7
Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry
Description
A fine Great War C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Air Commodore D. Le G. Pitcher, No. 4 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, and 39th King George´s Own Central India Horse, ’One of the Pioneers of Flying in India’, who flew with the squadron which ‘on 19th August, 1914, shared R.F.C.’s first reconnaissance in the field with No. 3 Squadron and also in that month recorded what was probably the first aerial engagement with an enemy aircraft. On 31st October, 1914, made what is believed to be the first attack by an aeroplane on ground targets.’
The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (Capt. D. Le. G. Pitcher. 39/Horse.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Brig. Gen. D. Le G. Pitcher. R.A.F.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer´s breast Badge, 55mm including wreath suspension x 40mm, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Knight’s breast Badge, 58mm including crown suspension x 36mm, silver-gilt and enamel; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal, unsuccessful (2) (Lieut. D. Le G. Pitcher. 13th April. 1904), suspension re-affixed on one, with a duplicate medal, this complete, breast awards mounted court-style as originally worn, with ten associated miniature awards, including for the duplicate Royal Humane Society Medal, all housed in a glazed and hinged wooden display frame, generally very fine or better (lot) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Spink, April 2008.
C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918.
C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.
D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.
M.I.D. London Gazette 16 March 1919 and 11 July 1919.
France, Officer of the Legion of Honour London Gazette 22 August 1917.
Italy, Officer of the Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazarus London Gazette 26 May 1917.
Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, 1904, joint citation for Lieutenant´s D. Le. G. Pitcher and H.D.S. Keighley:
‘On the 13th April 1904, Lieutenant G. P. Hood, Central India Horse, was in a boat which capsized on a lake at Agar, Malwa, Central India. Pitcher and Keighley, at great risk, attempted to save him but failed, and he was drowned.’
Duncan Le Geyt Pitcher was born in Naini Tal, U.P., India, in 1877. He was the son of Colonel D. G. Pitcher, who was a member of the Oudh Commission, and was related to Captain H. W. Pitcher, V.C. - who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry at ‘Crag Picquet’ during the Umbeyla campaign of 1863. Pitcher was educated at Sedbergh School and Geneva University, before passing out from Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers in February 1898, before transferring as Lieutenant to the Indian Army in October 1901. Pitcher was initially posted to the 11th Rajputs, before transferring to the 39th Prince of Wale’s Own Central Horse. He served as Adjutant with the latter from 1904.
Pitcher was appointed Captain and Personal Assistant to the Agent in Central India in 1907, and the following year was appointed tutor to the Maharajah of Holkar. He served as Assistant Inspector of the Imperial Service Troops maintained by the Princes of Central India from 1910, and ‘he was one of the pioneers of flying in India - his pilot’s certificate of the Royal Aero Club was number 125’ (Obituary refers). His certificate was gained in a Bristol Biplane over Salisbury Plain in August 1911.
Pitcher served with the 39th King George’s Own Central India Horse in Central Persia, 1911-13, before joining the Central Flying School in 1914. With the outbreak of the Great War he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps, ‘When the war broke out, the Royal Flying Corps took the field with all its available forces. There were at Farnborough at that time a small group of officers belonging to the newly formed Indian Flying Corps... All these were swept into the net. Captains H. L. Reilly and D. Le G. Pitcher were at once made Flying Officers of No. 4 Squadron.´ (War in the Air Official History of the War, refers)
4 Squadron had been formed from a detachment of 2 Squadron, at Farnborough in August 1912. Pitcher was posted to the Squadron in the first week of August, and they flew patrols over the Straits of Dover and the Thames Estuary for two weeks prior to flying to France on 16 August 1914. The Squadron comprised of a mixed collection of the more serviceable aircraft available to the Royal Flying Corps, and ‘on 19th August, 1914, shared R.F.C.’s first reconnaissance in the field with No. 3 Squadron and also in that month recorded what was probably the first aerial engagement with an enemy aircraft. On 31st October, 1914, made what is believed to be the first attack by an aeroplane on ground targets.’ (Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft, by P. Moyes, refers)
As the opposing armies settled into static defence lines at the end of 1914, the Squadron were tasked with photo-reconnaissance and artillery observation duties. Pitcher was appointed Assistant Commandant, Central Flying School, in April 1915, before advancing to Major, and Commandant in December of the same year. He returned to the French Theatre of War as a Wing Commander from March 1916, and advanced to Temporary Brigadier-General the following month.
Pitcher was made Brevet Colonel in June 1919, and advanced to Air Commodore in August of the same year. He was appointed Controller of Technical Design to the Air Board, served as Director of Equipment with the Air Ministry, 1922-25, and as Officer Commanding 22nd Group R.A.F., 1926-29. Air Commodore Pitcher died at Mount Vernon Hospital, London, in September 1944.
The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (Capt. D. Le. G. Pitcher. 39/Horse.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Brig. Gen. D. Le G. Pitcher. R.A.F.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer´s breast Badge, 55mm including wreath suspension x 40mm, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Knight’s breast Badge, 58mm including crown suspension x 36mm, silver-gilt and enamel; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal, unsuccessful (2) (Lieut. D. Le G. Pitcher. 13th April. 1904), suspension re-affixed on one, with a duplicate medal, this complete, breast awards mounted court-style as originally worn, with ten associated miniature awards, including for the duplicate Royal Humane Society Medal, all housed in a glazed and hinged wooden display frame, generally very fine or better (lot) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Spink, April 2008.
C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918.
C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.
D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.
M.I.D. London Gazette 16 March 1919 and 11 July 1919.
France, Officer of the Legion of Honour London Gazette 22 August 1917.
Italy, Officer of the Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazarus London Gazette 26 May 1917.
Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, 1904, joint citation for Lieutenant´s D. Le. G. Pitcher and H.D.S. Keighley:
‘On the 13th April 1904, Lieutenant G. P. Hood, Central India Horse, was in a boat which capsized on a lake at Agar, Malwa, Central India. Pitcher and Keighley, at great risk, attempted to save him but failed, and he was drowned.’
Duncan Le Geyt Pitcher was born in Naini Tal, U.P., India, in 1877. He was the son of Colonel D. G. Pitcher, who was a member of the Oudh Commission, and was related to Captain H. W. Pitcher, V.C. - who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry at ‘Crag Picquet’ during the Umbeyla campaign of 1863. Pitcher was educated at Sedbergh School and Geneva University, before passing out from Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers in February 1898, before transferring as Lieutenant to the Indian Army in October 1901. Pitcher was initially posted to the 11th Rajputs, before transferring to the 39th Prince of Wale’s Own Central Horse. He served as Adjutant with the latter from 1904.
Pitcher was appointed Captain and Personal Assistant to the Agent in Central India in 1907, and the following year was appointed tutor to the Maharajah of Holkar. He served as Assistant Inspector of the Imperial Service Troops maintained by the Princes of Central India from 1910, and ‘he was one of the pioneers of flying in India - his pilot’s certificate of the Royal Aero Club was number 125’ (Obituary refers). His certificate was gained in a Bristol Biplane over Salisbury Plain in August 1911.
Pitcher served with the 39th King George’s Own Central India Horse in Central Persia, 1911-13, before joining the Central Flying School in 1914. With the outbreak of the Great War he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps, ‘When the war broke out, the Royal Flying Corps took the field with all its available forces. There were at Farnborough at that time a small group of officers belonging to the newly formed Indian Flying Corps... All these were swept into the net. Captains H. L. Reilly and D. Le G. Pitcher were at once made Flying Officers of No. 4 Squadron.´ (War in the Air Official History of the War, refers)
4 Squadron had been formed from a detachment of 2 Squadron, at Farnborough in August 1912. Pitcher was posted to the Squadron in the first week of August, and they flew patrols over the Straits of Dover and the Thames Estuary for two weeks prior to flying to France on 16 August 1914. The Squadron comprised of a mixed collection of the more serviceable aircraft available to the Royal Flying Corps, and ‘on 19th August, 1914, shared R.F.C.’s first reconnaissance in the field with No. 3 Squadron and also in that month recorded what was probably the first aerial engagement with an enemy aircraft. On 31st October, 1914, made what is believed to be the first attack by an aeroplane on ground targets.’ (Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft, by P. Moyes, refers)
As the opposing armies settled into static defence lines at the end of 1914, the Squadron were tasked with photo-reconnaissance and artillery observation duties. Pitcher was appointed Assistant Commandant, Central Flying School, in April 1915, before advancing to Major, and Commandant in December of the same year. He returned to the French Theatre of War as a Wing Commander from March 1916, and advanced to Temporary Brigadier-General the following month.
Pitcher was made Brevet Colonel in June 1919, and advanced to Air Commodore in August of the same year. He was appointed Controller of Technical Design to the Air Board, served as Director of Equipment with the Air Ministry, 1922-25, and as Officer Commanding 22nd Group R.A.F., 1926-29. Air Commodore Pitcher died at Mount Vernon Hospital, London, in September 1944.
In order to view full details and any additional images for this lot as well as place advanced bids or bid live, please click here to view this lot on the auctioneer's website
Auction Details
Shipping
T&Cs & Important Info
Ask seller a question
A fine Great War C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O. group of nine awarded to Air Commodore D. Le G. Pitcher, No. 4 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, and 39th King George´s Own Central India Horse, ’One of the Pioneers of Flying in India’, who flew with the squadron which ‘on 19th August, 1914, shared R.F.C.’s first reconnaissance in the field with No. 3 Squadron and also in that month recorded what was probably the first aerial engagement with an enemy aircraft. On 31st October, 1914, made what is believed to be the first attack by an aeroplane on ground targets.’
The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (Capt. D. Le. G. Pitcher. 39/Horse.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Brig. Gen. D. Le G. Pitcher. R.A.F.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer´s breast Badge, 55mm including wreath suspension x 40mm, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Knight’s breast Badge, 58mm including crown suspension x 36mm, silver-gilt and enamel; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal, unsuccessful (2) (Lieut. D. Le G. Pitcher. 13th April. 1904), suspension re-affixed on one, with a duplicate medal, this complete, breast awards mounted court-style as originally worn, with ten associated miniature awards, including for the duplicate Royal Humane Society Medal, all housed in a glazed and hinged wooden display frame, generally very fine or better (lot) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Spink, April 2008.
C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918.
C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.
D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.
M.I.D. London Gazette 16 March 1919 and 11 July 1919.
France, Officer of the Legion of Honour London Gazette 22 August 1917.
Italy, Officer of the Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazarus London Gazette 26 May 1917.
Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, 1904, joint citation for Lieutenant´s D. Le. G. Pitcher and H.D.S. Keighley:
‘On the 13th April 1904, Lieutenant G. P. Hood, Central India Horse, was in a boat which capsized on a lake at Agar, Malwa, Central India. Pitcher and Keighley, at great risk, attempted to save him but failed, and he was drowned.’
Duncan Le Geyt Pitcher was born in Naini Tal, U.P., India, in 1877. He was the son of Colonel D. G. Pitcher, who was a member of the Oudh Commission, and was related to Captain H. W. Pitcher, V.C. - who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry at ‘Crag Picquet’ during the Umbeyla campaign of 1863. Pitcher was educated at Sedbergh School and Geneva University, before passing out from Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers in February 1898, before transferring as Lieutenant to the Indian Army in October 1901. Pitcher was initially posted to the 11th Rajputs, before transferring to the 39th Prince of Wale’s Own Central Horse. He served as Adjutant with the latter from 1904.
Pitcher was appointed Captain and Personal Assistant to the Agent in Central India in 1907, and the following year was appointed tutor to the Maharajah of Holkar. He served as Assistant Inspector of the Imperial Service Troops maintained by the Princes of Central India from 1910, and ‘he was one of the pioneers of flying in India - his pilot’s certificate of the Royal Aero Club was number 125’ (Obituary refers). His certificate was gained in a Bristol Biplane over Salisbury Plain in August 1911.
Pitcher served with the 39th King George’s Own Central India Horse in Central Persia, 1911-13, before joining the Central Flying School in 1914. With the outbreak of the Great War he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps, ‘When the war broke out, the Royal Flying Corps took the field with all its available forces. There were at Farnborough at that time a small group of officers belonging to the newly formed Indian Flying Corps... All these were swept into the net. Captains H. L. Reilly and D. Le G. Pitcher were at once made Flying Officers of No. 4 Squadron.´ (War in the Air Official History of the War, refers)
4 Squadron had been formed from a detachment of 2 Squadron, at Farnborough in August 1912. Pitcher was posted to the Squadron in the first week of August, and they flew patrols over the Straits of Dover and the Thames Estuary for two weeks prior to flying to France on 16 August 1914. The Squadron comprised of a mixed collection of the more serviceable aircraft available to the Royal Flying Corps, and ‘on 19th August, 1914, shared R.F.C.’s first reconnaissance in the field with No. 3 Squadron and also in that month recorded what was probably the first aerial engagement with an enemy aircraft. On 31st October, 1914, made what is believed to be the first attack by an aeroplane on ground targets.’ (Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft, by P. Moyes, refers)
As the opposing armies settled into static defence lines at the end of 1914, the Squadron were tasked with photo-reconnaissance and artillery observation duties. Pitcher was appointed Assistant Commandant, Central Flying School, in April 1915, before advancing to Major, and Commandant in December of the same year. He returned to the French Theatre of War as a Wing Commander from March 1916, and advanced to Temporary Brigadier-General the following month.
Pitcher was made Brevet Colonel in June 1919, and advanced to Air Commodore in August of the same year. He was appointed Controller of Technical Design to the Air Board, served as Director of Equipment with the Air Ministry, 1922-25, and as Officer Commanding 22nd Group R.A.F., 1926-29. Air Commodore Pitcher died at Mount Vernon Hospital, London, in September 1944.
The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (Capt. D. Le. G. Pitcher. 39/Horse.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Brig. Gen. D. Le G. Pitcher. R.A.F.); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer´s breast Badge, 55mm including wreath suspension x 40mm, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Knight’s breast Badge, 58mm including crown suspension x 36mm, silver-gilt and enamel; Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal, unsuccessful (2) (Lieut. D. Le G. Pitcher. 13th April. 1904), suspension re-affixed on one, with a duplicate medal, this complete, breast awards mounted court-style as originally worn, with ten associated miniature awards, including for the duplicate Royal Humane Society Medal, all housed in a glazed and hinged wooden display frame, generally very fine or better (lot) £4,000-£5,000
---
Provenance: Spink, April 2008.
C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918.
C.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.
D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1919.
M.I.D. London Gazette 16 March 1919 and 11 July 1919.
France, Officer of the Legion of Honour London Gazette 22 August 1917.
Italy, Officer of the Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazarus London Gazette 26 May 1917.
Royal Humane Society Bronze Medal, 1904, joint citation for Lieutenant´s D. Le. G. Pitcher and H.D.S. Keighley:
‘On the 13th April 1904, Lieutenant G. P. Hood, Central India Horse, was in a boat which capsized on a lake at Agar, Malwa, Central India. Pitcher and Keighley, at great risk, attempted to save him but failed, and he was drowned.’
Duncan Le Geyt Pitcher was born in Naini Tal, U.P., India, in 1877. He was the son of Colonel D. G. Pitcher, who was a member of the Oudh Commission, and was related to Captain H. W. Pitcher, V.C. - who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry at ‘Crag Picquet’ during the Umbeyla campaign of 1863. Pitcher was educated at Sedbergh School and Geneva University, before passing out from Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers in February 1898, before transferring as Lieutenant to the Indian Army in October 1901. Pitcher was initially posted to the 11th Rajputs, before transferring to the 39th Prince of Wale’s Own Central Horse. He served as Adjutant with the latter from 1904.
Pitcher was appointed Captain and Personal Assistant to the Agent in Central India in 1907, and the following year was appointed tutor to the Maharajah of Holkar. He served as Assistant Inspector of the Imperial Service Troops maintained by the Princes of Central India from 1910, and ‘he was one of the pioneers of flying in India - his pilot’s certificate of the Royal Aero Club was number 125’ (Obituary refers). His certificate was gained in a Bristol Biplane over Salisbury Plain in August 1911.
Pitcher served with the 39th King George’s Own Central India Horse in Central Persia, 1911-13, before joining the Central Flying School in 1914. With the outbreak of the Great War he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps, ‘When the war broke out, the Royal Flying Corps took the field with all its available forces. There were at Farnborough at that time a small group of officers belonging to the newly formed Indian Flying Corps... All these were swept into the net. Captains H. L. Reilly and D. Le G. Pitcher were at once made Flying Officers of No. 4 Squadron.´ (War in the Air Official History of the War, refers)
4 Squadron had been formed from a detachment of 2 Squadron, at Farnborough in August 1912. Pitcher was posted to the Squadron in the first week of August, and they flew patrols over the Straits of Dover and the Thames Estuary for two weeks prior to flying to France on 16 August 1914. The Squadron comprised of a mixed collection of the more serviceable aircraft available to the Royal Flying Corps, and ‘on 19th August, 1914, shared R.F.C.’s first reconnaissance in the field with No. 3 Squadron and also in that month recorded what was probably the first aerial engagement with an enemy aircraft. On 31st October, 1914, made what is believed to be the first attack by an aeroplane on ground targets.’ (Bomber Squadrons of the R.A.F. and Their Aircraft, by P. Moyes, refers)
As the opposing armies settled into static defence lines at the end of 1914, the Squadron were tasked with photo-reconnaissance and artillery observation duties. Pitcher was appointed Assistant Commandant, Central Flying School, in April 1915, before advancing to Major, and Commandant in December of the same year. He returned to the French Theatre of War as a Wing Commander from March 1916, and advanced to Temporary Brigadier-General the following month.
Pitcher was made Brevet Colonel in June 1919, and advanced to Air Commodore in August of the same year. He was appointed Controller of Technical Design to the Air Board, served as Director of Equipment with the Air Ministry, 1922-25, and as Officer Commanding 22nd Group R.A.F., 1926-29. Air Commodore Pitcher died at Mount Vernon Hospital, London, in September 1944.
In order to view full details and any additional images for this lot as well as place advanced bids or bid live, please click here to view this lot on the auctioneer's website
Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
16 Bolton St
London
W1J 8BQ
United Kingdom
General delivery information available from the auctioneer
If you are successful in purchasing lot/s being auctioned by us and opt for the item/s to be sent to you, we will use the following methods of shipment:
Within the UK
If you live within the UK, items will be despatched using Royal Mail Special Delivery. This service provides parcel tracking (via the Royal Mail website) and next weekday delivery (betwen 9am and 1pm). Items delivered within the UK are covered by our insurance company. Heavy and bulky lots will be sent by courier, in discussion with the client.
Outside of the UK
If the item/s being sent are worth under £1000 in total they are sent using Royal Mail’s Signed For International service. This ensures the item must be signed for when it is delivered.
If the item/s being sent are valued at over £1000 in total they will be sent using FedEx. This service allows next day delivery to customers in many parts of the US and parcels are fully trackable using the FedEx website.
Shipping Exceptions
Certain lots such as those containing glass or sharp implements, etc., may not be suitable for in-house shipping within or outside of the UK. Please contact Noonans with any queries.
Important Information
Buyers Premium: 20%
Other Information: Please visit www.dnw.co.uk for more information
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL BUYERS
All lots in DNW auctions are automatically reserved at the bid step which reflects 80% of the lower estimate figure, unless otherwise instructed by the vendor.
All multiple lots (lots containing two or more items) with the exception of designated sets of notes, are sold as viewed and not subject to return. Buyers are recommended to view such lots.
Lots marked ‘x’ in dark blue are subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the EU.
Important Notice Advance Bidding Facility
Please note that our easy-to-use advance bidding facility, which replaces the ‘old-fashioned’ commission bid system, provides all bidders with total control over their bids right up to the point that the lot is offered for sale.
Bids made online cannot be seen by others and do not go live until the actual moment that the lot in question is being offered for sale. All bids can be easily altered or cancelled by the bidder prior to this point. An automated confirmatory email will be sent confirming all bids and alterations.
Anyone with a valid email address can easily register to bid online.
There is no additional charge for online bidding and it is not necessary to pre-register a payment card in order to do so.
It is recommended that all bidders execute their own bids, either prior to the auction by using this facility or live as the auction is taking place.
Whilst we are still happy to execute all bids submitted in writing or by phone, fax or any other method, it should be noted that all bids left with us will be entered at our offices using the same bidding facility to which all our clients now have access. There is, therefore, no better way of ensuring the accuracy of your advance bids than to place them yourself online.
For any support queries please contact: Ian Anderson ian@dnw.co.uk (+44) 20 7016 1751
