to bale out; the Air Gunner went first and I followed, the pilot coming after me. As it was pitch black I
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236
