REVIEW: ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS AND MILITARIA 29 JUNE

The static nature of Trench warfare in the First World War meant that flying reconnaissance was the only means of gathering reliable information from behind enemy lines. Clear and accurate photography required straight and level flying, making the reconnaissance observers and their pilots sitting targets for enemy guns.

Such was the danger that RFC pilots in 1916-17 reportedly dubbed themselves the 20-Minute Club – the life expectancy of a new pilot in combat at the time.

It was against this backdrop that Cyril Fraser Brewerton first took to the skies as a Flight Sub Lieutenant (on probation) in the Royal Naval Air Service, having joined up in July 1916. Serving as Flight Commander of 2 Squadron, R.N.A.S., he flew countless reconnaissance missions over Belgium – often engaging enemy aircraft, with his aircraft being hit by machine gun and anti-aircraft fire, and two observers suffering wounds as a consequence.

Brewerton was initially posted for operational service with 2 Squadron, R.N.A.S., on the Western Front, on 1 September 1917. The Squadron was employed on photographic reconnaissance and light bombing operations, primarily in Airco DH.4s, bi-planes designed by Geoffrey de Havilland as two-seat light bombers.

Brewerton’s Logbook shows him as flying numerous photographic reconnaissance operations over Ostende and Nieuport throughout September 1917, including carrying out spotting for Monitors. He continued in a similar role, also covering Bruges, the following month – including 27 October 1917, ‘Photos: Attacked by 5 E.A. at long range on return.’ (Logbook refers)

His detailed records of the missions retain a visceral quality more than a century later as his 1 November 1917 report shows. Carrying out another reconnaissance over the same target, Brewerton noted: ‘Escort to photo m/c. Attacked two E.A. on return, gun jammed and just before crossing the lines was attacked by high patrol of 6 E.A. Gunlayer wounded in arm after shooting one down.’

Brewerton also carried out a large number of reconnaissance missions into the New Year, including a two and half hour flight to Ostende on 21 February 1918. In a letter to his mother dated 30 March 1918, he writes: ‘I got the D.S.C. the other day so I am quite pleased with life. I expect it will be in the papers in a day or two so look out for it...’

2 Squadron was renumbered 202 Squadron with the formation of the Royal Air Force in April 1918. Brewerton, who had advanced to Captain, stayed on with the squadron and was flying DH4 A7632 when his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Ostende on 13 June 1918. His observer, Lieutenant M. G. English, was wounded.

Brewerton’s letters home hint at difficult times, including one written on 15 June 1918:
‘I have got some fairly interesting news for a change and that is that I have been given a home job for a few months at Dover for a rest. I have had some rather rotten trips just lately ending up with my observer getting a piece of shell in his head over Hunland, so the CO put in for me to go to a home job for a bit...’

Appointed to the command of No. 491 (Light Bomber) Flight in June 1918, Brewerton advanced to Flying Officer in August 1919, before being posted for operational flying with 20 Squadron (BE2b’s) in India in February 1920.

He went on to fly BE2bs with 20 Squadron on the North West Frontier, with his letters home providing valuable insight into the extreme dangers of flying during that conflict. He commanded No. 423 (Fleet Spotter) Flight, Malta, and was killed in a flying accident whilst piloting a Bison on 18 January 1927.

This was the tale behind the fine and extremely well-documented D.S.C. group of four offered in Noonans’ June 29 auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria.
Accompanying the DSC group in the lot was Brewerton’s Royal Naval Air Service Pilot’s Flying Log Book (8 September 1916 - 11 February 1919); R.N.A.S. Pilot Graduation Certificate, dated 13 December 1916; 3 Service and Conduct Certificates; Gunnery and Bomb Dropping Qualification Certificates; 6 Appointment and Posting Certificates; several photographs of Brewerton from service; and a large number of letters, predominantly written to his mother and mostly on R.N.A.S. Station East Fortune letter headed paper, from wartime service including on the North West Frontier, along with other ephemera.

The group sold for £4,200.