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Auction: 1006 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 15

A Great War 1918 ´Italian Front´ Sopwith Camel Fighter Ace´s D.F.C. Group of Eight to Captain, Later Wing Commander, C.M. Maud, 66 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, ´A Bold Scout Pilot, Who Possesses in A High Degree the True Fighting Spirit´; He Claimed 10 of His 11 Victories in 4 Months a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, initials ´C.M.´ scratched on the reverse, in John Pinches case of issue b) 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut. C.M. Maud. R.F.A.) c) British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C.M. Maud. R.A.F.) d) Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf e) Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R. (Charles M. Maud.) f) Italy, Kingdom, War Cross, V.E.III.R., bronze, good very fine or better, with the related miniature awards; an Officer´s Sword of the Royal Artillery, straight blade by W.H. Hall, Sheffield, G.V.R. cypher, engraved ´C.M. Maude. R.F.A. Aug. 1915´, in leather scabbard; four photographs of recipient in uniform; and an Italian Regimental Medal (lot) Estimate £ 6,000-8,000 D.F.C. London Gazette 2.11.1918 Maud, Charles Midgley, Lt. R.A.F. 66 Sqn ´A bold Scout Pilot, who possesses in a high degree the true fighting spirit. He has shot down seven enemy machines.´ Italy, War Cross London Gazette 8.2.1919 Wing Commander Charles Midgley Maud, D.F.C. (1896-1974), born Leeds, Yorkshire; privately educated by Reverend H.A. Bawyer, M.A., at School House Shrewsbury; initially served during the Great War as a Second Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery, May 1915-July 1917; transferred to the Royal Flying Corps July 1917, and after training as a Pilot was posted, aged 21, for operational flying to 66 Squadron (Sopwith Camels), Treorso and subsequent move to San Pietro-in-Gu, Italy, 8.3.1918; the squadron had moved out to the Italian Front in November 1917 to serve as part of 14 Wing; here 66 Squadron came to the fore flying offensive patrols and being busily engaged in strafing enemy aerodromes using 25-lb bombs and the Camel´s twin Vickers guns; at the end of Maud´s first month with the squadron he was present to be inspired by tales of Lieutenant A. Jerrard (also of 66 Squadron), whom on the 30th had been reported to have been involved in an epic rearguard action with 19 enemy aircraft, securing the safe return of his patrol before being shot down himself - Jerrard was to be awarded the Victoria Cross for this action (the only V.C. awarded to a Camel Pilot); this seems to have done the trick for Maud - after having to sit out most of April due to inclement weather conditions, May heralded an improvement in atmospheric conditions and as a consequence notable activity in the air for both sides, and especially Maud as his list of victories for the period show: 1st May Alb. DIII, S.W. Conegliano 2nd May LVG.C., S. Oderzo 10th May Alb. DV, S.W. Caldonazzo 18th May Alb. DV, Alano di Piave 8th June Alb. DIII, S. St. Stino di Livenza Between May-June on the Italian Front, ´It was not an uncommon sight to see enemy pilots jump from a burning or disabled aeroplane and float safely to earth by means of a parachute, and one who landed in this way in the British lines explained that he had twice before similarly escaped after his aeroplane had been set on fire in combat with British pilots over the Austrian lines´ (The War In The Air, Vol VI, by H.A. Jones, refers). Maud continued in the same vein: 10th July LVG.C., S.W. Belluno 5th August LVG.C., W. Forca, Feltre 22nd August LVG.C., Vittorio 23rd August DFW.C., Vidor 7th October Alb.DV., Oderzo Between May-August Maud had claimed 10 enemy machines, out of his overall score of 11, of which 8 were destroyed outright and 3 sent down out of control; Maud was promoted Captain and made a Flight Commander by September 1918; the conclusion of hostilities brought to an end Maud´s brief but prolific time as a Fighter Ace; the squadron returned to England in March 1919 and was disbanded in the following October; Maud re-engaged for service as Flying Officer, For Special Duties, 30.8.1939; advanced Squadron Leader 1.1.1941 and retired as Wing Commander.

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£12,000