(x) The Great War pair awarded to Captain C. T. Cleaver, M.C., D.F.C., Royal Air Force, late The King's (Liverpool Regiment) and Royal Flying Corps, 'an exceptional Observer Officer' in No. 3 Squadron who was thrice decorated - and thrice wounded British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. T. Cleaver, R.A.F.), edge bruising, otherwise very fine or better (2) Charles Thornton Cleaver was born in Liverpool in November 1893 and was educated at Repton. Enlisting in the 1/10th (Liverpool Scottish) Battalion, The King's on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was embarked for France in November and was slightly wounded whilst in the trenches in the following year. He subsequently made a successful application for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps and joined No. 3 Squadron as a 2nd Lieutenant and Observer in the summer of 1915. He was quickly in action, his aircraft being severely holed by enemy machine-gun fire on 5 September 1915 and his pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Claude Ridley, wounded: compensation came in the form of a shared victory on 11 October, when he and his pilot 'recklessly landed alongside the downed machine'. Reckless low-level work appears to have been a dominating factor throughout Cleaver's extended period of service in 3 Squadron. He was twice wounded, on the first occasion by rifle fire on 9 October 1916: whilst recovering from his wound in hospital the award of his M.C. was announced: 'For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He has shown great dash in contact patrol work at very low altitudes. On one occasion he obtained good information of a trench flying at 500 feet under heavy fire from rifles and machine-guns' ( London Gazette 20 October 1916, refers). Returning to 3 Squadron, he collected his second wound in yet another low-level sortie on 3 May 1917; so, too, his second M.C.: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When flying at a low altitude, on reconnaissance patrol, he was wounded in the arm. He continued flying for some time, gaining most valuable information. On landing he insisted on being taken to Headquarters to impart the results of his reconnaissance' ( London Gazette 18 June 1917, refers). He was evacuated home but returned to the operational scene in France with appointments in 16 and 39 Squadrons. And it was in this capacity that he and his pilot won D.F.Cs for a daring contact patrol towards the war's end: 'On 11 October [1918] these officers carried out a most daring and successful contact patrol. Flying at an average height of fifty feet in the face of extremely heavy machine-gun fire, they at times descended to twenty feet to enable Captain Cleaver to communicate with the troops. Much valuable information was obtained as to the strength and location of the enemy, proving of the greatest assistance to our troops. The machine and engine were hit by fire from the ground, but although these officers fully realised this, they refused to leave the lines until the reconnaissance was completed' ( London Gazette 8 February 1919, refers). Placed on the Unemployed List in January 1919, Cleaver returned to his family's cotton business in Liverpool. He married Ruth McReynolds of Paris, Texas, in May 1922. Reference source: Giblin & Franks, The Military Cross to Flying Personnel of Great Britain and the Empire 1914-19 (Savannah, 2008). Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
(x) The Great War pair awarded to Captain C. T. Cleaver, M.C., D.F.C., Royal Air Force, late The King's (Liverpool Regiment) and Royal Flying Corps, 'an exceptional Observer Officer' in No. 3 Squadron who was thrice decorated - and thrice wounded British War and Victory Medals (Capt. C. T. Cleaver, R.A.F.), edge bruising, otherwise very fine or better (2) Charles Thornton Cleaver was born in Liverpool in November 1893 and was educated at Repton. Enlisting in the 1/10th (Liverpool Scottish) Battalion, The King's on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was embarked for France in November and was slightly wounded whilst in the trenches in the following year. He subsequently made a successful application for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps and joined No. 3 Squadron as a 2nd Lieutenant and Observer in the summer of 1915. He was quickly in action, his aircraft being severely holed by enemy machine-gun fire on 5 September 1915 and his pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Claude Ridley, wounded: compensation came in the form of a shared victory on 11 October, when he and his pilot 'recklessly landed alongside the downed machine'. Reckless low-level work appears to have been a dominating factor throughout Cleaver's extended period of service in 3 Squadron. He was twice wounded, on the first occasion by rifle fire on 9 October 1916: whilst recovering from his wound in hospital the award of his M.C. was announced: 'For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He has shown great dash in contact patrol work at very low altitudes. On one occasion he obtained good information of a trench flying at 500 feet under heavy fire from rifles and machine-guns' ( London Gazette 20 October 1916, refers). Returning to 3 Squadron, he collected his second wound in yet another low-level sortie on 3 May 1917; so, too, his second M.C.: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When flying at a low altitude, on reconnaissance patrol, he was wounded in the arm. He continued flying for some time, gaining most valuable information. On landing he insisted on being taken to Headquarters to impart the results of his reconnaissance' ( London Gazette 18 June 1917, refers). He was evacuated home but returned to the operational scene in France with appointments in 16 and 39 Squadrons. And it was in this capacity that he and his pilot won D.F.Cs for a daring contact patrol towards the war's end: 'On 11 October [1918] these officers carried out a most daring and successful contact patrol. Flying at an average height of fifty feet in the face of extremely heavy machine-gun fire, they at times descended to twenty feet to enable Captain Cleaver to communicate with the troops. Much valuable information was obtained as to the strength and location of the enemy, proving of the greatest assistance to our troops. The machine and engine were hit by fire from the ground, but although these officers fully realised this, they refused to leave the lines until the reconnaissance was completed' ( London Gazette 8 February 1919, refers). Placed on the Unemployed List in January 1919, Cleaver returned to his family's cotton business in Liverpool. He married Ruth McReynolds of Paris, Texas, in May 1922. Reference source: Giblin & Franks, The Military Cross to Flying Personnel of Great Britain and the Empire 1914-19 (Savannah, 2008). Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
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