A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars

Pair: Second Lieutenant (Observer) T. Grosvenor, No. 57 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, and Lincolnshire Regiment, killed whilst bombing enemy shipping off the coast of Belgium on 17 September 1917

British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut.); together with memorial plaque (Thomas Grosvenor); illuminated memorial scroll; transmission slip for medals; commission certificate (dated 9.9.1915); condolence letter from the Privy Purse Office, Buckingham Palace; Lincs. Regt. Christmas card; printed ‘In Memoriam’ card; four original photographs, including two of recipient in uniform; and a letter giving detail of the circumstances of Grosvenor’s death, this written by the daughter of Belgian civilian who witnessed the event, extremely fine (3) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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Thomas Grosvenor, a native of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire was killed on 17 September 1917, whilst acting as Observer in a DH4. He is buried at Ostende Communal Cemetery, Belgium.

The following is extracted from an original letter included with the lot, dated 6 December 1918: ‘I am a Belgian girl from Ostend, living with Mrs Coleman as governess to her two little boys. I have received a letter from my father asking me to write to you, as he thought that you would be very thankful to have full details of the death of Lieutenant T. Grosvenor. On September 17th, 1917 at half past nine in the morning my father was watching the flight of the English aeroplane which was flying over the German warships lying just out at sea, they were throwing bombs onto the boats with great success. Unfortunately at the time the wind was very strong and suddenly my father saw this aeroplane caught in the wind and thrown into the sea; and the two aviators drowned. A boat was sent at once to rescue them, but it was too late, they were already dead when brought out of the water. They were then taken to the mortuary and my father was ordered to look after the bodies and to bury them. He made a careful search, in looking he found no scratch or hurt on either of their bodies. On the clothes of one he found the name ‘Grosvenor’. The German had already taken from him all he posessed. On the other he found the name Pritchard and a pocket book. I wrote to Mrs Pritchard and she gave me your address thinking you would like to know where your dear boy rests...’