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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 849

Five: Lieutenant (Pilot) M. J. Bartels, South African Air Force, killed in action over Awsa on 3 April 1942

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War and Africa Service Medals 1939-45, all officially impressed '47824 M. J. Bartels'; South African Second World War Casualty Plaque, in the name of '47824 Luit. M. J. Bartels S.A.L.M., this last in its carton of issue, some edge bruising, very fine (5)

Martinus Johannes Bartels was born at Zutphen, Holland on 20 October 1917 and worked as a Mechanical Draughtsman prior to enlisting with the 2nd Battalion, Pretoria Regiment in 1937. Serving with this until he was appointed Corporal and served until March 1939 when he was transferred to the South Africa Air Force as a Pupil Pilot.

Posted to No. 65 Air School Bartels qualified as a Pilot and was promoted 2nd Lieutenant, being called up for war service in 1940. Promoted Lieutenant on 2 July 1941 he was posted to No. 5 Squadron on 27 December 1941 for operational flying. This unit flew Tomahawk IIb's on anti-shipping duties from December 1941.

Bartels stayed with them for a short time before being sent to 91 Operational Training Unit in the Sudan on 9 January 1941. Completing his training with them he was returned to No. 5 Squadron on 7 February 1942. Whilst flying a patrol over Alexandria Harbour with Lieutenant V. S. Muir, Bartels was killed in action. He is buried at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery; sold together with copied service papers and a Commonwealth War Graves certificate.

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Sold for
£450

Starting price
£210