1 |
Group Captain R W Oxspring RAF. Battle of Britain flying ace, one of only 42 DFC and double bars awarded.Distinguished Flying Cross G.J.R. 1940 and two bars, Air Force Cross, G.J.R.1949, 1939-45 Star with clasp, Battle of Britain, The Aircrew Europe Star with clasp, France and Germany, The Africa Star with clasp, North Africa 1942-43, The Italy Star, War Medal, ERII Coronation Medal, Dutch Vliegerkruis 1941 (9) Being sold with associated dress medals, log books and other items listed below. To be sold upon instructions from the Executors of Mrs. Joy Oxspring (Dec'd) Robert Wardlow Oxspring was born in Sheffield on 22nd May 1919, the son of a World War 1 decorated pilot of the same name. He joined the RAF in March 1938 on a short service commission and joined 66 Sqn. in the December and started operational flying in July 1940 and flew throughout the Battle of Britain. He was shot down by Bf 109's over Kent on 25thOctober, baling out with slight injuries (Caterpillar Club Badge) He was awarded the DFC on 8th November. September 1942 saw him awarded a bar to the DFC and a second bar was added in February 1943. In 1946 he was awarded the Dutch Vligerkruis by Royal Decree of the 31st October 1946 appearing in the London Gazette on 10th January 1947. He was awarded an AFC in January 1949 after leading a team of 54 Sqn Vampires to Canada and the USA, the first jet aircraft to cross the Atlantic. He retired from the service with the rank of Group Captain, having been Station Commander of RAF Gatow, Germany, in 1968 and settled in Lincolnshire near to RAF Cranwell. He died on 8th August 1989. Total Claims. 13 and 1 shared destroyed. 2 probable 13 damaged 4 V-1s destroyed Other items included in the lot, A Caterpillar Club badge inscribed "Flt.Lt. R W Oxspring" A silver RAF sweetheart brooch An 18ct gold commemorative medallion "25 Years Battle of Britain" cased. An electroplated salver with pie crust and shell cast rim, inscribed to centre Sqn.Ldr.R W Oxspring DFC AFC, from the Officers and Airmen 73 Squadron 12-1-49 to 14-11-49 Malta, 1 ¾" diameter An electroplated circular tray with rope twist rim, presentation relating to Group Captain Oxspring to centre 15 ½" diameter. An electroplated trophy relating to Wing Commander R W Oxspring 6 ½" high A silver oblong cigarette case, wood lined, inscribed "TO OUR C.O.SQN LDR BOB OXSPRING D.F.C. WITH VERY BEST WISHES FROM ALL RANKS OF "72" ON HIS MARRIAGE 28TH OCTOBER 1942" London 1941, 7 " wide A silver, leather and glass hip flask, with a screw bayonet cap, the silver sleeve inscribed " Presented to Group Captain R W Oxspring D.F.C. A.F.C. by the Officers and Airmen of No 151 Wing" and verso " Every Ounce Counts" makers mark Walker and Hall, Sheffield, 1959, 5 ½" high Until recently the medals have been on display at RAF Cranwell. Viewing: Monday 4th February 2pm to 5pm, Tuesday 5th February 2pm to 7pm, Monday 5th May 2pm to 5pm, Tuesday 6th May 2pm to 7pm. And other times by appointment. Photocopies of the logbooks will be available at viewing to preserve the originals. Estimate on request. All enquiries to Colin Young MRICS FNAVA. £40000-50000 | Nil |
|
44000 |
| 2 | After Robert Taylor. Angels Three Zero, which shows Bobby Oxspring at 30,000 feet shooting down Lieutenant Erich Bodendeik (he survived and the two pilots subsequently became friends), limited edition print, remarque is an original drawing signed by Robert Taylor (unframed). £150-250 | Nil |
|
130 |
| 3 | A medal group to D M A Smythe, DFC, 223 Sqn, no 79196 comprising Distinguished Flying Cross, 1939-45 Star with Battle of Britain Bar, Aircrew Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal.and dress medals with extra Defence medal as worn. Also included is Observers and Air Gunners Flying Log Book for Flt Lt Smythe start date 27.7.40, last entry 3/2/46, a copy of Get That Fighter, restricted, Army Airforce 1 November 1943, a 1950/51 Ration Book for D.M.A.Smythe, a cased and boxed Eisernes Kreuz 1 Klasse 1939, a leather flying helmet, a pair of enamelled RAF cufflink, a service watch, chrome, inscribed AM 68/243, 15918/40, a brass badge, central R with crown above inscribed Commander in Chiefs Bodyguard, sf and af 1900, a cloth Air Gunners brevet and a cloth badge for 264 Squadron RAF, the original case for the DFC and associated photographs and ephemera and a print of a Defiant. £2000-3000 | Nil |
|
2200 |
| 5 | RAF and Dambusters interest. A private collection of autographed letters and photographs including Wing Commander Stanford-Tuck, Arthur T Harris, Leonard Cheshire, Frederick Sowey, J P Tait, Ralf Cochrane, Mickey Martin etc., together with a copy of no. 5 Group Operational Order no. B.976, 617 Sqn 1967 signed re-union menu card, 1918 RAF Spitalgate, Grantham flying certificate signed Portal (Air Chief), etc. (23). £550-800 | Nil |
|
700 |
| 7 | A painted pine travel trunk of Warrant Office 1802864 Langley, 77 Waterloe Road, Dunstable Beds, containing RAF jacket, casuals, flying jacket, leather gloves, silk glove inserts, flying helmet with goggles, uniform hat with badge, regiment wrist straps, fabric map of Sumatra/Java, braces, badges, paperback books etc. £200-300 | Nil |
|
310 |
| 8 | AM model 6E-338 binoculars for night use. £20-40 | Nil |
|
35 |
| 9 | Early Aviators. Autographs and photocards viz. Hubert Oxley card 1911, Mr Hucks card 1911, Bleriot on paper, Samuel Franklin Cody on paper, Claude Grahame-White on card 1911, James Valentine on paper and Gutav Hamel on card. Framed and glazed. £250-350 | Nil |
|
550 |
| 10 | After Robert Taylor. Memorial flight, a coloured print of the BBMF,signed to the margin in pencil Leonard Cheshire, Johnny Johnson, Peter Townsend. £50-70 | Nil |
|
70 |
| 11 | After Robert Taylor. Hurricane, first edition print signed by Wing Commander R. R. Standford Tuck DSO DFC RAF Retired. Unframed. £50-100 | Nil |
|
50 |
| 12 | WWI medal group for Private 48730 H. Tracey RAMC, comprising war medal, victory medal, 1914-15 star, sold with his cap badge, cross country medal, cross felt pocket bible, shaving mirror and an album of postcards including silks. £80-120 | Nil |
|
120 |
| 13 | WWI medal group of Private 14180 H. Fairweather Yorkshire Light Infantry. War medal, Victory medal, 1914-15 Star, death plaque, record office letter and a quantity of postcard silks. £200-300 | Nil |
|
300 |
| 14 | WWII medal group. Miss Dorathy Martin, Women's Land Army 127346 and Gunner 1471942 H. H. Martin R. A. 1939-45 Star, Africa Star (8th Army Bar), Italy Star, War Medal, Territorial Medal (named), WLA armband, boxes and ER message. £80-120 | Nil |
|
120 |
| 15 | WWII naval medal group. KX95979 D. A. Travers POSM. HMS Ranpura, 1935-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, War Medal, Long Service and Conduct. £80-100 | Nil |
|
80 |
| 16 | Service medals of 1907, GNR.H.M Martell.RFA, being World War One Service and Victory medals, World War Two Defence medals, service medal 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Italy Star (7) £40-60 | Nil |
|
50 |
| 17 | Lawrence medals including India inscribed 398642 Pte R. Lawrence 4/7 Dgn Gds with North West Frontier bar, bravery in the field, inscribed 11747 Pte R. Lawrence 2nd W/Yorks and similar inscription to 1914-1918 War medal, other World War II medals, Buffalo jewels, various cap badges, etc. £300-400 | Nil |
|
460 |
| 18 | The Duke of Wellington. A letter of instruction approving the appointment of Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Arbuthnot to the command of the 9th Regiment, following the death of Lieutenant General Sir John Cameron; and the return letter verso on the 10th December 1844. The letter also has a note marked Brother of Right Honourable Charles Arbuthnot, Husband of Harriet Fane. Provenance: Fulbeck Hall, Lincolnshire. Given to the vendor by Mrs Mary Fry nee Fane. £180-250 | Nil |
|
240 |
| 19 | A silk work panel of the Durham Light Infantry, 20" x 23". £150-200 | Nil |
|
150 |
| 20 | Egypt 1882 Medal inscribed 1031 Cr. Sgt. H Smythe. I/SHROPS L.I. and Star (2). £100-150 | Nil |
|
180 |
| 21 | South Africa campaign medal inscribed 27322 TRP J.J.R. SMYTHE C.IN C. BDY. Go with South Africa 1901, Transferal, Orange Free State & Cape Colony bars. £100-150 | Nil |
|
170 |
| 21A | Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment tunic buttons. £20-30 | Nil |
|
20 |
| 21B | 18th Bedford Light Infantry insignia and other badges. £300-400 | Nil |
|
460 |
| 21C | The Last Will & Testament of Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, 1852 and Order of the Bath. £20-30 | Nil |
|
30 |
| 22 | WWII medal group comprising the Defence medal, War medal, 1939-45 star, Africa star, Italy star. (5) £20-30 | Nil |
|
38 |
| 23 | Army interest. Autograph letter and photograph of Major General Urquhart, Major General Baden-Powell, Arhem battle plan and RASC Officers Mess 1945 programme signed B.L. Montgomery, Field Marshal (5). £120-180 | Nil |
|
220 |
| 24 | Autograph papers with photographs. Lord Kitchener on 17 Belgrave Square notepaper, Edward VII, Queen Adelaide (3). £100-150 | Nil |
|
130 |
| 24A | A George III oak and flamed mahogany veneered long case clock with swan neck pillared hood, three quarter length trunk door with canted sides on bracket feet, the painted dial having cows under a bridge to the arch, shells to the spandrels, Roman hour numerals, seconds ring and date crescent and marked D. Gugeri, Boston, eight day movement striking a bell, 85" high. £1000-1200 | Nil |
|
900 |
| 28 | A fine flamed mahogany long case clock with domed hood, full length arched and ebonised slip trunk door with canted sides on plinth base with block feet, the 10½" circular dial having Roman hour numerals, seconds ring and marked Barrauds' Cornhill LONDON 1299, eight day movement striking a bell, 76" high. Estimate on request. All enquiries to Colin Young. £8000-10000 | Nil |
|
9500 |
| 29 | A Junghans burr walnut venereed wall clock with eight day chiming movement, 32" high. £80-120 | Nil |
|
85 |
| 30 | A mahogany cased single weight wall clock with architectural pediment and two part enamel dial. £200-300 | Nil |
|
190 |
| 31 | A Victorian mahogany wall clock with painted dial, having Roman numerals and marked Jn Buchanan Ashton-under-Lyne, with single fuseé movement, 12" diameter. £350-450 | Nil |
|
480 |
