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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 414

The campaign group of four awarded to Captain J. W. James, No. 18 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, late 5th Mounted Rifles, who flew FE2b reconnaissance aircraft over the Western Front and was granted the Freedom of the City of London for his service in 1920, he was later to drive ambulances for the A.R.P. during the Second World War


1914-15 Star (Pte J. W. James 5th M.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. W. James. R.F.C.); Defence Medal 1939-45, all with their card boxes of issue, good very fine (4)

Joshua Walter James was born at Crouch End, London on 29 September 1886, the son of Joshua and Eliza James, his father was a wholesale mantle manufacturer living in St. James at the time. He moved to South Africa and started work as a Clerk at the Municipal Council of Johannesburg from May 1911. On the outbreak of the Great War, James served as a Private with the Imperial Light Horse from 1914-1915, seeing service in German South West Africa.

Returning to Britain in 1916, he qualified as a pilot with his Aero Club Certificate issued on 5 April 1916. Posted to No 18 Squadron in France in May 1916, his service papers note flights in the R.E.7, R.E.8 and D.H.6., encompassing the Squadron's focus on reconnaissance missions. The brief history of the Squadron notes the following of its time of the Western Front:

'In this role and throughout the fighting on the Western Front, the Squadron was closely associated with the Cavalry Corps. A great spirit of comradeship developed between these two Units and this bond is symbolised by the use of the winged horses Pegasus in the Squadron badge. It was during this time- in days when air power was in its infancy- that the Squadron successfully pioneered wireless telephony.
Up to the time of its disbandment on the 31st December, 1919, the Squadron was credited with a total of over 200 enemy aircraft destroyed. Some twelve years later, the Squadron was re-formed and equipped with Hawker Hart bombers.'

Posted home as Flight Commander in April 1917, he joined 127th Bomber Squadron however this unit was disbanded without seeing action so he was transferred to 115th Squadron. Leaving them in July 1918 before they transferred to France, James remained in Britain serving in various training, depot and headquarters roles until October 1918 when he was hospitalised. Placed on the unemployed list in February 1919, he returned to London.

There he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London awarded 'to sons of members of the corporation who have served with H.M. Forces' on 10 December 1920.

Settling at Friern Barnet, he took over his father's company some time later and was still there, living at 18 Oaklands Avenue on the outbreak of the Second World War. Joining the ARP, he served as an Ambulance Driver with them for the duration of the war, James died in London on 26 December 1966; sold together with copied research as well as a Parchment of the Freedom of the City of London and an ARP Certificate of Appointment as Ambulance Driver.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£210