A poignant Great War pair awarded to Mechanic 2nd Class R. Hickling, Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action in May 1917 while serving as an Observer in a B.E. 2c of No. 13 Squadron, his aircraft being shot down by German ace and “Blue Max” holder Leutnant Karl Allmenroder

British War and Victory Medals (77687 Pte. R. Hickling, R.F.C.), together with the recipient’s Memorial Plaque (Reginald Hickling), this last pierced at 12 o’clock, otherwise good very fine (3) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force.

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Reginald Hickling, who was born in 1888 and from Lambeth Castle in Co. Durham, originally enlisted in the 22nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry (Pioneers) in March 1915, but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in June 1916, and thence, in March 1917, joined No. 13 Squadron out in France.

And he was subsequently killed in action on 7 May 1917, when engaged on a photographic mission for XVII Corps over Fresnoy. According to contemporary sources, he and his pilot, 2nd Lieutenant I. R. Owen, became embroiled in an unequal contest with five enemy aircraft of Jasta 11, and one of them, piloted by German ace and “Blue Max” holder Leutnant Karl Allmenroder, shot them down.

Major Powell, C.O. of No. 13 Squadron, afterwards wrote to Owen’s parents:

‘He left the aerodrome about 11 a.m. and was out on photography with our best gunner observer [Hickling] and, as far as we can hear, was attacked by five hostile machines. His observer was shot dead, and your son was shot in the head and chest. He seems to have remained conscious long enough to land his machine without an accident, when he landed just inside our lines about two o’clock. He died very soon afterwards in the field ambulance.’

Hickling is buried in the Albuera Cemetery at Bailleul-Sire-Berthoult in the Pas de Calais; sold with copied research.