Orders, Decorations and Medals

An unusual Berlin Airlift O.B.E., Second World War A.F.C. group of seven awarded to Wing Commander G. A. E. Harkness, Royal Air Force, a veteran of the operations in Southern Kurdistan 1930-31, for which he was mentioned in despatches - and a keen photographer who captured many images of his squadron at work in the same period

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1944’; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953; Iraq, King Feisal’s War Medal, mounted as worn (excepting the sixth), together with related dress miniature Iraqi award, full-dress tunic “Wings”, a Baghdad Race Course Pass 1930-31, gilt and enamel, reverse officially numbered ‘105’, and R.A.F. sporting awards for shooting and plunging (3), two silver, one bronze, 1930-32, generally good very fine (13)
£1800-2200

O.B.E. London Gazette New Year Honours 1950.

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

‘Squadron Leader Harkness has flown nearly 400 hours as Flight Commander of experimental flying in connection with the development of radar searchlights and gun laying equipment. An experienced pilot his work has been worthy of the highest praise.’

George Augustus Erskine Harkness, who was born in November 1901, was commissioned from the ranks of the Royal Air Force in May 1928, while serving in Egypt.

Shortly thereafter posted to No. 70 (Bomber) Squadron at Hinaidi in Iraq, a Vickers Victoria unit which was re-designated for Bomber-Transport duties from May 1931, one of his first duties was to assist in the evacuation of nearly 600 men, women and children from Kabul during the Afghanistan disturbances of 1929, when the Squadron was temporarily based in India.

Advanced to Flying Officer in November 1929, Harkness remained actively employed on bombing and transport duties, not least in the operations against the followers of Shaikh Mahmud in Southern Kurdistan in the period October 1930 to May 1931, when No. 70’s aircraft flew a total of 1160 hours: Harkness was mentioned in despatches by Air Vice-Marshal Ludlow-Hewitt (London Gazette 6 May 1932 refers).

No. 70 having then participated in day and night bombing operations against followers of Shaikh Ahmed of Barzan, Harkness returned home and was transferred to the Reserve of Air Force Officers in May 1933.

Recalled on the renewal of hostilities, in the rank of Flying Officer, he was advanced to Squadron Leader in September 1941 and was awarded his A.F.C. in respect of the above cited deeds while serving at R.A.F. Defford - by which stage, according to the recommendation, his total flying time stood at a little over 5000 hours.

Promoted to the temporary rank of Wing Commander in July 1945, he reverted to Squadron Leader in the General Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force in January 1947, when he joined the Secretarial Branch. Shortly afterwards, as a member of Personnel Staff of Transport Command, he lent valuable service in the Berlin Airlift, his duties in the U.K. involving extensive planning for the movement of 250 officers and 4,400 airmen back and forth to Germany - in fact in the recommendation for his resultant O.B.E., his work was described as being of ‘outstanding merit and vital to the smooth running of this Command and its efficiency in the Berlin Airlift’ (copy of same included).

Having then been awarded the Coronation Medal in 1953, while serving at the Air Ministry in London (accompanying roll verification refers), Harkness was placed on the Retired List as a Wing Commander in February 1956.

Sold with two impressive photograph albums, the first with scenes of life in Egypt and Iraq, 1928-30 (approximately 20 large images), many captioned, and the second, of greater interest, containing approximately 150 images dating from the recipient’s part in the evacuation of Kabul through to active service in the Southern Desert operations 1930-31, the majority captioned and featuring fellow officers, squadron aircraft, Hinaidi airfield, R.A.F. armoured cars, visiting Political officers and chiefs, and much besides, the whole constituting an important record of No. 70 Squadron’s pilots and operations in the period 1929-31.