Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

An extremely rare Great War ‘East Africa 1916’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Flight Sergeant D. Grant, South African Aviation Corps, attached 26 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps; he served as a Captain in the 2nd Transvaal Scottish during the Second War and was captured at Tobruk in June 1942 Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (Z185 F/Sjt. D. Grant. S.A.R.F.C.); British War and Bilingual Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Sjt. D. Grant. S.A.S.R.F.C.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, these last four all officially impressed ‘32722 D. Grant’, mounted court-style for wearing, good very fine (7) £3,000-£4,000 --- D.C.M. London Gazette 26 May 1917; and Union Defence Force Orders No. 169 for December 1917 ‘His perseverance and devotion to duty under trying conditions have been an example to all, and the efficiency of his flight has been largely due to his skill and example.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 February 1917: Despatch from Lieut.-General The Hon. J. C. Smuts, Commander-in-Chief, East African Forces, dated 22 November 1916, ‘For Meritorious Service in the Field.’ David Grant was born at Kirkhill, Invernesshire, Scotland, on 13 May 1883, and was educated at Dingwall Academy, Rosshire. ‘A veteran as much in the sphere of aviation as in the province of motoring, Mr. David Grant, D.C.M., dates his association with the latter from the beginning of the century... Adopting the career of a motor mechanic he started with the Daimler Motor Company of Coventry, as a premium apprentice, in 1901. He passed through the various shops and in due course became a test driver, and was engaged on many of Daimler’s early hill-climbing competitions and trials. The distinction of having driven motor vehicles without a licence and without any infringement of the law is his, since he drove cars in England for two years before the issue of driving licences came into force. Indeed he holds driving licence No. 7, dated January, 1904, and issued in Staffordshire. He also obtained French, Swiss, and German driving licences in 1905. Up to the year 1910, he engaged in a considerable amount of Continental touring, the greater part of which was done with Daimlers. It was during this period that he had the honour of driving the late King Edward VII, and was presented with a diamond pin in recognition of his services on that occasion. He came to South Africa in 1910, and except for the interruption of the Great War, when he proceeded overseas, he has been a member of the staff of the Rand Mines, Central Mining Group, ever since. In July, 1915, he joined the South African Aviation Corps - went to England and trained at Farnborough and Netherhaven. Posted to No. 26 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, he returned to Africa and served through the German East African Campaign, until invalided out with blackwater fever. Mr. Grant, who has been a member of the Automobile Association of South Africa since its inception (his badge number id 68), has been closely identified with the South African motor industry from 1910 until the present time. He is, too, a member of the Motor Vehicle Advisory Committee to the Administrator of the Transvaal; an appointment he has occupied since 1928. Motoring is his hobby, and his favourite sport is golf.’ (Personalities in South African Motoring and Aviation, circa 1935, refers). In 1939, Grant was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment and, following the mobilization of the regiment in 1940, became its Transport Officer. Promoted Lieutenant and then Captain on 19 November 1940, he proceeded up North with the battalion in 1941 but, unfortunately, suffered a heart attack and went into the Tobruk Hospital shortly before the fall of Tobruk in June 1942, thus landing up in the Italian P.O.W. Camp Hospital in Caserta. Subsequently, by way of an exchange of prisoners of war he returned to South Africa in a Hospital Ship, arriving back in Durban early in May 1943, and was in due course invalided out of the Army. Soon after leaving the Army he was retired from the service of Rand Mines and retired to Meerhof, Hartesbeespoort Dam, where he died from an angina attack on 23 November 1950. On 10 July 1952, his ashes were interred in the cemetery at Kirkhill, Scotland. No. 26 (South African) Squadron was originally formed for service in East Africa, being manned by personnel who had previously served in the South African Aviation Corps. It formed on 8 November 1915, at Netheravon, leaving in December for Africa. Arriving at Mobmassa at the end of January 1916, it was equipped with BE2c and Farman aircraft. It provided support to Imperial Forces engaged against the German East African colonies throughout 1916 and 1917, until early 1918 when it returned to the United Kingdom. Sold with copied research including Attestation and service papers.