Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War Balloon Command M.B.E. group of five awarded to Flight Lieutenant W. H. S. Moorman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, late Royal Naval Air Service

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; British War Medal 1914-20 (F. 17291 Act. C.P.O., R.N.A.S.); Defence and War Medals; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt., R.A.F.V.R.), generally good very fine (5) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Roy Bartlett Collection of Awards to the R.N.A.S., R.F.C. and R.A.F..

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M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer was posted to the Squadron specifically for Mark VI Balloon duties prior to the Normandy Landings. He was responsible for setting up and organising the Shore Servicing Station and the Admiralty Hard at Southampton and District, and also for the training of the personnel. He took part in all of the exercises prior to D-Day. In the period of 30 days since D-Day, 2000 balloons were successfully transferred by his flight, a large number of them in exceptionally bad weather conditions. Flight Lieutenant Moorman’s conduct was exceptionaly meritorious on D-Day when the weather had caused heavy balloon casualties and he had to organise an emergency station to effect replacements. His organising ability has been of a very high standard throughout and the success of the operations from Southampton has been due to his ability, initiative, perseverance and general devotion to duty.’

William Henry Sydney Moorman, who was born in London in June 1898, enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service in December 1916, and served at the R.N.A.S. Station at Chingford for the remainder of the War. Having then returned to uniform on the renewal of hostilities, he was appointed a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in September 1940, direct from the rank of Corporal. Advanced to Flying Officer in Balloon Command in September of the following year, and to temporary Flight Lieutenant in January 1944, he was awarded the M.B.E. for his services in No. 924 Flight, No. 30 Squadron, Balloon Command, during the period of the Normandy landings. He transferred to the Administrative and General Duties Branch that October and was awarded the Air Efficiency Award in March 1948.