Orders, Decorations & Medals - New Zealand

Lot 2228    Session 7 (11.30am Wednesday)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - New Zealand

Estimate $1,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,700

AIR FORCE CROSS, (George VI), first type (GRIVI), bottom reverse of arm engraved 1945. In case of issue, extremely fine.

Together with copies of letter for investiture in 1975 at Government House, Wellington, New Zealand; newspaper article with photo of Sqn Ldr Nash outlining reasons for the belated presentation of the medal; various other relevant documents.

Royal Victorian Order (5th Class) MVO: New Years Honours List published in London Gazette 1 January 1952 to Squadron Leader H A Nash, AFC.

AFC: New Years Honours List published in London Gazette 1 January 1945 to Flt Lt H A Nash, RAF on loan to RNZAF.

Citation: A thoroughly efficient and sound captain of transport aircraft with a particularly high sense of duty and a fine record of reliability. Flight Lieutenant Nash has over 3,500 hours to his credit, including 970 hours in the last nine months, and 400 hours between 1st April and 31st June, 1944. Joining the Royal Air Force as an aircraft apprentice in 1925, he was mustered in a technical trade but later qualified as a pilot, and served in India and Egypt. In Britain he reverted to his basic trade and in 1939 was seconded to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for engineering duties. Flight Lieutenant Nash returned to full flying duties in 1941, being commissioned that year, and after serving with a bomber reconnaissance squadron, became chief instructor on Walrus flying boats of the Seaplane Training Flight. An outstanding rescue was effected by Flight Lieutenant Nash in September, 1943, when he landed in the open sea to pick up four members of the crew of an aircraft that had been forced down*. Due to the excessive load and rough seas, he was unable to take off after five attempts, and so taxied 38 miles to the lee of an island where he finally took off after five hours on the water. Throughout his career, Flight Lieutenant Nash has displayed similar qualities of devotion to duty and loyalty to the Service.

(* Anson NZ401, ditched 48 miles west of Albatross Point on the afternoon of 28Sep1943, rescue effected the following day.)

Horace Alexander Nash, born 11May1910 at Hendon, Middlesex, England, the son of Army Captain Thomas Alexander Nash; joined RAF as an aircraft apprentice in 1925; 1932 completed a pilot's course; 1936 at School of Naval Co-operation at Lee-on-Solent; 02May1936 married at Gosport, England to an Australian woman from Chatswood, NSW, Ivy Clarissa Cains, daughter of John Courtney Cains, water engineer; Oct1939 - 1945 on loan to RNZAF; Jul1940 Warrant Officer; Aug1940 resumed practice flying; 04Oct1941 emergency commission as Pilot Officer, RAF General Duties Branch; 01Oct1941 Flying Officer; 01Oct1943 Flight Lieutenant; 08May1947 extended service commission; 01Jul1948 Squadron Leader; 1948 appointed pilot to the King's Flight for Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand; 12Jan1949 permanent commission; Dec1950 - Oct1951 Commanding Officer, 24 (Commonwealth) Squadron RAF; New Year 1952 piloted Princess Margaret to Italy, Princess Elizabeth to Malta and the Queen to Ireland; retired 08May1957; died at Auckland 08Sep1982.

When Flight Lieutenant Nash was awarded the Air Force Cross he was attached to 40 Squadron, RNZAF at Whenuapai however, before the investiture could take place, he was transferred back to England. After his return to England, Nash felt lost as he now regarded New Zealand, the birthplace of his two daughters, to be home. Thus when a Royal Tour by King George VI to Australia and New Zealand was announced in 1948, arrangements were made for the King to make the presentation of the medal during the Royal Tour to now Squadron Leader Nash as he was the King's pilot. However, before the tour started the King fell ill and it was cancelled. Squadron Leader Nash retired to New Zealand without ever being presented with his AFC. Then, in 1975 while attending a reunion of the General Reconnaissance Squadron, it was mentioned to Sir Denis Blundell, Governor-General of New Zealand, that Mr Nash was long overdue for his AFC. Upon hearing this, the Governor General then made arrangements to rectify the oversight and on 13 November 1975 he presented Squadron Leader H.A.Nash, MVO, AFC with his medal at an Investiture at Government House, Wellington, New Zealand.