Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 126


The Important Battle of Britain fighter ace’s C.V.O., D.S.O., D.F.C. and Second Award Bar group of eleven awarded to Group Captain Peter Townsend, Royal Air Force, who in February 1940 became the first pilot to bring down an enemy aircraft on English soil, later commanding No. 85 Squadron from May 1940 until June 1941, a period that witnessed him completing over 300 operational sorties, twice taking to his parachute - once when wounded - and raising his score to at least eleven enemy aircraft destroyed.


Appointed Equerry to H.M. King George VI in 1944, and Comptroller to the Queen Mother’s Household in 1953, his famously controversial and ultimately forlorn romance with the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, brought him further celebrity status to add to his spectacular wartime achievements.


Turning his attention to writing, in later years he authored the classic Battle of Britain memoir ‘Duel of Eagles’ whilst his well regarded 1978 autobiography ‘Time and Chance’ tells the story of his eventful personal life.


To be sold with the recipient’s original Flying Log Books, bound in one volume - with later annotation in his own hand - covering the entirety of his operational career.


The Royal Victorian Order, C.V.O., Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘C1106’; Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1941’; Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverses of the Cross and the Bar both officially dated ‘1940’; 1939-45 Star, 1 clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M. I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 1977, unnamed as issued; Netherlands, Kingdom, Queen Juliana’s Coronation Medal 1948; Order of Orange-Nassau, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband, breast awards mounted court-style in this order, and all housed in an attractive custom made glazed leather display case, with sterling silver plaque, engraved ‘Gp. Capt. P. W. Townsend R.A.F. C.V.O. D.S.O. D.F.C.’, last with enamel damage, contact wear overall but generally good very fine unless otherwise stated (11)


£160,000-£200,000 Provenance: Sotheby’s, November 1988 (when titled as “The Property of the Recipient”); Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004.


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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