Lot 152

Description

Australia, glass-bottomed pewter beer tankard, by Hardy Bros. Ltd, Made in England, inscribed on one side, 'Presented To/Flt. Lt. H.J.West. D.S.O., D.F.C./from/The Staff of C.F.S (Central Flying School)/R.A.A.F./1953'. With a few small bumps, needs cleaning, otherwise very fine.

Hubert John West DSO, DFC served in WWII with the RAFVR. After the war he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant and then on 01Jan1958 he was promoted to Squadron Leader.^DSO: Fourth Supplement to LG 13/10/1944, p4747 - to Acting Flying Officer Hubert John West (172475), RAFVR, 101Sqn.^Citation: One night in August, 1944, Flying Officer West was captain of an aircraft detailed to attack a target in France. At the commencement of the bombing run the aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Flying Officer West was badly injured in the left leg by a large fragment of shrapnel. With outstanding courage and coolness, he refused treatment until the target had been successfully bombed and the aircraft had passed over the enemy coast on the return flight. This officer later made an excellent landing at an advanced airfield and then lost consciousness. His devotion to duty and splendid example are of a very high order.^DFC: Third Supplement to LG 4/12/1945, p5946 - Flying Officer Hubert John West, DSO, (172475), RAFVR, 101Sqn.