A very nice WW1 - WW2 Attributed Miniature Medal Group to NASH, Royal Flying Corps, Royal Air Force, Royal Artillery with Research, Original & Copy Photos

Consists of:

~ British War Medal & Victory Medal

~ 1939 - 1945 Star

~ France & Germany Star

~ Defence Medal

~ 1939 - 1945 War Medal

~ Territorial Efficient Decoration with Clasp

~ French Croix de Guerre.

Note that the pin fastener is lacking as can be seen.

Note that there are NO full size medals present. Only the miniatures, as they were the only items available--the family/collector had obviously decided to keep them.

~ Photograph of NASH and associated images.

~ Group of six (6) original snapshot photos with notations to the reverse

History of NASH:

Frank E. NASH was born 26 November 1897, Kington, Hertfordshire and lived in Mansfield, Nottingham. He enlisted into the the RFC on 19 October, 1915 as an armourer. He subsequently attended pilot instruction at No.8 Training Squadron, awarded his pilot wings 2 April, 1918. On 8 July 1918 he joined 55 Squadron as a pilot flying DH4 aircraft. On 20 July 1918 he was flying on a bombing mission to the Mauser Munitions Works and railway sidings at Obernorf, with Sgt W.E. Baker as his Observer. They were in the thick of the action, the 12 DH4 were attacked by 15 Albatros DV's of Kest 4B coming in from 17,000 feet, at 3,000 feet height advantage and quickly overtook the DH4s, one whizz zoomed past the left side of No.55 Squadron formation after pulling out on its run on Lieut. C. Young and Lieut. R.A. Butler. (Shot down) Sgt W. Baker swung his rear Lewis guns into action pumping tracer into the victorious Albatros and in seconds that Albatros DV flipped into a spin and burst into flames. This was OfStv. Paul Felsman of K4b listed as being killed over Rotenburg, Schwartzwald, he has 3 victories to his name. With Baker's guns occupied, a second Albatros latched onto their unprotected tail, raking the machine across the fuselage, Baker was killed instantly, when suddenly water and steam gushed over Nash's thighs as his radiator was holed. looking over his shoulder he saw Baker's twin Lewis guns pointing skyward and he could smell petrol from the under-seat tank pipe hanging in two pieces. Nash stayed with the formation until bullets ripped into his shoulder, fragments of the main petrol tank also penetrated his flying suit lodging in his back. Falling unconsious the DH4 fell away in a vertical dive until at 7,000 feet he came round with the aircraft doing 190mph, managing to close the throttle not helped by his wounded left arm he fought hard to pull the DH4 out of its uncontrolled dive but as Baker had installed the emergency stick, in case his Pilot had got killed in the action and his body was slumped against it, he had to move it enough with one arm to get a sort of control when he was able to free the control column, Nash finally levelled out a few feet above German soil and looked for a suitable field to land in. Given the solitary choice of one small field bordered by fir trees he side slipped to lose height but straightened out too late hitting a ridge and ripping off the undercarriage and pancaked from 15 feet. Lifting himself from his shattered cockpit Nash tried to pull Baker's body out so he could burn the aircraft. Hearing an aircraft overhead he looked up and saw an Albatros Scout cirling and coming to land. His Victor flew either Vfw. Heppner or OtStv. Pohlmann of Kest 4b landed beside him, walked over to him and offered him a 'paricularily nasty cigarette' as they waited for assistance. He was then as a Prisoner of War taken to a nearby village hall and then on to Oberndorf Hospital where due to the civilian mob howling for his head outside, the staff put him in the basement for his own safety, a convenient shelter the next day when No.55 Squadron returned blowing up nearby Rottwell factories with 200 tons of bombs. (Independent Force (K. Rennles) page 64-65 by and 'First of the Many' (A. Morris) page 82, Nash's story os 1 1/2 pages long) From the POW camp Nash attended the funerals of Lieut. C. Young (Lieut. R.A. Butler's body was found two weeks later, as they had both jumped to escape the flames) and Sgt W.E. Baker his Observer who were buried with fill military honours at Oberndorf cemetary (one of photographs shows Nash in uniform with a borrowed German cap attending their funeral, he liked German caps as another from WW2 shows him in uniform wearing a souvenir German Officers cap). Later moved to Tubingen hospital spending two months there with his shoulder and back wounds before spending the rest of WW1 in various Prisoner of War Camps. He was repatriated on 20 December, 1918 and discharged on 26 March, 1919. Commissioned 2nd Lieut 26 May, 1937 (late Sergeant Pilot, RFC and RAF), Lieut 1940, Captain 1944. Served in Royal Artillery Searchlight and Anti-Aircraft Battery throughout WW2, Major 1949, reaches age limit and retired in 1951.

The original photographs with this grouping correspond with Nash's service

Please review the images provided...

Mg