A Scarce Salonika M.C. Group of Four to Lieutenant E.R. Wilkinson, No. 47 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, late Canadian Army, Military Cross, G.V.R. reverse inscribed "E.R.W. 1917" in its case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Sjt. Ld: S'Conn's H.); British War and Victory Medals, extremely fine (4)

細節

A Scarce Salonika M.C. Group of Four to Lieutenant E.R. Wilkinson, No. 47 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, late Canadian Army, Military Cross, G.V.R. reverse inscribed "E.R.W. 1917" in its case of issue; 1914-15 Star (Sjt. Ld: S'Conn's H.); British War and Victory Medals, extremely fine (4)

拍品專文

INDENTLieutenant Eric Russell Wilkinson M.C., born 1894 Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, enlisted in Lord Strathcona's Horse September 1914 as Lance Sergeant (had previously served with the 31st Regiment British Columbian Horse); left Canada for England October 1914 and embarked for France the day he was advanced to Sergeant, 4 April 1915; was discharged from the Canadian Army in consequence of being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 15th Bn. Middlesex Regiment and is shown as a Temporary Lieutenant (Flying Officer), Royal Flying Corps October 1915. Wilkinson left England with 47 Squadron for Salonika September 1916 and was actively engaged on the Struma front: 22.1.1917 - Bristol Scout-Macukovo/Doiran area "...saw hostile machine over Smol (Albatros)...I then got under him and finished the drum straight up"; 12.3.1917 - De Havilland - Doiran and Junas..."I then attacked the rear of these and fired a drum at close range from underneath. This machine was a three engined biplane...I was hit in the petrol tank and forced to land"; 30.5.1917 - De Havilland-Bogdanci ..."while escorting a bomb raid...I saw a hostile machine dive on to an A.W.. I immediately dived on to it and fired about a drum"; 1.10.1917 - B.E.12 - Beles "...over the Beles one of the hostile machines dived on me twice...I fired each time by stalling and using my Vickers gun". (Combat reports with group refer; Military Cross London Gazette 4.6.1917. "T/2nd Lieut., Acting Flight Commander, General List & R.F.C."); Wilkinson was involved in a serious mid-air collision with 2nd Lieutenant Bamford of 17 Squadron during a sham fight over Hadzi - Junas aerodrome in March 1917, incredibly both pilots survived (see article in Coin and Medal News, December 1986 and the following lot)

"Wilkinson sustained a fatal wound in the abdomen on Oct. 6th. Eight machines had bombed batteries at Nocolic from a low height. From a hundred feet or so on the return journey infantry were attacked with machine-gun fire. Whilst doing this Wilkinson's machine received a direct hit on the engine by a shell and he was forced to land near Brest. He was further hit in the abdomen and succumbed to his injuries the next day" (Over the Balkans and South Russia" - H.A. Jones refers)