A Great War Pilot's O.B.E. Group of Six to Squadron Leader J.P.C. Sewell, Royal Air Force, Late Royal Flying Corps, Onetime Attached to the French Air Force, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer's (O.B.E.), 1st type, Military Division, breast Badge, silver- gilt (Hallmarks for London, 1919); 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf (Major, R.A.F.), these two officially impressed in large capitals; France, Legion of Honour, Chevalier's breast Badge, silver, with gilt and enamel centre; Croix de Guerre 1914-16, with palm, the Legion of Honour slightly chipped in places, otherwise good very fine or better, mounted Court-style as worn, together with related Dress Miniatures (12)

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A Great War Pilot's O.B.E. Group of Six to Squadron Leader J.P.C. Sewell, Royal Air Force, Late Royal Flying Corps, Onetime Attached to the French Air Force, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer's (O.B.E.), 1st type, Military Division, breast Badge, silver- gilt (Hallmarks for London, 1919); 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R.F.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf (Major, R.A.F.), these two officially impressed in large capitals; France, Legion of Honour, Chevalier's breast Badge, silver, with gilt and enamel centre; Croix de Guerre 1914-16, with palm, the Legion of Honour slightly chipped in places, otherwise good very fine or better, mounted Court-style as worn, together with related Dress Miniatures (12)

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No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

O.B.E. London Gazette 3.6.1919.

Mention in Despatches London Gazette 20.5.1918.

French Legion of Honour London Gazette 5.4.1919.

Squadron Leader John Percy Claude Sewell, O.B.E., who completed his education at Trinity College, Cambridge, gained his Aviator's Certificate in April 1915 and joined No. 12 Squadron in France in September of the same year. Initially attached to G.H.Q. as a Headquarters unit, the Pilots of No. 12 flew regular patrols and test flights in their BE2c aircraft, Sewell being no exception, with around 15 trips being entered in the Squadron Record Book for the period January to March 1916. Transferring at about that time to the French as a Liaison Officer, he went on to assist in the destruction of at least one Fokker while serving as an Observer Officer, a fact confirmed in French records and the autobiography of R.R. Money, a contemporary of Sewell's:

'Sewell had left 'A' Flight and gone down the line to act as Liaison Officer between us and the French flying people. This was the second Liaison Officer we had provided. He won golden opinions from the French, and their delight was great when he went up with one of their Pilots and shot down, or helped to shoot down, a Hun. They gave him the Croix de Guerre'.

Very probably Sewell remained with the French for the duration of hostilities. More certain is the fact that he remained in the Royal Air Force as a Regular Officer after the War, onetime serving as an Air Attaché in Paris with the rank of Squadron Leader.