Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A Second War Wireless Operator’s D.F.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant, later Flight Lieutenant, S. Albiston, 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 35 operational sorties, including Operation Fuller, the Channel Dash in 1942, against the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (1059463. Sgt. S. Albiston. R.A.F.) on original mounting pin; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star; War Medal 1939-45, very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000 --- D.F.M. London Gazette 22 September 1942. The original Recommendation, dated 22 July 1942, states: ‘Sergeant Albiston has taken part in 35 sorties over enemy territory as first Wireless Operator. Starting on his arrival in the squadron as very inexperienced and an average Wireless Operator, he has made himself into one of the most reliable and efficient Wireless Operators in the squadron. As a member of a crew, he has proved himself to be completely fearless and dependable. He has interested himself in all the duties of each member of his crew, as a result of which he has been of very great assistance in obtaining good photographs by skilful co-operation between himself, with a flash bomb, and his Navigator, in helping his Navigator to take astro sights and always being the first to offer to do any odd job required. When under fire, he has remained cool and cheerful and has delighted in taking up position in the astro dome whenever he could obtain permission and reporting the position of flak bursts and searchlights, which has proved of inestimable value to his captain on many occasions. Sergeant Albiston, although one of the youngest members of his squadron, has set a very high example of enthusiasm, fearlessness and reliability and his fine record fully merits the award of the Distinguished Flying Medal for which I strongly recommend him. Remarks by Station Commander: A young Wireless Operator who, by his cheerfulness and coolness in action, has set an excellent example at all times. After a slow start, he quickly proved himself one of the leading Wireless Operators in the squadron.’ Samuel Albiston enlisted in the Royal Air Force on 15 July 1940 and served during the Second World War primarily with 103 Squadron, flying Wellingtons from R.A.F. Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, from July 1941. He flew in at least 35 operational sorties with the squadron, including: Hamburg (2); Essen (7); Duisberg; Le Havre; Mannheim; Ostend; Munster; Brest (2); Paris; Cologne (3); St. Nazaire; Poissy; Dortmund; Rostock; Stuttgart (2); Warnemunde; Gennevilliers; Emden (2) and Bremen (2). On 12 February 1942 he took part in Operation Fuller, as one of five crews detailed to attack the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen which were leaving their French port and planning to transit through the English Channel; his Wellington, skippered by Flight Lieutenant D. W. Holford, made contact with the German ships but were unable to attack due to the low cloud; for his leadership and skill Holford was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Albiston was commissioned Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserved on 16 February 1945, and transferred to R.A.F. Coastal Command for a second tour with 502 (Ulster) Squadron, flying Halifax Bombers from Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides on German shipping off the Norwegian coast, remaining there until the end of the war (also entitled to the Atlantic clasp). He was advanced Flying Officer on 16 August 1945, and Flight Lieutenant on 24 July 1956, and relinquished his commission on 1 November 1963. He died in Stockport, Manchester in 1983. Sold with seven individual and group photographs from various stages of the recipient’s career; and copied research.