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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 288

(x) Family group:The Medals awarded to the Langford and Ray family, spanning four generations of service


Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Rhodesia, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 (11266 Tpr: W. Langford. 61st. Coy. 17th. Impl: Yeo:), surname officially re-impressed, official correction to unit, good very fine

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 (Capt: G. G. O. N. Ray. A.P.D.), re-engraved in official style, a later issue replacement, very fine


Pair: Mrs I. N. G. Ray, Voluntary Aid Detachment

British War and Victory Medals (I. N. G. Ray. V.A.D.), very fine

Six: Attributed to Major A. G. C. Langford, Royal Marines


1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, very fine

The campaign pair awarded to Lieutenant M. C. Langford, Royal Marines, who served as a Commando helicopter pilot in Indonesia and later forged a highly successful civilian career before setting up his own company specialising in selling helicopters to the rich and famous

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (A/Lieut. M. C. Langford. R.M.); General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Borneo (Lieut. M. C. Langford. R.M.), mounted as worn, good very fine, with corresponding miniature awards (Lot)

William Langford served with the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War and by family repute took employment with Arthur Guinness & Sons from 1889-1935.

Isabel N. G. Ray was born in 1878 and was the daughter-in-law of Captain G. G. O. N. Ray; sold with Silver War Badge No. '23862'.

Arthur George Crawford Langford was born on 26 June 1907 in Dublin and witnessed extensive service during the Second World War. A protestant by faith, the 1911 Census for Ireland records him living as a small child at an address on Ennis Road, Limerick. He died in May 1987.

Mark Coplan Langford - or Perky to his friends and comrades - was born on 3 October 1937 and educated at Ampleforth College. Commissioned in the Royal Marines in November 1955, he attended flying schools at R.A.F. Linton-on-Ouse, R.N.A.S. Culdrose and R.N.A.S. Portland, and was awarded his 'Wings' in October 1961. He married Philippa Sheppard on 23 March 1965, the daughter of Brigadier Rupert Sheppard, and together the young couple raised a son and two daughters. Langford died in 2007, his obituary which was published in the November-December issue of The Globe and Laurel, offering a detailed further insight as to his career and private life:

'Mark Langford joined the Royal Marines at Lympstone in November 1955 as a probationary Second Lieutenant in the YO-12 batch. It was here that he soon gained the affectionate nickname of 'Perky' Langford because of his lively nature and cheerfulness. Five years later in 1960, he began his flying career, which, apart from spells of regimental duties, he followed until he took voluntary retirement in 1970.
With the advent of the then new Commando Ships, the Admiralty agreed that a portion of the helicopter pilots for the Naval Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm would come from the Royal Marines, and in 1961 the first Royal Marine helicopter pilots joined No. 848 N.A.S. on board the Commando Carrier H.M.S. Bulwark in the Far East.

After completing his basic fixed wing flying training course at R.A.F. Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire, he proceeded to helicopter flying training at R.N.A.S. Culdrose, Cornwall, and then to Commando Helicopter flying training at R.N.A.S. Portland, Dorset. Having qualified as a Commando helicopter pilot in 1962, he joined No. 848 N.A.S. in H.M.S. Bulwark, flying Whirlwind 7s, and in 1963 he served in Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation campaign with No. 846 N.A.S.

Mark Langford joined No. 846 N.A.S. when the squadron was heavily involved in operations against the Indonesian Confrontation in Borneo. Helicopters were invaluable to General Sir. Walter Walker, the theatre Commander, who was able to triple the strength of his 'teeth arms' by the skilful use of helicopters. A study of Mark's logbook shows the intensity of 846's activities, whether flying in troops or reinforcing the forward bases.
From 1966 to 1968, Mark served in No. 845 N.A.S. in H.M.S. Bulwark flying Wessex 5s, during which time the ship sailed for the Far East, visiting Aden, Singapore, Borneo and Hong Kong. After retiring from the Royal Marines, Mark, like a number of his fellow naval pilots, joined Bristow Helicopters Ltd., and was with them for five years. He then joined Alan Mann Aviation at Chobham. During this period he was instrumental in securing the Augusta helicopter dealership for the company. He then left to join Westlands in Yeovil, returning to Alan Mann a few years later. In 2002 he formed his own company, MCL Aviation, where he was successful selling helicopters to the rich and famous.'

Sold with extensive research and a copied image of the recipient in uniform.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£900

Starting price
£480