British Groups

Lot 3953    SESSION 13 (Friday at 2.30pm)    British Groups

Estimate $9,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $11,000

GROUP OF SIX. Distinguished Flying Cross (GVR); British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; Defence Medal 1939-45; British War Medal 1939-45 with MID; Greece, Military Cross. J.R.F. Randell Med.1918 on the first medal, Lieut. J.R.F. Randell R.A.F. on the second and third medals, S/Ldr J.R.F. Randell D.F.C. R.A.F. on the fourth and fifth medals, the sixth medal un-named. First to fifth medals impressed, sixth medal unnamed. Very fine.

Lieut. Jarvis Rupert Francis Randell. DFC., L. G.: 03Dec1918: (Sea Patrol, Mediterranean) 'This officer has shown great gallantry on several occasions, notably on 9th August, when, having driven down a hostile machine, he attacked a train at 500 feet altitude, compelling the drivers to jump out. He then engaged a machine leaving its aerodrome, causing it to crash. Descending to twenty feet, he obtained a valuable reconnaissance of the hangars. During the whole time he was subjected to heavy anti-aircraft and machine-gun fire.' The following extracts are taken from the weekly operational reports issued by Headquarters, R.A.F. Group, Aegean: 24 June 1918. 'On two occasions enemy machines have attempted to spot on to our front line positions. On the first occasion, 17.6.18, a 2-seater was escorted by three D-III Albatros. Four Camels left to attack. One (Lieutenant J.R. Randell) dived on the 2-seater which was hit and last seen going down over enemy territory, but was in turn attacked by a D-III. This machine was engaged by Lieutenant W.R. Glenney, but he had to break off owing to jambing of one gun. The remaining D-IIIs now attacked Lieutenant J.R. Randell but as he was having trouble with his gun he dived, and they retired up the Angista Valley towards Drama. The other two Camels did not sight hostile aircraft. Lieutenant Randell, having expended his ammunition, returned and left again in another machine to locate 2-seater which seemed to have crashed. What was probably the same machine was again spotting 18.6.18. Two D-III scouts after attacking our front line reconnaissance, were engaged by Lieutenant Randell in a Camel. He had his centre section hit several times. He registered hits on both machines and they retired towards Drama, but picking up the 2-seater in the Angista Valley they all returned to the front line. Lieutenant Randell again attacked but his starboard gun jambed and the two scouts dived on him, while he dived for his own aerodrome. Meanwhile two Camels which had been sent to engage got into attacking position. The D-IIIs saw them, retired towards Drama and were lost to sight...' 20 August 1918 'Further to weekly operation report No. 125 Two Camels (Lieut. Randell and Lieut. Williams) on 8.8.18. engaged H.A. over Drama. Lieut. Williams attacked the H.A. (DIII) and got several bursts into the machine which dived with the Camel on its tail, and was lost sight of about 100 feet from the ground. Lieut. Randell dived down to 500 feet from the ground and fired on a train going into Drama Station, he then silenced a machine gun with his guns and flew over Drama Aerodrome and fired into the Hangars during which time another DIII was observed taking off across wind; this was attacked and seen to bounce twice and fall on its nose eventually crushing right wing. Lieut. Randell then fired into a petrol dump after which he returned to Stavros as his engine was 'missing'. Two large two-seater machines and two Scouts were observed outside the hangars. On 15.8.18., heavy bombs were dropped on Gereviz Air Station close to hangar in which there was a H.A.' 19 September 1918 (The following was published in the Daily Orders of the XIII Greek Division on the 25 August 1918): 'On perusal of the Flying Report of the 23rd instant submitted to me by the R.A.F. Stavros in which the British Airman Lieut. R. Randell at a great personal risk and after a fierce fighting brought down a large hostile aeroplane Albatross type, which crashed on the ground N.W. of the town Pravi. I thereby express my heartiest congratulations for his bravery and intrepidity.' Signed: J. Negropoulis, GOC., XIII Greek Division. As a result of this last incident the Greek Government conferred on Lieut. Randell the Greek Military Cross, 3rd class, which award was announced in the London Gazette on 8 February 1919. Lieutenant Jarvis Rupert Francis Randell served on a number of Aegean Islands during 1918, but his main service was with 'D' Squadron on Stavros. 'D' Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, became 221 Squadron, Royal Air Force, on 1 April 1918. In early 1919 the squadron saw service in Russia, based at Petrovsk, Barum and Baku. Randell served throughout the Second World War on non-operational flying duties. He ended the war as a Squadron Leader, 1 July 1944, and was mentioned in despatches London Gazette, 8 June, 1944. Together with photocopied research for LG entries and operational reports supporting his four victories.