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Auction: 13001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 342

British War Medal (2. Lieut. C.S. Cravos.), scratch marks, therefore very fine, with photographic image of recipient

Second Lieutenant Cyril Stephen Cravos born 1895, a native of Cardiff; educated at Ampleforth, the school´s Journal for 1917 gives the following, ´He joined the H.A.C. in February, 1915. In the following August he obtained a commission in the [21st Battalion] Welsh Regiment and last summer joined the Royal Flying Corps. He got "his wings" in December, and went to the front in January. In a letter wrote to Mr. Cravos his commanding officer wrote:

I regret his loss immensely as he was very keen and could always be relied upon to carry out his duties with courage and cheerfulness. He was a very clever pilot.

That is precisely what we at Ampleforth would have expected of him. He was courageous to recklessness and buoyantly cheerful. Qualities he displayed not only in the Rugger XV but also in the boxing ring.

Cravos entered the School in May, 1908, and left in April, 1913. By nature he was a singularly generous and kindly boy, he was ever ready to play his part in every department of the school life, shirking nothing and always giving his best. Of such a character it goes without saying that he developed into a fine specimen of young manhood notable for his upright and faithful adherence to all duties among which he counted not least his religion. May he rest in peace´; having been commissioned Flying Officer in November 1917, he served as a pilot with 5 Squadron in France, from 24.1.1917; carrying out mainly Artillery Reconnaissance Patrols he took off with his Observer Flight Sergeant A.G. Shepherd in B.E.2. e 7192, 2.3.1917; on the latter date they ´Left Aerodrome at 2.30pm. Called up Aerodrome by Wireless at 2.40pm. Not heard of since´; they were reported ´Missing´ over the Gommecourt area, and were later recorded as ´Killed in Action´; both Pilot and Observer were buried by the Germans in Moyenneville German Cemetery, South of Arras before being relocated to Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery, France.

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£150