Lot Essay
D.C.M. London Gazette 1.1.1917 'For conspicuous gallantry in action. On three occasions he came to a very low altitude to attack Infantry on the ground. He has displayed great courage and determination throughout'.
Flight Sergeant David Robert Baxter, D.C.M., was born in Portsmouth in November 1893 and enlisted in the Army as a Boy Recruit in July 1908. Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps from No. 30 Company, R.E. in April 1914, he joined No. 3 Squadron in France as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in August of the same year. In November 1916, however, having been advanced to Sergeant, he qualified as an Observer, one of his training flights in the previous month, with 2nd Lieutenant T.S. Green, culminating in a dogfight with an L.V.G. enemy aircraft - the latter was driven down in a nose dive but its destruction was not confirmed (R.F.C. Communique No. 60 of 31.10.1916 refers). More certain is Baxter's obvious keenness to get to grips with enemy troops on the ground, as evidenced by his subsequent D.C.M. citation which was published in the London Gazette on 13.2.1917. Advanced to Flight Sergeant (N.C.O. Observer) in May 1917, Baxter returned to the U.K. that September and was discharged in February 1919.
Flight Sergeant David Robert Baxter, D.C.M., was born in Portsmouth in November 1893 and enlisted in the Army as a Boy Recruit in July 1908. Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps from No. 30 Company, R.E. in April 1914, he joined No. 3 Squadron in France as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in August of the same year. In November 1916, however, having been advanced to Sergeant, he qualified as an Observer, one of his training flights in the previous month, with 2nd Lieutenant T.S. Green, culminating in a dogfight with an L.V.G. enemy aircraft - the latter was driven down in a nose dive but its destruction was not confirmed (R.F.C. Communique No. 60 of 31.10.1916 refers). More certain is Baxter's obvious keenness to get to grips with enemy troops on the ground, as evidenced by his subsequent D.C.M. citation which was published in the London Gazette on 13.2.1917. Advanced to Flight Sergeant (N.C.O. Observer) in May 1917, Baxter returned to the U.K. that September and was discharged in February 1919.