AN EXCESSIVELY RARE & DESIRABLE
TOTALLY “NEW TO MARKET“
(Old Contemptible’s)
“ROYAL FLYING CORPS”
MILITARY MEDAL
with
1914 Star & Bar Trio (R.F.C.) and Royal Air Force L.S.G.C.
A TRUE MIRACLE SURVIVOR
To.
168. Cpl-WO2, ABBLOTT LANCELOT WOOLSEY. R.F.C.
No.2 Squadron & 1 Military Wing R.F.C.
[THE MEDALS]
Military Medal (GV)
168 Q.M. SGT: A.L. WOOLSEY. 1/WING: R.F.C.
1914 Star & Bar 168 Cpl. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.F.C.
War Medal. 168 Q.M.S. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.F.C.
Victory Medal. 168 Q.M.S. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.F.C.
LSGC Medal. 168 S.M.2. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.A.F.
(BIOGRAPHY)
9th June 1889 to 1954 (On Pension at age 65)
Abblott Lancelot Woolsey was born in Great Yarmouth Norfolk, the son of Frederick Woolsey, a Bricklayer & Ellen Alice Woolsey.
He originally joined the Army at age 18 as No. 10227 a bandsman- musician with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry, on 28th October 1907, for a 7 & 5 year engagement.
He is seen on the 1911 2nd D.L.I. army census as a “Musician” aged 21.
He received an excellent further education in the Army and was in receipt of:
3rd Class Certificate of Education. 19th December 1907
2nd Class Certificate of Education. 2nd April 1908
1st Class Certificate of Education. 26th April 1911
He transferred to the newly formed Royal Flying Corps on 4th July 1912 as one of its very earliest members, serving as No.168, Corporal A.L. WOOLSEY in No. 2 Squadron and 1/Wing where he followed a career as a technical airman, NCO, Master Technician in the RFC & later as a Meteorologist WO2 in the RAF.
[TO FRANCE]
12th AUGUST 1914
He served with No.2 Squadron in France from 12th August 1914 and as such was one of the first men ever to serve in the very first combat flying unit in the world.
He was Promoted to Q.M.S. (T) on 1st April 1916.
For an as yet unknown act of Bravery in The Field during the period 1914-1916 he was awarded his Military Medal.
London Gazette, 14th September 1916.
(With Schedule Numbers 31,000-32,000)
This edition is well known as a “retrospective award” gazette which contain awards in recognition of earlier acts of bravery which took place prior to the instigation of the Military Medal itself on 25th March 1916....and with its VERY early schedule number of just 31,015 it’s our opinion that this award is very likely to be a retrospective award for an act of bravery that occurred in the early part of the war while serving with No.2 Squadron.
Typically, an early ground crew award of the MM to a man in the RFC would be won while saving life and aircraft while under enemy fire at airfields on the western front.
We shall likely & eventually find out the exact set circumstances and gallant deeds that led to the award.
Mr Woolsey received his medal while serving with No.1 Wing RFC to which unit it’s named, but considering all currently known factors its likely that he earned the medal while serving with No.2 Squadron earlier in the war.
He is then seen serving as a Master Mechanic (Tech) in his 1st April 1918 RAF papers.
Mr Woolsey married Violet Henrietta Annie French on March 16th 1918 at St Mary’s Church, Rotherhithe. They were both 29
Upon the formation of the RAF, he was then officially promoted to WO2 on 1st April 1918 and confirmed at the rank by an Official Warrant of 1st January 1920. We have that original velum WARRANT.
Interestingly this is an early and original “HAND SIGNED” warrant which bears the genuine signature of non other than Mr Winston Churchill, who hand signed these warrants as the then Chief of The Air Council. Signed in Blue Ink, this is NOT an autopen or rubber stamped signature.
Mr Woolsey received his 1914 Star on 22nd August 1919 from RAF records at Blandford Camp, Dorset (original receipt included).
His address at the time was 70 St.Peters Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
He received an award of the L.S.G.C. (RAF) on 28th October 1925.
During the immediate post war years he then retrained as a meteorologist with time spent in training at The Kew Observatory in Richmond, West London on a 12 week course from 2nd June ‘till 6th September 1920.
He then served overseas from 17th November 1920 in this capacity at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt at No.4 Flying Training School as a ballon specialist, observational meteorologist and synoptic chartist.
A slightly later posting with 14 Squadron took him to Amman in Jordan until 10th November 1921 and onward back to HQME on 31st December 1925 where he served with 502 Squadron.
He’s pictured in two uniformed group photos and in individually in several excellent 8”x 10” official plate pictures which were apparently taken in Egypt. There is also a picture of Mrs Woolsey taken by the River Nile & Mr Woolsey in uniform with a Camel & it’s driver.
Also Included is his “RAF Employment Qualification” (Form 856) document as “Meteorologist” with four assessments as being “Exceptional” in every aspect & capacity of his work.
He was finally discharged from RAF on 27th October 1928.
Also included are three official letters concerning his service pension payments of which he was still in receipt at age 65 in 1954.
[DESCRIPTION & SUMMARY]
As serious collectors of medals to the early members of the RFC will know, all the awards to these early aviation pioneers are fanatically sought after. With only 1,400 men of the original RFC being in receipt of a 1914 Star & Bar Trio, it’s indeed hard enough these days to find just one complete basic group.
However, we at Medals of England, as RFC & RAF aviation specialists, are always proud to offer something seriously rare and interesting.
We constantly strive to deliver the real cream of the crop in flying medals & decorations.
We recently listed one of only 22 GEORGE V “Crowned Head” Distinguished Flying Medals which were awarded during the inter-war period, and we are currently offering the unique 1940 Battle of France, Hurricane Fighter Pilot’s “COLDITZ ESCAPER” (1943) Military Cross.
It is therefore with very great pleasure that we here offer this early airman’s gallantry gem, and what is almost certainly the only surviving ROYAL FLYING CORPS, MILITARY MEDAL, 1914 Star & Bar Trio & R.A.F. Long Service & Good Conduct Medal which has an original set of personal papers & photos.
Based on the minuscule number of survivors, you are never likely to see another group like this.
Of the 1400 men who formed the original “Contemptible Little Flying Corps” there were only 31 who won a Military Medal.
Of those 31 awards only 24 were made to men who also held a 1914 Star & Bar trio....and of those awards to 1914 Star & Bar recipients, only 3 such complete groups were known to be extant in 1991 when the standard reference work was written. The others are either unrecorded or lost. There are also a couple of known “single” MM’s which have lost their trios etc.
Our Group to Abblott Lancelot Woolsey brings that tiny number of complete survivors to just 4 ! ...and as far as we know this is the only group which also has a wide selection of original RFC service documents & uniformed photographs of the recipient.
This exceptional & probably uniquely documented group comes with many original & important personal papers & service photos, so this is without any doubt the very best documented RFC Military Medal group extant.
Also included is a small folding travel clock (needing repair), a WW1 “brass & glass” clampable compass, the recipient’s original RFC cap badge and his ribbon bar, a small brass RAF sweetheart brooch, and the recipient’s RAF service history sheets from 1st April 1918. Also included are various other research papers.
Apparently his original RFC muster documents etc are available for inspection as non-digitised paper records at the national archive and we will be retrieving copies of those soon. These may well shed more light on his award of the military medal.
If you’ve dreamt about owning the ultimate Royal Flying Corps Military Medal group, then your dreams may be about to come true.
All medals are on original ribbons, are EF+, totally original & uncleaned with a superb matching time developed deep cobalt steel grey tone and were clearly almost never worn by the recipient.
SOLD
Military Medal (GV)
168 Q.M. SGT: A.L. WOOLSEY. 1/WING: R.F.C.
1914 Star & Bar 168 Cpl. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.F.C.
War Medal. 168 Q.M.S. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.F.C.
Victory Medal. 168 Q.M.S. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.F.C.
LSGC Medal. 168 S.M.2. A.L. WOOLSEY. R.A.F.
(BIOGRAPHY)
9th June 1889 to 1954 (On Pension at age 65)
Abblott Lancelot Woolsey was born in Great Yarmouth Norfolk, the son of Frederick Woolsey, a Bricklayer & Ellen Alice Woolsey.
He originally joined the Army at age 18 as No. 10227 a bandsman- musician with 2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry, on 28th October 1907, for a 7 & 5 year engagement.
He is seen on the 1911 2nd D.L.I. army census as a “Musician” aged 21.
He received an excellent further education in the Army and was in receipt of:
3rd Class Certificate of Education. 19th December 1907
2nd Class Certificate of Education. 2nd April 1908
1st Class Certificate of Education. 26th April 1911
He transferred to the newly formed Royal Flying Corps on 4th July 1912 as one of its very earliest members, serving as No.168, Corporal A.L. WOOLSEY in No. 2 Squadron and 1/Wing where he followed a career as a technical airman, NCO, Master Technician in the RFC & later as a Meteorologist WO2 in the RAF.
[TO FRANCE]
12th AUGUST 1914
He served with No.2 Squadron in France from 12th August 1914 and as such was one of the first men ever to serve in the very first combat flying unit in the world.
He was Promoted to Q.M.S. (T) on 1st April 1916.
For an as yet unknown act of Bravery in The Field during the period 1914-1916 he was awarded his Military Medal.
London Gazette, 14th September 1916.
(With Schedule Numbers 31,000-32,000)
This edition is well known as a “retrospective award” gazette which contain awards in recognition of earlier acts of bravery which took place prior to the instigation of the Military Medal itself on 25th March 1916....and with its VERY early schedule number of just 31,015 it’s our opinion that this award is very likely to be a retrospective award for an act of bravery that occurred in the early part of the war while serving with No.2 Squadron.
Typically, an early ground crew award of the MM to a man in the RFC would be won while saving life and aircraft while under enemy fire at airfields on the western front.
We shall likely & eventually find out the exact set circumstances and gallant deeds that led to the award.
Mr Woolsey received his medal while serving with No.1 Wing RFC to which unit it’s named, but considering all currently known factors its likely that he earned the medal while serving with No.2 Squadron earlier in the war.
He is then seen serving as a Master Mechanic (Tech) in his 1st April 1918 RAF papers.
Mr Woolsey married Violet Henrietta Annie French on March 16th 1918 at St Mary’s Church, Rotherhithe. They were both 29
Upon the formation of the RAF, he was then officially promoted to WO2 on 1st April 1918 and confirmed at the rank by an Official Warrant of 1st January 1920. We have that original velum WARRANT.
Interestingly this is an early and original “HAND SIGNED” warrant which bears the genuine signature of non other than Mr Winston Churchill, who hand signed these warrants as the then Chief of The Air Council. Signed in Blue Ink, this is NOT an autopen or rubber stamped signature.
Mr Woolsey received his 1914 Star on 22nd August 1919 from RAF records at Blandford Camp, Dorset (original receipt included).
His address at the time was 70 St.Peters Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
He received an award of the L.S.G.C. (RAF) on 28th October 1925.
During the immediate post war years he then retrained as a meteorologist with time spent in training at The Kew Observatory in Richmond, West London on a 12 week course from 2nd June ‘till 6th September 1920.
He then served overseas from 17th November 1920 in this capacity at RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt at No.4 Flying Training School as a ballon specialist, observational meteorologist and synoptic chartist.
A slightly later posting with 14 Squadron took him to Amman in Jordan until 10th November 1921 and onward back to HQME on 31st December 1925 where he served with 502 Squadron.
He’s pictured in two uniformed group photos and in individually in several excellent 8”x 10” official plate pictures which were apparently taken in Egypt. There is also a picture of Mrs Woolsey taken by the River Nile & Mr Woolsey in uniform with a Camel & it’s driver.
Also Included is his “RAF Employment Qualification” (Form 856) document as “Meteorologist” with four assessments as being “Exceptional” in every aspect & capacity of his work.
He was finally discharged from RAF on 27th October 1928.
Also included are three official letters concerning his service pension payments of which he was still in receipt at age 65 in 1954.
[DESCRIPTION & SUMMARY]
As serious collectors of medals to the early members of the RFC will know, all the awards to these early aviation pioneers are fanatically sought after. With only 1,400 men of the original RFC being in receipt of a 1914 Star & Bar Trio, it’s indeed hard enough these days to find just one complete basic group.
However, we at Medals of England, as RFC & RAF aviation specialists, are always proud to offer something seriously rare and interesting.
We constantly strive to deliver the real cream of the crop in flying medals & decorations.
We recently listed one of only 22 GEORGE V “Crowned Head” Distinguished Flying Medals which were awarded during the inter-war period, and we are currently offering the unique 1940 Battle of France, Hurricane Fighter Pilot’s “COLDITZ ESCAPER” (1943) Military Cross.
It is therefore with very great pleasure that we here offer this early airman’s gallantry gem, and what is almost certainly the only surviving ROYAL FLYING CORPS, MILITARY MEDAL, 1914 Star & Bar Trio & R.A.F. Long Service & Good Conduct Medal which has an original set of personal papers & photos.
Based on the minuscule number of survivors, you are never likely to see another group like this.
Of the 1400 men who formed the original “Contemptible Little Flying Corps” there were only 31 who won a Military Medal.
Of those 31 awards only 24 were made to men who also held a 1914 Star & Bar trio....and of those awards to 1914 Star & Bar recipients, only 3 such complete groups were known to be extant in 1991 when the standard reference work was written. The others are either unrecorded or lost. There are also a couple of known “single” MM’s which have lost their trios etc.
Our Group to Abblott Lancelot Woolsey brings that tiny number of complete survivors to just 4 ! ...and as far as we know this is the only group which also has a wide selection of original RFC service documents & uniformed photographs of the recipient.
This exceptional & probably uniquely documented group comes with many original & important personal papers & service photos, so this is without any doubt the very best documented RFC Military Medal group extant.
Also included is a small folding travel clock (needing repair), a WW1 “brass & glass” clampable compass, the recipient’s original RFC cap badge and his ribbon bar, a small brass RAF sweetheart brooch, and the recipient’s RAF service history sheets from 1st April 1918. Also included are various other research papers.
Apparently his original RFC muster documents etc are available for inspection as non-digitised paper records at the national archive and we will be retrieving copies of those soon. These may well shed more light on his award of the military medal.
If you’ve dreamt about owning the ultimate Royal Flying Corps Military Medal group, then your dreams may be about to come true.
All medals are on original ribbons, are EF+, totally original & uncleaned with a superb matching time developed deep cobalt steel grey tone and were clearly almost never worn by the recipient.
SOLD