medal code j3330

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A FINE ROYAL FLYING CORPS FIGHTER ACE’S GROUP AWARDED TO A FLIGHT COMMANDER OF 29 SQUADRON WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON 14 AUGUST 1917 WHILST IN COMBAT WITH OBERLEUTNANT WIEGAND OF JASTA 10, WHICH FORMED PART OF VON RICHTHOFEN’S FLYING CIRCUS

BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS ‘CAPT. T. A. OLIVER’, GREAT WAR BRONZE MEMORIAL PLAQUE ‘THOMAS ALFRED OLIVER’

Thomas Alfred Oliver was born at Loughborough on 10 April 1893, son of Alfred and Annie Oliver of Capel Curig, Caernarvonshre. Oliver's father was an artist who had exhibited works at the Royal Academy and his son showed every sign of following suit, soon becoming artist-in-residence at the family studio in Capel Curig. However with the outbreak of the Great War he joined the 1/6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers with the rank of Private and the service number 1480 on 25 August 1914. Serving in this role for three months he applied for a commission with the Royal Flying Corps, being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 30 November 1914. Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps on 17 October 1915, being awarded his Aero Club Card, number 1921, on 17 November 1915 at Shoreham Military School. He graduated in December 1915 and was posted to No.1 Squadron (Recon and scouts) in France early in 1916.

On 20 March, in a raid against the German floatplane base at Zeebrugge, he fought his first combat in a Morane LA (5119), with 2nd Lieutenant D.A. Carruthers aboard, against an Aviatik over Cassel- Poperinghe. Thereafter, he was more or less constantly in action until being rested in January 1917, a period that witnessed at least two successful encounters. The first of these occurred on 3 July 1916 in a dogfight over Houthulst Wood, when Oliver was piloting a Morane BB (5170):

'Lieutenant T. A. Oliver and Sergeant Mumford, in a Morane biplane of No. 1 Squadron, encountered five hostile aeroplanes, driving off four with little trouble. The fifth showed more fight, but was last seen diving vertically with the engine full on, and is believed to have been destroyed' (R.F.C. Communiques 1915-16 refer).

And having switched to piloting fighters, the second on 6 August 1916:

'Lieutenant T. A. Oliver in a Nieuport Scout of No. 1 Squadron attacked a hostile machine over Kemmel which in appearance was very much like a Martinsyde. The Nieuport closed to within 150 feet of the hostile machine and fired two drums under the tail. The engine of the hostile machine was seen to stop, and it dived steeply. Five drums in all were fired at the German, whose machine was followed down to 3,000 feet with its propeller stopped. It is believed that the observer of this machine was also hit' (R.F.C. Communiques 1915-16 refer).

SAfter a break in combat in January 1917 Oliver returned to the front; he was posted to No. 29 fighter Squadron (Nieuport 17’s) as a Flight Commander on 10 August 1917 and the next day shot down two opponents - one over Roulers and another over Polinchove. Ordered to fly a patrol on 14 August he was shot down by Oberleutnant Weigand of Jasta 10.

At this time, Jasta 10 was Commanded by the great Ace Werner Voss and formed part of Von Richthofen’s Jagdgeschwader 1 (the flying circus). Voss was killed in action on 23 September 1917, Weigand taking command of the Jasta but was himself killed in action just two days later. Oliver has no known grave but is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial.

Oliver had continued to draw and paint during his service in the RFC, producing some stunning pictures of aircraft he few in. One was used on the front cover of one of Cross and Cockade 2011 journals and other pictures have been located online:

https://www.crossandcockade.com/blog.asp?Display=90

Condition VF, small EK to BWM or better. Ex DNW 2004 when the two medals were sold without the plaque which has since been reunited with the medals. These displayed in fine contemporary fitted leather covered display case. Medals can be purchased without the case of desired. Sold together with copied service papers, extracts from an article relating to the recipient and Commonwealth War Graves details along with a copied MIC and digital copies of his combat reports.

A most interesting group to a fighter Ace and talented artist, who was killed in action in combat with elements of the Red Baron’s Flying Circus.

Code J3330        Price £ SOLD