Beschreibung:

Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin A Great War D.F.C. and Bar group of six awarded to Lieutenant G. N. Thomson, Royal Air Force, late Territorial Forces and Royal Flying Corps, an Observer in No. 59 Squadron who carried out a number of low-level operations in the summer of 1918 - so low, in fact, that his aircraft was often ‘badly shot about Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, the reverse privately engraved, ‘Lieut. Graham N. Thomson, R.A.F., 24th July 1918’; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. G. N. Thomson, R.S.F.), renamed; British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. G. N. Thomson, R.A.F.), renamed; Victory Medal 1914-19 (Lieut. G. N. Thomson, R.A.F.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, India (Tpr. G. N. Thomson, Assam V.L.H. A.F.I.), together with a set of related miniature dress medals, somewhat polished, otherwise generally very fine or better (12) £1200-1500 Footnote D.F.C. London Gazette 2 November 1918. The original recommendation states For gallantry and devotion to duty when carrying out contact patrols On 20 July 1918, this officer carried out two most successful contact patrols with the N.Z. Division over Rossignol Wood and Bucquoy. Owing to ill-health he was on light duty at the time but volunteered for both patrols His first patrol was carried out in a very heavy thunderstorm and owing to weather conditions he was flying at under 1,000 feet the whole time. During the patrol he silenced an enemy machine-gun which was firing from Bucquoy Two hours later he carried out the second patrol at under 800 feet and was compelled, owing to bad visibility, to draw enemy machine-gun fire in order to locate their position, and his machine was badly shot up The information he gained was of great value and accurate in every detail He has previously done some very fine work with his squadron, especially during the March offensive and by his exceptional gallantry, keenness and devotion to duty has set an excellent example to the officers in his squadron. Recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 2 November 1918. The original recommendation states: For skill and gallantry On 22 August 1918, this officer carried out a special contact patrol from a height of 200 to 400 feet. He was throughout subjected to very heavy fire from the ground, and his machine was very badly shot about. He showed great daring during a heavy counter-attack on Logeast Wood and, flying at a height of 100 feet, he shot up the advancing troops and rendered great assistance in bringing this attack to a standstill and causing very high casualties. He then continued his patrol along the whole Corps front Reports brought back by this Observer have been of the greatest value and most accurate Throughout the recent operations he has set a very good example of courage and devotion to duty to the whole squadron. Recommended for the Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross Graham Noble Thomson was born in Edinburgh in January 1896 and was resident at Corstorphine at the time of his joining the R.A.M.C. (Territorial Force) in May 1913, in which corps he was appointed a Private in the 3rd Lowland Field Ambulance at St. Ninians, Stirling. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers in May 1915, he was posted to the 5th Battalion in Egypt early in the following year, and was wounded by a ‘severe gunshot in the head’ on the Sinai Peninsula, Palestine. Evacuated to Port Said, and thence to 19th General Hospital in Alexandria, he underwent two operations before being embarked for the U.K. in August 1916. Having then been granted leave, Thomson took up an appointment in the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry at Fort George but, in January 1917, was ordered to join the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, in Salonika - due, however, to the effects of the climate on his old head wound, he was invalided home that October Next transferring to the Royal F