Memorial Plaque 1914-18 (Thomas Frederick Stephenson), mounted for display within a circular wooden frame, polished, very fine £200-300

Thomas Frederick Stephenson, the only Great War casualty with these names, was a successful Royal Flying Corps pilot with several victories and a D.C.M. to his name. The latter was gazetted on 4 March 1918 for the following deeds:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. While flying over the enemy’s lines, he was attacked by 12 hostile scouts and engaged four of them, one of which he destroyed. He was then attacked by another of the enemy machines, and, though his Observer had been wounded, he succeeded in destroying it. His machine was then rendered almost uncontrollable by a shell, the right wing being almost shot off, but he succeeded in landing it in our front line wire. He has destroyed five hostile machines and shown splendid courage and determination.’

Stephenson, who joined No. 11 Squadron as a pilot in the course of 1917, claimed his first victory on 23 September of that year, following a combat with an Albatross D.V. over Vitry. Then in the following month, he claimed four more Albatross D.Vs, two on the 20th, north-west of Cambrai, and another brace over Fresse on the 31st, the latter combat being the one described in his D.C.M. citation - Oberleutnant Hans Bethge of Jasta 30 claimed Stephenson’s force landed F2B as his 18th victory.

Stephenson was killed in action on 20 November 1917, while flying Bristol F2B A7292 of No. 11 Squadron on reconnaissance patrol in support of the Cambrai operations. His aircraft was hit by Flakbatterie 710 / 572, or Flak 4 and 9 Kompanie of Infanterie Regiment 184, west of Beaurevoir. Still a Sergeant, he was 23 years of age, and his name was commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial at the Pas de Calais. His Observer, Lieutenant T. W. Morse, was wounded and taken P.O.W.

N.B. The recipient’s Honours and Awards form part of the Royal Air Force Museum’s collection at Hendon.