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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 583

(x) A poignant Second World War campaign group of five awarded to Flight Sergeant R. E. Davey, Royal Australian Air Force, who was Killed in Action on the night of 3-4 March 1945, when his Lancaster of No. 460 Squadron was shot down by an intruder Ju. 88 over Lincolnshire

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australian Service Medal 1939-45 (437403 Davey R.E.), nearly extremely fine (5)

Robert Eric Davey was born in Salisbury, South Australia on 4 January 1925 and enlisted in the Citizen Air Force in Adelaide in January 1943. Subsequently mustered for air crew duties in the R.A.A.F., he qualified as a Wireless Operator and was embarked for the U.K. in November 1943. Having then attended further training courses, and been advanced to Flight Sergeant, Davey was posted to No. 460 Squadron, a Lancaster unit at R.A.F. Binbrook, in late February 1945.

However, he had only been with the squadron for a week when his Lancaster was tragically shot down by an intruder Ju. 88 over Lincolnshire on the night of 3-4 March 1945, crashing near Barfield House, Langworth, some seven miles north-east of Lincoln. Most of his crew appear to have survived the incident with multiple injuries, but 20-year-old Davey and the flight engineer were killed.

The son of Robert and Beatrice Davey of Forest Gardens, South Australia, he was buried in Cambridge City Cemetery on 9 March 1945, his C.O. informing his parents that 'full service honours were accorded, the coffin carried by men of his own squadron, which also provided a firing party, and the coffin was covered with the Union Jack; the Last Post was sounded at the end.'; sold with copied research, including his service record.

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

Sold for
£850

Starting price
£170