Royal Flying Corps Flying Goggles with (2) Sweetheart Wings attributed to an Ace
Pair of sweetheart wings for both the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force with fine enamel work upon gilded wings & crown, an pair of early flying goggles with Triplex safety glass, manufactured by ‘STG’ in an original embossed box, stud on box damaged, otherwise very good condition.
The Sweetheart wings and goggles were part of a group belonging to Lieut.(T./Capt.) Walter Alfred Southey D.F.C., a 20 victory Ace and one of only eight British Balloon Buster Aces.
The Medal group was sold with these items by C and T Auctions on 26th July 2022, Lot 62. Here is the Auctioneers description :
The Outstanding and Rare Great War Western Front Fighter Aces Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar Medal Group of Four to Captain Walter Alfred Southey 84 Squadron Who Was Credited With An Impressive 20 Victories Including 5 Enemy Balloons, Distinguished Flying Cross, GV on original horizontal ribbon with pin, in John Pinches case of issue. 2nd award bar fitted on separate length of diagonal ribbon, both unnamed as issued, 1914-15 Star medal, “6741 PTE. W.A. SOUTHEY R.FUS.”, British War and Victory medals, “CAPT. W.A. SOUTHEY R.A.F.”, in named card boxes of issue. Medals accompanied by two pin back sweetheart badges, R.F.C. and R.A.F. and a pair of great war period folding pilots flying goggles housed in the original case of issue. A fantastic group to an Ace commissioned from the ranks, one of only 88 first bars awarded between its inception in 1918 and the start of the Second World War. Born in South Africa on 29th April 1897 Walter Southey was an apprentice in the timber trade living in Brockley, London when he enlisted as a Private in the 19th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (2nd Public Schools Battalion). He landed in France on 14th November 1915 and was commissioned as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps in August 1916. After completing his flight training, he was appointed as a flying officer and confirmed in his rank on 12th February 1917. Initially serving in No. 48 Squadron and flying the Bristol F2 2-seater fighter he was wounded when he was shot down on 4th June 1917. Promoted to Lieutenant in February 1918 he returned to action in March when he joined No.84 Squadron flying the single seater fighter the S.E.5a. He claimed his first victory on 2nd May 1918 when he shot down an Albatross DV, with 19 more claims being made in the period up to 30th October 1918. His final tally included; 1 x Albatross D.V : 3 x Rumpler C: 1 x Fokker DR.1 : 8 x Fokker D.VII: 5 x Balloon : 2 x LVG.C. With his score of 5 enemy balloons, he is joint 10th in the table of British Empire ‘balloon busters’. On the evening of 25thJuly he was on patrol and attacked a Fokker biplane, but the poor weather meant he lost his bearings and he actually touched down at an aerodrome behind the German lines. Whilst running on the ground he was being fired on from all sides, realising he was behind enemy lines he rapidly took off and returned to his own airfield flying at 300 feet. 16 of his victories were claimed after this event. Moved to the unemployed list 9th March 1919 (L.G. 4th April 1919). Sadly, Walter Alfred Southey died on 17th April 1920 from a skull fracture following a motorcycle accident as he was travelling to work. He is buried in Ladywell Cemetery near Brockley, London.
Distinguished Flying Cross, London Gazette 2nd November 1918 – “Lieut. (T/Capt) Walter Alfred Southey. A gallant and skilful officer. On the 9th August, observing a large body of enemy troops and artillery on a road, he descended to 50 feet and bombed them, causing heavy casualties: he then engaged them with machine gun fire, inflicting further loss and scattering them in all directions. He displays great courage in the air, having accounted for seven enemy aircraft.” Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross, London Gazette 8th February 1919 – “Lt (A/Capt) Walter Alfred Southey DFC (France) An officer of ready resource whose skilful leadership is of the greatest value to his squadron. Since 23rd August Captain Southey has destroyed five enemy kite balloons and three machines, while he has also driven down two aircraft completely out of control (D.F.C. gazetted 2nd November, 1918).”
His Medal Group is currently offered for sale by British Medals, here is their description :
Distinguished Flying Cross (GV) and Second Award Bar, 1914/15 Star (Pte. R. Fus. B.W.M., Victory, (Capt. R.A.F.) W.A. Southey. With boxes of issue for D.F.C. and the 1914/15 trio. The D.F.C. on it’s original horizontal ribbon with wearing pin and the clasp separate on a piece of ribbon and ribbon bar for the DFC. and rosette and the Star 20 Victory scout ‘Ace’ 84 (SE5a) Squadron. Served with, and second highest scorer to Beauchamp-Proctor, V.C. Survived the war only to be killed on a motor bike shortly after discharge. He was additionally one of only 8 British/Irish ‘Balloon Buster’ Aces. A pursuit shunned by most of the highest scoring Aces as posing disproportionate risk bordering on the lunatic
Distinguished Flying Cross London Gazette, 2 November 1918 Lieut. (T./Capt.) Walter Alfred Southey. A gallant and skilful officer. On the 9th August, observing a large body of enemy troops and artillery on a road, he descended to 50 feet and bombed them, causing heavy casualties; he then engaged them with machine-gun fire, inflicting further loss and scattering them in all directions. He displays great courage in the air, having accounted for seven enemy aircraft.
Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross, London Gazette, 8 February 1919 , Lt. (A./Capt.) Walter Alfred Southey, D.F.C. An officer of ready resource whose skilful leadership is of the greatest value to his squadron. Since 23rd August Captain Southey has destroyed five enemy kite balloons and three machines, while he has also driven down two aircraft completely out of control.
The son of Walter & Emma Southey, Walter Alfred Southey was born, St Olave, Southwark 29 April 1897 joined the army in February 1915 serving with the Royal Fusiliers. He was promoted to temporary 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) with the Royal Flying Corps on 5 August 1916. On 11 April, 1917 he joined 48 Squadron as a Bristol Fighter pilot. Some four weeks later he was brought down and wounded seriously enough to be struck off strength until November, 1917. He was reassigned to 84 (SE5a) Squadron on 4 April 1918, a somewhat elite squadron commanded by Sholto-Douglas and which produced 25 Aces in the course of the war, most notably, Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor, V.C. Southey became a flight commander during the summer of 1918, he narrowly escaped capture when he inadvertently landed his aircraft behind enemy lines. Flying the S.E.5a, Southey was credit with twenty victories. He opened his score on 2/5/1918 sending down an Albatross V East of Abancourt and later that month destroying a Fokker near Abancourt. June opened witha Rumpler west of Moreil, this shared with Beauchamp-Proctor and on the 16th sent down a Fokker D.V11. August saw 5 victories, September 3 and October, 6, his 19th being an LVG 3 destroyed at La Queue de Boue on the 28th and two days later closed his score with a Fokker D.V11 destroyed at Foret de Nouvion.
In September/ October Southey had a straight run of five Observation balloons destroyed becoming one of only eight British ‘Balloon Buster’ Aces. One thing separating most balloon busters from regular fighter aces was that many of the war’s most famous aces actively refused to attack balloons at all. Manfred von Richthofen never attacked a balloon. Top-scoring British ace Edward ‘Mick’ Mannock scored his first ‘kill’ by destroying a balloon, but found the job so dangerous that he never attacked another. French ace Rene Fonck, top-scoring Allied ace of the war with 75 confirmed kills, never shot down a balloon. The highest British scorer was Henry Woollett with 11 of his 35. The balloons were hydrogen filled, defended by troop ground fire, anti-aircraft and enemy aircraft. The technique was to attack with phosphorous bullets making one run only, close enough that the bullets remained incendiary but not too close if the balloon went up, often flying behind enemy lines and approaching from the rear. Once loaded with phosphorous the Convention of that time forbade engaging ground troops or enemy aircraft. Notwithstanding ground troops took a particularly dim view of aircraft brought down carrying phosphorous and reputedly pilots were on occasions summarily executed. The erratic, but very effective American Ace, Frank Luke, was brought down wounded behind the lines whilst attacking a balloon. German reports state that when surrounded and ordered to surrender Luke drew his pistol so was immediately shot dead.
Southey was discharged in the spring of 1919. He had little time to enjoy peace or wear his awards. Still only aged 22 by the time of his death he was killed on 17 April, 1920 losing control of his motor bike on the Footscray Road, New Eltham, Kent. He was residing at that time at Deptford, Kent.
His score list comprised :
1. 02 May 1918 1450 84 S.E.5a (D5399) Albatros D.V (OOC) E of Abancourt
2. 16 May 1918 1620 84 S.E.5a (D5399) Fokker DR.I (DES) NNW of Abancourt
3. 05 Jun 1918 1235 84 S.E.5a (D5399) Rumpler C (DES) 200 yds W of Moreuil
