edals awarded to a First World Warfare flying ace are to be auctioned off subsequent month.
They have been awarded to Captain Solomon Clifford Joseph of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) and Royal Air Pressure (RAF) within the last months of the struggle in 1918.
His medals – a Distinguished Flying Cross, second award bar, an American First World Warfare Victory Medal and a British Warfare Medal – are being bought by a non-public collector by Noonans Mayfair on October 13, with an estimate of between £15,000 and £18,000.
Cpt Joseph was the highest-scoring Jewish ace of the battle and the one one to hail from Birmingham, with not less than 13 aerial victories attributed to him.
Joseph was a ‘gung-ho’ pilot whose aggressive flying fashion and ability accounted for not less than 13 aerial victories over the Western Entrance between Could and October 1918
Mark Quayle, medal specialist and affiliate director of Noonans, mentioned: “Joseph was a ‘gung-ho’ pilot whose aggressive flying fashion and ability accounted for not less than 13 aerial victories over the Western Entrance between Could and October 1918.
“He was no stranger to taking dangers, and was wounded in aerial fight, and practically shot down on many events.”
Cpt Joseph was born to a fantastic artwork seller in Birmingham in April 1893, dwelling on Speedwell Highway in Edgbaston.
Becoming a member of the RNAS – the predecessor to the RAF – in August 1917, he educated at Crystal Palace and Vendome in France.
He was posted to Dunkirk on February 16 1918, and flew Sopwith Camels from numerous bases till November 28 1918, after the struggle had concluded.
His Distinguished Flying Cross – one among round 65 to be issued in the course of the battle – got here in September 1918, with the London Gazette stating: “A gallant pilot who has accounted for eight enemy plane throughout the previous 4 months.
“On many events the enemy have been numerically superior to Lieutenant Joseph’s patrol, however this didn’t stop his attaining success.”
His second award bar got here lower than two months later.
The London Gazette mentioned: “A really gallant and skilful officer.
“He led his formation below a big drive of enemy plane with a view to inducing them to descend to assault him.”
Following the struggle, Cpt Joseph started a producing profession in his dwelling metropolis, the place he died in March 1966.
Bidding info could be discovered on the Noonans web site.
