Sold by Order of the Family The remarkable and likely unique campaign

Sold by Order of the Family The remarkable and likely unique campaign group of four awarded to Aircraftman Class II S. Skinner, Royal Air Force, late Officer's Steward 3rd Class, Royal Navy, who served during the Great War and later Pink's War across two services 1914-15 Star (L.5612 S. Skinner. O.S.3. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (L.5612 S. Skinner. O.S.3. R.N.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1925 (348471. A.C. 2. S. Skinner. R.A.F.), the first three mounted as worn, the last loose, sold together with photographs of the recipient in the uniforms of both services, light edge bruising, very fine overall (4) Sidney Skinner was born at Canning Town, London on 1 June 1897 and attested with the Royal Navy on 9 September 1914. Posted to the armoured cruiser Antrim he spent the first two years of the war with her patrolling the exits to the North Sea. Transferring to H.M.S. Eastchurch, the Royal Naval Air Service, Flying School on the Isle of Sheppey it seems that he served there without ever joining the R.N.A.S. but rather serving attached from 10 May 1916. Demobilised on 26 January 1921 he soon enlisted again with the Royal Air Force, joining at the Uxbridge Depot on 18 July 1921. Skinner was certified as an 'Aircrafthand and Driver' whilst there and after a period of training went on to joining an active unit in India in December 1922. Transferring to No. 5 Squadron on 8 January 1923, he was still with them two years later when they moved to Waziristan to take part in Pink's War. This was to be the first campaign of its kind with the Royal Air Force acting alone and within that service only No. 5 and 60 Squadrons were deployed to deal with the problem. It was in many respects a very grim conflict; whilst the idea of bombing an enemy from the air may seem better than being sniped and bombed whilst marching up a mountain pass, there were certainly still hardships. One incident in particular highlights the peculiarities of the small wars on the North West Frontier, that being the case of a flier by the name of Dashwood. His aircraft crashed near a village with hostile tribesmen nearby, the observer was killed and Dashwood, who went back into the plane while the ammunition detonated to try and free him, was horribly burned. 'Pink's War' by F. E. Chasemore takes up the tale: 'They gave him water. Then he got to his feet and started to walk to Sorarogha Fort. Of course, they could have slit his throat (and spared his agony), but instead they let him go and gave him an armed escort to ensure that nobody mucked him about on the way. I cannot begin to imagine the torture of the seven-mile trek along hot, stony mountain tracks on burnt stumps; the only man who really knew came to the end of it just outside Sorarogha. He sent in one of his escort with a message; it was written in blood with his finger and it read: "Send brandy, for God's sake". When they brought it to him he flogged his dying spirit along that last desperate stretch, and there he died on his feet to a salute from his enemies. Whatever else may be said about them they knew a man when they saw one.' The conflict came to an end with the tribesmen accepting defeat, 'Pink's War' was a success and proof that air power could be independently deployed with great success. Skinner survived his second war and was posted back to Britain in 1926, joining the 'E' class reserve in June 1927. He was discharged to the reserve on 17 July 1933. Settling in Gravesend he was working as a Lorry Driver in 1939, he died at Rochester, Kent in 1982; sold together with two copied service records, original birth and marriage certificates as well as two photographs of the recipient in the uniforms of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Vedi tutti gli oggetti diSpink AuctionsoMedaglie, Armi & Armature