Medals & Coins, Arms & Militaria - 10th June 2026

Lot 10

The Great War D.F.C. group of ten medals to Air Commodore Allan Robert Churchman, R.A.F.

Estimate £2,000 - £2,500 | Hammer £2000

+ Buyers Premium

Description

The Great War D.F.C. group of ten medals to Air Commodore Allan Robert Churchman, R.A.F., C.B., D.F.C. D.L.: Distinguished Flying Cross, George V, reverse privately engraved in serif capitals "ALLAN ROBERT CHURCHMAN CAPT RAF / AWARDED JUNE 11TH 1918 / PRESENTED JULY 24TH 1919 / BY H.M. KING GEORGE V", good very fine; 1914-15 Star (F. 2916, A. R. CHURCHMAN, A. M. 1, R.N.A.S.), very fine; British War Medal 1918-20 and Victory Medal (CAPT. A. R. CHURCHMAN. R.A.F.), edge bruising, contact marks and some smoothing, near very fine; 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine; Coronation Medal 1937, unnamed as issued, about very fine; Coronation Medal 1953, unnamed as issued, good very fine; later mounted for wearing. [10]



(183 mm width of ribbons at top)

C.B. (not offered here) London Gazette: 01/01/1959
D.F.C. London Gazette: 02/07/1918 and 03/08/1918

Allan Churchman, having served in the rates of Petty Officer Mechanic (RN) and Air Mechanic (RNAS), in 1915, transferred to the Army as an Officer Cadet on the 15th of June 1916 and was commissioned 2nd Lt. in the North Devon Hussars on the 19th December. In June 1917 he was appointed Flying Officer in the Royal Flying Corps and went on to serve in 10 Squadron RFC. He attended the 1st Army Artillery School in August of the year and he was awarded the DFC for aerial artillery observation, with the following citation:

"Within the past month this officer has been successful in rendering very valuable services in directing our artillery fire on enemy positions. Owing to his skill and judgement on many occasions concentration of our fire was brought on enemy batteries with such precision that great damage was effected."

This was one of the first awards of the newly created D.F.C., and was in fact the result of an M.C. recommendation, of which a copy is offered with this lot. It gives details of seven operations in which the receipient's courage and professionalism resulted in great damage to enemy positions.

Churchman held various posts in the interwar years, and was posted to India in 1942. In August 1944 he became AOC RAF Northern Ireland.

Offered with copy research and a reprint of a uniform portrait photograph.