Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce ‘N.W. Persia’ campaign group of six awarded to Wing Commander E. H. Rundle, Royal Air Force, late Royal Navy and Royal Naval Air Service, who served in North West Persia as Signals Officer with 30 Squadron

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. E. H. Rundle. R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, N.W. Persia (F/O. E. H. Rundle. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, last three privately impressed ‘S/L. E. H. Rundle. R.A.F.’ mounted on card for display, generally very fine (6) £800-£1,200

R. Leach Collection, Sotheby’s April 1972

Approximately 47 ‘N.W. Persia’ clasps issued to the Royal Air Force, and scarce as a single clasp.

Ernest Hallahan Rundle was born in Devonport, Devon in December 1894. He was employed as a Wireless Operator prior to the war, and joined the Royal Navy for the duration of hostilities as a Petty Officer Mechanic (W.T.) in March 1915. He transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service in June 1917. Subsequent service included at Dunkirk and R.N.A.S. Folkestone, before being commissioned and transferring to the Royal Air Force upon its formation in April 1918. Rundle was posted to the Middle East in March 1919, and was appointed Flying Officer in August of the same year. He saw service with 30 Squadron in North West Persia during the period from August to December 1920. Rundle is mentioned in Line. The Reminiscences of a Royal Air Force Pilot by Air Commodore H.F.V. Battle, O.B.E., D.F.C. for service during this period:

‘Setting off next day (10 Nov 1920), but this time with our Signals Officer Rundle, as passenger we landed successfully at Hamadan (Persia) but the ground was too soft for a take off so we put the aeroplane away into the one and only hangar.’

Rundle was posted to 6 Squadron, operating from Baghdad West, 10 September 1920. The squadron was employed on patrol duties initially against Turkish-backed rebels in Northern Iraq and later policed large areas of desert to protect towns against marauding bands of raiders. He later served with 55 Squadron, before being posted to Palestine Command in June 1922.

Rundle returned to the UK in January 1924, and subsequent postings included to No. 2 Flying Training School and for Staff Duties at the Air Ministry. He advanced to Flight Lieutenant in July 1926, and served at Heliopolis and the Central Flying School back in the UK prior to his retirement in April 1933. Rundle was recalled to service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in September 1939, and was appointed Squadron Leader in June 1941. He was released from service as Wing Commander in May 1947 (employed as Civilian Substitution Officer, Home Command, Air Ministry at the time of the Coronation) and he died in January 1970.

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