Three: Second Lieutenant (Observer) H. E. Arnold, No. 5 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, formerly Royal Fusiliers, killed in aerial combat on 26 December 1916, the third victim of the German ace, Hans Bethge

1914-15 Star (6573 Pte., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Herbert Edward Arnold) all mounted on a contemporary fitted display board, nearly extremely fine (4) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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Herbert Edward Arnold was born on 24 October 1897 in London, and educated at the Merchant Taylors School. He joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1915 and was posted to France, being commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps on 17 October 1916. Second Lieutenant Arnold was killed in action on 26 December 1916 whilst on a bombing operation in a BE2c, and is buried at Vaulx Hill Cemetery, France. The Pilot of the plane (2nd Lieutenant F. N. Insoll) survived, and was taken prisoner of war. Their plane was claimed by the German ace Hans Bethge, his third out of a total of twenty aerial victories.