Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A particularly fine I.G.S. 1908-35 with Waziristan 1921-24 clasp awarded to Sergeant W. H. Fearn, Royal Air Force, who served as a DH9A air gunner with 27 Squadron on bombing operations against the hill tribes of Waziristan - and remarkably survived being shot down and captured in enemy territory. Fearn also survived various other abortive flights, only for his luck to run out on 25 April 1930, when he was killed in a flying accident whilst serving as a pilot instructor at R.A.F. Cranwell

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (328556. L.A.C. W. H. Fearn. R.A.F.) mounted for display purposes, good very fine £400-£500

William Henry Fearn was born in Buxton, Derbyshire, in November 1901. He enlisted as a Boy in the Royal Air Force in March 1919, and two weeks after arriving at the Recruit Depot (Boys Section) he moved to the newly formed School of Technical (Boys) Halton. The apprenticeship scheme was, at that stage, still in embryo form, and Fearn spent only six weeks there before before moving to another boys’ establishment at Eastchurch to continue his training as a Fitter Aero Engine. Fearn returned to Halton in order to complete his training, and did so in November 1920. Within a month he was posted to the Aircraft Depot, Lahore, after which he spent a further six months at the Aircraft Park also based there. Fearn was posted to the R.A.F. School at Ambala in October 1921, before being posted as an AC1 to 27 Squadron (DH9A’s) at Risalpur in October 1922.

The Squadron was operational, and at this point was heavily engaged in bombing raids against the hill tribes in Waziristan. Fearn found himself employed as an Air Gunner on the squadron’s DH9As. He moved with the Squadron to Razmak in December 1922, and 21 January 1923, whilst flying with Flying Officer R. J. M. St. Leger, he found adventure that few survived:

‘While I was having tea at Dardoni I was told that Flying Officer St. Leger and Leading Aircraftman Fearn, who had been shot down and taken prisoner, had now returned from the Military Post at Ladha, where they had been staying for a few days after being released. During our raids on the Abdullai villages in the Razmak area a few weeks back, before they had come to terms, the machine St. Leger was flying was hit by rifle fire and he had to make a forced-landing in enemy territory; his second forced-landing in Waziristan within 12 months. When the raids for the day were over and we had no news of them, we feared the worst because this is terrible country to crash in. The day after, we were told that they had been captured by the Mahsuds.

Fearn told me, when I saw him later this evening, that after crashing, though badly shaken, they were unhurt. They escaped from the pursuing Abdullais after an exciting chase, but were captured by another section of the Mahsuds. Seeing that it was impossible to escape from this second party and that they were being attacked by tribesmen carrying dangerous knives, St. Leger probably saved their lives when they were being approached at the end of the second chase. By a flash of wit he calmly walked up to the leading pursuer and asked him, speaking in Urdu, how much he wanted for his knife - “Churi, kitni pice hait?” As it happened, the tribesman thus addressed understood Urdu, and the incongruity of the situation must have amused him, for from that moment instead of being a deadly foe he became a friend. He put away his knife and conducted these mad, and brave Englishmen, for neither of them was armed, to his village, where they remained until contact had been made with the Political Agent and their release arranged. During the days they were in captivity their fate hung in the balance, owing to the demands of other sections of the tribesmen for revenge. Eventually they were handed over the Military Authorities at Ladha, where a ransom of 5,000 rupees was paid to their captors, from whom they parted on quite friendly terms. Two knives, similar to those the tribesmen were carrying when the chase was on, were presented to St. Leger and Fearn on their departure from the village.’ (With The First In The Field, by A. E. Cowton - a N.C.O. in 27 Squadron at the time - refers)

Having survived that ordeal Fearn had a further brush with death on 15 July 1924. On take-off at Risalpur, his pilot, Flight Officer C. A. Mason, throttled back too early and the aircraft crashed on rough ground. Fortunately both survived without significant injury. Fearn was posted for pilot training at No. 4 F.T.S., Abu Sueir, Egypt in January 1925. In gained his ‘Wings’ and advanced to Sergeant in January the following year. Fearn was subsequently posted as an Instructor at R.A.F. Cranwell in August 1928, and it was here that he met an untimely death. On 25 April 1930, Sergeant Fearn was carrying out a test in an Avro 504N with A.C.1 Charlton in the other seat. According to the evidence given at the inquest, the aircraft was approaching for what appeared to be a normal landing. At about 50ft, it suddenly reared upwards, with black smoke coming from the underside. The aircraft then stalled, and went in to a short spin before hitting the ground. Both airmen were killed, and are buried in the Churchyard in Cranwell village. Their names are also listed on the Roll of Honour displayed in the Church in the grounds of the R.A.F. College.

Sold with copied service papers and research.