Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Second World War A.F.C. group of six awarded to Flight Lieutenant A. D. Meredith, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who flew operationally in the Battle of Britain in Hurricanes of Bader’s 242 Squadron, and afterwards as a night fighter in Defiants and Beaufighters of 141 Squadron - he claimed a confirmed “kill” in May 1941

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star, clasp, Battle of Britain; Air Crew Europe Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Air Efficiency Award, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Flt. Lt. A. D. Meredith, R.A.F.V.R.), mounted court-style as worn, good very fine or better (6) £3500-3800

A.F.C. London Gazette 8 June 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘From August 1943 to January 1944, this officer was employed as a Flight Commander and flying instructor. He displayed throughout exceptional qualities of leadership and set a fine example to his subordinates.’

Arthur Douglas Meredith joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1938 and, having attended pilot training courses at Ansty and Montrose, was posted to No. 17 Squadron at Martlesham on 10 May 1940. But the latter appointment was short-lived, for he was ordered to Sutton Bridge to convert to Hurricanes later in the same month, following which he was posted to No. 1 Squadron in France on 7 June, and thence to No. 242 Squadron on the 13th.

A few days later, 242’s exhausted, demoralised and battle-scarred pilots flew in to Coltishall to meet their new C.O., Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader. The latter’s forceful character was soon felt by all and he quickly dismissed any doubts about his tin-legged flying capabilities, putting on a spectacular 30 minute session of low-level aerobatics right over the airfield. Red tape, too, was swiftly brushed aside, mounds of paperwork quickly finding its way into the waste-paper basket, and an annoying desk-bound Officer (Equipment) at Fighter Command H.Q. received a memorable Bader-broadside. Far more noteworthy, however, was Bader’s related message to Group:

“242 Squadron now operational as regards pilots but non-operational repeat non-operational as regards equipment.”

He had barely been with 242 a week. Quite what Meredith and his fellow pilots made of this extraordinary display remains a matter for debate. Certainly they were not amused by their new C.O’s thoughtless jab at the lack of proper shoes, ties and shirts being worn by them - he was quickly informed that most of their clothes had been left in France. But his immediate apology was better received, especially when he sent them all off to a tailor in Norwich at the Air Ministry’s expense.

There can be no doubt, however, that not all of 242’s pilots were willingly fitting into Bader’s required mould, dogmatic leader that he was. When Meredith and fellow pilots were taken up to lead a formation in dummy attacks, he would bark at them ‘like an exuberant mastiff’ if they made any errors. It must have been a difficult experience, most of them having seen far more action than their C.O., but failure to fit in with his future plans meant almost certain transfer. But for the moment at least, Meredith remained on 242’s strength, the squadron’s operations record book listing him on assorted operational patrols in the second half of July, following Bader’s meeting with Dowding and signal to Group: “242 Squadron now fully operational”. Indeed Meredith participated in around a dozen such sorties before being transferred to No. 141 Squadron in early August.

Equipped with Defiants, and from August 1941 with Beaufighters, 141 was assigned to night fighter duties, and operated out of assorted airfields in the period of Meredith’s operational tour, including Dyce, Montrose, Turnhouse, Biggin Hill, Gatwick and Acklington. And as evidenced by the squadron’s operations record book, Meredith carried out many such sorties in the period October 1940 to June 1942, the same source further confirming his successful encounter with an He. 111 on the night of 5-6 May 1941 - ‘Destroyed’. He had, meanwhile, been commissioned as a Pilot Officer.

Finally “rested” in the summer of 1942, he joined No. 1530 Beam Approach Training Flight as an instructor at Hunsdon, in which capacity he was awarded the A.F.C. Having then been advanced to Flight Lieutenant in March 1943, he ended the War on anti-aircraft co-operation duties, in which role he served variously in 288, 597 and 598 Squadrons. He was released from the Service in October 1945; sold with a quantity of research and copy group photograph, including the recipient.