[THE STORY OF THE MEDALS]
Upon the death of the recipient's widow in 2016 it was found that although she had received her late husband's RAF commemorate scroll (the original being present with this group) that his WW2 medals and Battle of Britain clasp had never been issued. Subsequently the recipient's son recently claimed for his late father's awards and they were duly issued by Innsworth Medal Office on 18th September 2017.
It is truly amazing that at this late stage and at a point which is now 77 years after The Battle there are still unissued medals and claps being sent to entitled Battle of Britain aircrew and their families, and this must surely be one of the very last to have escaped the net.
[Flt/Sgt ROBERT STUART SEYMOUR JAMES]
Robert R.S. James joined the RAF in July 1939 as an Airman U/T Observer.
He completed his training and joined 248 Squadron in the spring of 1940.
On 31st May he was attached to No.1(C) OTU Silloth, rejoining 248 Squadron (Blenheim fighters) which was then based at RAF Dyce (Aberdeen), on 29th June 1940. It was with 248 Sqd as an observer on Blenheim fighters that Robert flew and fought during the Battle of Britain and earned his entitlement to the classic Battle of Britain clasp.
Robert later transferred to 228 Squadron (Coastal Command) and was based at Oban where he flew on the famous Short Sunderland flying boats during anti-submarine sorties.
[THE FATAL CRASH]
It was on his return from one such sortie in the very early morning of 29th May 1942 that his aircraft, while attempting a landing in the darkness, came to grief. Due to mirror like conditions of calm on the water which led to sky reflectivity onto the surface, the pilot misjudged the approach hight of the aircraft which hit the water very hard and turned tail over nose. Several members of the crew managed with help to escape from the wreckage but Flt/Sgt James was trapped in the sinking aircraft. To make things even more catastrophically final, the aircraft was carrying primed anti-submarine depth charges which auto detonated when the aircraft reached a depth of about 30 feet.
Thus Robert's body was totally lost in the accident and he is commemorated with eternal honour on the RAF RUNNYMEAD Memorial to the Missing.
The group comes complete with a research folder with much interesting detail. Also present are the three 'named' issue boxes with the medal listing slip & official issue letter from the Gloucester medal office. Due to the large cost of a genuine Battle of Britain clasp we have desided to offer this group without the clasp, but we can with pleasure quote you a price to supply this group complete with a genuine clasp.
A very important Battle of Britain group with later Coastal Command service which sadly led to the loss of the recipient. SOLD