Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine and rare 1936 ‘Palestine’ military division B.E.M. group of ten awarded to Wing Commander, late Warrant Officer, H. Taylor, Royal Navy attached R.N.A.S. and Royal Air Force - 1 of only 2 B.E.M’s awarded to the R.A.F. for operations in Palestine prior to the Second World War

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (313928 Flt. Sgt. Harry Taylor R.A.F.); 1914-15 Star (J25779 Boy 1. H. Taylor. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.235779 H. Taylor Act. A.M. 1. R.N.); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (313928 Cpl. (A/Sgt.) H. Taylor. R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (313928. F/Sgt. H. Taylor. R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., fixed suspension (313928 Sgt. H. Taylor, R.A.F.); Jubilee 1935, mounted on card for display in this order, earlier awards polished good fine, remainder generally very fine (10) £700-£900

B.E.M. London Gazette 11 May 1937:

‘For valuable services rendered in the field in connection with the operations in Palestine during the period April - October, 1936.’

Approximately 15 B.E.M.s in total awarded for operations in Palestine prior to the Second World War, of which only 2 were awarded to the Royal Air Force. Taylor served on the Combined Staff at HQ.

Harry Taylor was born in Preston, Lancashire, in April 1898. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy in July 1913, and was attached for service during the Great War with the Royal Naval Air Service - being rated Air Mechanic I (W/T) on his 18th birthday. Taylor advanced to Acting Air Mechanic I (W/T) and saw much service on R.N.A.S. airship stations on the North East Coast, being the W/T operator on airships carrying out reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols over the North Sea. He saw subsequent service at Howden and Pulham, in addition to spells with the Beardmore Construction Co. Inchinnan, Scotland and Barlow, Yorkshire. The latter being the home of Armstrong Whitworth, another airship construction company at the time.

On 1 April 1918, on the merger of the R.N.A.S. and the R.F.C. to form the R.A.F., Taylor was transferred to the new Service under the terms for R.N. ratings attached to the R.N.A.S. He was allocated the service number ‘313929’ from the block of numbers allotted for such transferees. Taylor advanced to Warrant Officer in June 1937 (awarded L.S. & G.C. in February 1932), and was granted a commission as Flying Officer on probation (Signals Officer) the following year. He was posted to the School of Naval Co-operation at Ford. Taylor advanced to Flight Lieutenant in March 1941, and to Squadron Leader in July 1943, spending the majority of his war service with the Directorate of Signals, Air Ministry. He advanced to Wing Commander in July 1948 and retired on his 55th birthday, 8 April 1953, completing a spell of continuous service lasting some 42 years.

Wing Commander Taylor resided at 14 Arlington Avenue, Cottingham, and died at the Royal Infirmary Hull in March 1978.

Sold with copied service papers.