Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Second War A.F.C. group of eight awarded to Captain H. C. Warren, South African Air Force, who flew operationally in Hurricanes of 127 Squadron in the Western Desert, claiming a ‘probable’, before being wounded in action

Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated 1945; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal, the Second War campaign awards all officially impressed ‘102180 H. C. Warren’; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st (bilingual) issue, Union of South Africa (No. 102180 Capt H. C. Warren S.A.A.F.) rank officially corrected on last, generally very fine and better (7) £1,600-£2,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of David Lloyd.

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Approximately 90 A.F.C.s awarded to the South African Air Force during the Second World War.

A.F.C. London Gazette 3 April 1945.
The original Recommendation states: ‘This officer has been engaged as a Convoy Leading Pilot on the refors ferry routes since October 1942. He has led a considerable number of convoys from West Africa, in addition to operating on the North Africa, India, South Africa and Turkey routes, completing 650 hours as leading pilot with a further 650 hours as passenger. At all times he has carried out his duties successfully and conscientiously and with his cheerfulness has set a fine example to his brother officers and the N.C.Os under his command. His work has in addition been instrumental in the successful delivery of a large number of aircraft to the various battle fronts and Operational Training Units.’

Harry Charles Warren was born in Durban on 15 November 1917 and enlisted in the Union Defence Force in May 1940. Initially trained as an Air Gunner, he was re-mustered as a pupil pilot in early 1941 and was embarked for Southern Rhodesia, where he qualified for his ‘Wings’ at R.A.F. Bulawayo. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in November 1941, he embarked for the Middle East, where he was seconded to the Royal Air Force and joined 127 Squadron (Hurricanes) in February 1942.

In June 1942, and having been advanced to Lieutenant, Warren moved with 127 Squadron to the Western Desert. He was quickly back in action, the unit operating out of a series of forward landing grounds and regularly operating over the ‘Alamein Box’. During one such patrol on 16 July he intercepted ten enemy aircraft and claimed a ‘probable’. A few days later, on 23 July, his luck ran out and he was slightly wounded in three places in his lower back after a close scrap with 109s. He crash-landed at L.G. 97 and came to rest among some tents. By his own log book account, it was a ‘Shaky do!!’

Warren transferred to No. 1 A.D.U. in October 1942, and was advanced to Captain. He subsequently lent valuable service as a ferry pilot in No. 216 Group on the West Africa-Cairo-Algiers-Nairobi routes. For his services during the Second World War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 12 January 1945) and awarded the Air Force Cross.

Sold with a portrait photographic image of the recipient and copied research.