The scarce Korean War D.F.C. group of eight to Major (later Major General) Arthur George Ernest

The scarce Korean War D.F.C. group of eight to Major (later Major General) Arthur George Ernest Stewart-Cox, Royal Artillery: Distinguished Flying Cross, George VI issue (2nd Type), reverse dated 1952; British War Medal 1939-45; General Service Medal 1918-62, George VI (IND IMP), 2 clasps: Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (CAPT. A.G.E. STEWART-COX. R.A.), officially adjusted naming; Korea Medal, with Mention in Despatches emblem (CAPT. A.G.E. STEWART-COX. D.F.C. R.A.), official alteration to surname; United Nations Korea Medal; General Service Medal 1962-2007, clasp: Malay Peninsula (MAJOR A.G.E. STEWART-COX. D.F.C. R.A.); Jubilee Medal 1977; Pingat Peringatan Malaysia Medal, bronze; court mounted, all about very fine or better; together with the corresponding mounted group of dress miniatures; and a Republic of Korea Korean Veteran's Association Medal, with enamelled suspension brooch.

D.F.C. London Gazette 03/10/1952, "..in recognition of gallant and distinguished flying services in Korea"

Major General Stewart-Cox's long and highly distinguished career began in November 1944 when, as a cadet, he received an emergency commission as 2nd Lieutenant; and by the time of the Korean War he was a Captain. As he advanced in rank he held a number of prestigious appointments, including GOC Wales, Honorary Colonel 289 Commando Battery RA TA, and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - a post which he relinquished in April 1990.

In July 1951 Captain Stewart-Cox was deployed to Korea as part of 1903 Independent Air Observation Post Flight RAF, where his role was to pilot Auster aircraft in order to observe and direct artillery fire. His CO, Major R.N.L. Gower, describes him in the following terms, in his recommendation for the D.F.C.:

"...his courage and efficiency have been outstanding. He has engaged most successfully a large number of enemy targets with the artillery of the Division and the Corps medium and heavy artillery.....A large number of his shoots have been against heavily dug in and AA protected enemy gun positions sited well behind the front lines.....Captain STEWART COX has allowed nothing to deter him in the completion of the task of each sortie and has always displayed cool determination and a disregard for his personal safety."

He goes on to cite the following example of the recipient's remarkable bravery and professionalism:

"Last November he was carrying out a dusk sortie while the division was being attacked in considerable force. Flying over enemy territory he spotted 150 enemy moving forward to attack our own infantry and he immediately called down the fire of the whole Divisional Artillery on to this target. As the enemy advanced up a steep reverse slope the field guns were crested [unable to engage the enemy owing to the topography]. Captain STEWART COX foresaw this situation and had issued fire orders to all mortars that could reach. As a result there was no gap in the engagement of the enemy and his cool and efficient handling of the situation resulted in only 40 enemy surviving the shelling."