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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 533

The British War Medal awarded to Airman 2nd Class F. Kendall, 55 Kite Balloon Section, Royal Flying Corps, who was Killed in Action on 31 December 1917 when on board H.T. Osmanieh which was mined off the coast of Alexandria

British War Medal (94023 Pte. F. Kendall. R.F.C.); Memorial Plaque (Fred Kendall), edge brusing and contact marks overall, otherwise very fine (2)

Fred Kendall was born at Halifax, Yorkshire, on 30 August 1898 and was the son of Thomas and Mary Kendall. He had been a Cinema Operator before he firstly joined the Labour Corps (P/260248) and joined the Royal Flying Corps and was made Airman 3rd Class on 6 August 1917 and to Airman 2nd Class on 16 November 1917.

He travelled to Egypt on the H.T. Osmanieh sailing from Southampton and is noted as entering the war in the Middle East on 10 December 1917. His service papers note him on 31 December 1917 as 'Missing believed drowned' which was later confirmed the same day, this was due to the ship having struck a mine off the coast of Alexandria, the ship sank in less than seven minutes and 209 lives were lost. He is buried in the Alexandria (Hadra) War Cemetery, Egypt.

It is likely he served with Jack Cohen the founder of Tesco stores, who served in the same section of the Royal Flying Corps but who survived the sinking of the Osmanieh.

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Sold for
£200

Starting price
£70