The Important Second War K.B.E., C.B., Great War D.S.O. as a Pilot, M.C. as an Observer, and multiple M.I.D. Group of 14 awarded to Air Marshal Sir Bertine ‘Bertie’ Sutton, Royal Air Force late Royal Flying Corps and Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry. He served as Commanding Officer for the R.A.F. in the Mohmand campaign of 1933, was wartime commander of 22, 23 and 24 Groups and latterly Air Member for Personnel (A.M.P.), comprising: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Knight Commander’s (K.B.E.) set of insignia, 2nd Type, comprising neck badge, in silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star, in silver, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, Military Division, Companion’s (C.B.) neck badge, in silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; Military Cross, G.V.R., privately engraved to reverse (Captain B.E. Sutton, Yeo. & R.F.C. Jan. 1917); 1914-15 Star (2.Lieut. B.E. Sutton, West. & Cumb. Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals, 1914-1919, with bronze M.i.D. spray of oakleaves upon ribbon (Major B.E. Sutton, R.A.F.); India General Service 1908-35, single clasp, Mohmand 1933, with bronze M.i.D. spray of oakleaves upon ribbon (G.C., B.E. Sutton, R.A.F.); Defence and War Medals, 1939-45, with bronze M.i.D. oakleaf upon ribbon (Air Marshal, Sir Bertine E. Sutton, K.B.E.); 1935 Jubilee; 1937 Coronation; Belgium, Croix de Guerre; Main group court-mounted as worn with orders alongside, all mounted within a small privately-made display case, toned, a few tiny chips to orders, otherwise extremely fine (14) K.B.E.: London Gazette: 11 June 1942 –original recommendation: ‘Appointed as Air Officer Commanding, No. 21 Group in August 1939, and transferred to the staff of the Commander in Chief of the Home Forces in June 1940. Appointed as Air Officer Commanding, No. 24 Group, in November 1940 and posted as Commandant of the R.A.F. Staff College in November 1941.’C.B.: London Gazette: 8 June 1939 - original recommendation: ‘Has been Air Officer Commanding No.22 (Army Co-operation) Group since July 1936 and has done excellent work both prior to and during his tenure of this appointment.’D.S.O.: London Gazette 26 September 1917 – original recommendation: ‘For great gallantry, skill and continuous devotion to duty. Once on the 27th, twice on the 28th, twice on 31st. July, once on 5th, once on 8th, once on 11th, twice on 12th, twice on 14th, and twice on 15th, August 1917, he carried out extensive and valuable reconnaissances and contact patrols on the XIV Corps’ front, between LANGEMARK and BOESINGHE, at altitudes varying from 300 to 1,500 feet. Once on 27th, once on 28th. July once on the 5th, twice on 14th and twice on 15th. August 1917 he attacked infantry and transport with his machine gun from a few hundred feet. On 12th August 1917 he took oblique photographs from a low altitude in a westerly direction from over the enemy’s lines, of AU BON GITE, which were valuable to the Corps in attacking it on the 14th, 15th. and 16th. August 1917. By his energy, skill and courage, Captain Sutton has accomplished invaluable work during the recent operations and has set a magnificent example to his flight and to the Squadron.’ (O’Moore Creagh D.S.O. book states for operations between Langemarck and Boisinghe July to August 1917.)M.C.: London Gazette: 1 January 1917 – ‘For continuous hard work and untiring energy in carrying out his duties as Wing Adjutant from May to September 1916. This Officer has previously carried out most valuable work as Observer Flying Officer.’M.i.D.: London Gazette: 11 December 1917; 20 May 1918; 31 December 1918; 3 July 1934 (C.O., R.A.F., Mohmand 1933)Belgium, Croix de Guerre: London Gazette: 15 July 1919 - original recommendation reads as follows: ‘This Officer has done exceptionally well during recent operations. In spite of heavy casualties he has maintained an unfailing spirit of cheerfulness in his Squadron, and by his own personality has inspired all ranks to do their utmost under all conditions, however unfavourable. The excellent results that have been obtained by his Squadron in Contact and Counter Attack Patrol work, and also Artillery work speak for themselves.’Air Marshal Bertine Entwisle Sutton was born on 17 December 1886, in Kensington, London, the son of the Reverend Alfred Sutton and his wife Bertha Frances Entwisle from Cockermouth, Cumberland, and who lived at Wellington Square, Chelsea, London. Educated at Eton (1900-1904) and University College, Oxford, where he became an original member of the O.U. Mounted Infantry, he gained his B.A. in 1908, and later qualified for his Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate on 16 February 1916. He initially worked in a solicitor's office in London until he was employed by the book publishing company ‘Hutchinson’, and planned to become a lawyer prior the outbreak of hostilities of the Great War in 1914.In 1914 he joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps as a Private, but by October of that year Sutton received his first commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry. He was sent to France and Flanders on 2 February 1916 and was posted to 5 Squadron R.F.C. as an Observer on Army Co-operation duties, undergoing flying training later in 1916. In 1917, Sutton served as a Pilot and was promoted to Flight Commander, 9 Squadron, flying on the Western Front. Flying active reconnaissance missions over enemy trenches, Sutton was involved in several ‘dogfights’ with enemy aircraft exchanging fire and giving damage (although without any ‘confirmed’ victories). On one occasion he suffered a slight wound to the back and splinters in one eye, as his Observer 2nd Lieutenant Forster was wounded in the the jaw and later died of wounds. One combat report, from 2 July 1917, gives a clear idea of one of Sutton’s ‘typical’ flying operations:‘28.7.1917. No. 9 Sqd., R.E.8. 4637, Contact Patrol, PILCKEM & LANGEMARCK. Capt. (B.E.) Sutton & Obs. Lt. (W.F.) Leech. Four two-seater machines like Bristol Fighters. 1 gun firing from rear of each. At 7.35pm the above machines appeared from LANGEMARCK direction at 600ft. We attacked then over PILCKEM and the one we fired at, fired a Verys light (white) & dived down towards LANGEMARCK. We attacked the others repeatedly until Observer had no more ammunition left, having fired 3 double drums & the Pilots gun had jambed, so broke off combat at 7.55pm & returned. Enemy machines were apparently doing Contact Patrol or Trench Reconnaissance.’In October 1917, he was promoted to the rank of Major and appointed Commanding Officer of 7 Squadron a position he held to the end of the Great War having ‘distinguished himself by carrying out many valuable reconnaissance’s and patrols at low altitude, particularly during the Third Battle of Ypres during which he was wounded’. Having come so far in such a short time in his career, and ending the war as a Lieutenan-Colonel, he decided to remain with the Royal Air Force and relinquished his commission in the Army. In 1919 he was granted a permanent commission as Squadron Leader (Flying), and in 1921 he passed the Army Staff College.In 1922, Sutton was selected as one of the five original instructors at the new R.A.F. Staff College – its first class including various officers ‘destined to fill very high posts’ in WW2 (such as Lord Portal, Sholto Douglas, Keith Park amongst others). While not only exhibiting technical and intellectual prowess, he also demonstrated great personal courage. On one occasion while serving at Andover a series of parachuting trials were being carried out, and one day whilst he was watching one parachute failed to open. The C.O. of the station immediately ordered trials to stop, but Sutton was able to convince him to allow one aircraft to fly, upon which he immediately strapped on a parachute harness and made a successful jump, as an example for the others to follow.He re-took a flying course at Central Flying School, Commanding Officer Halton No. 1 (Apprentices) Wing at 1 School of Technical Training, R.A.F. Instructor at the Imperial Defence College before being posted to India from 1930 as the Commanding Officer No.1 Indian Group at Peshawar, at the time of the operations against the Upper Mohmands on the North West Frontier. For his role in this, as Commanding Officer, he was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore and was mentioned in despatches. In 1934 Sutton was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer (S.A.S.O.) at Air Headquarters, India, and in 1935 Sutton drafted a 4 page 'secret report' on the Loe Agra Operations, before returning to the U.K. in 1936 to become A.O.C. 22 Army Co-Operation Group.On the outbreak of hostilities in the Second World War in 1939 he was commanding 23 Group at the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, later moving to 24 Group. In 1941 he returned to the R.A.F. Staff College as Commandant, and then in late 1942 Sutton was appointed to the Air Council as Air Member for Personnel (A.M.P.) - during which time he was dealing with various manning problems in the R.A.F. as well as the Army’s requirement for more personnel in anticipation of ‘D Day’ and the ‘Battle of Normandy’. His health suffering from the strain of his considerable duties across the Great War and WW2, he retired from the R.A.F. on. 7 June 1945, and died at his home in Newbury 28 September 1946. Offered for sale with a large and comprehensive folder of copied research, pictures, award recommendations, and other related material.Ex 'The Aviation Collection', Spink, 6 May 1998, lot 8; this medal group also appears as the front cover illustration of ‘Medals – The Researcher’s Companion’ by William Spencer.

Estimate: GBP 12000 - 15000