Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 48 24 Sep 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Orders, Decorations and Medals, WWII Group of 4, awarded to Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Stuart Bertram Billing, 70 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, killed in action during operations from the Near East, 12-13 August 1943: 1939-1945 Star; Africa Star with clasp 'North Africa 1942-43'; Italy Star; War Medal, 1939-1945; medals unnamed as issued, mounted below portrait photograph in a wooden frame for display, extremely fine (4)
*ex Baldwin's Auctions, September 26 2012, lot 2037
Sold with a quantity of useful research and photographs.
Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Stuart Bertram Billing, son of Bertram Joseph Harold Billing, a printer, was born on 28 January 1911 in Guildford. He became an architect and lived at 2 Nevern Road, Kensington. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer force between August 1940 and March 1941, with service number 1382317. The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, had begun on the 3 August 1943 and Billing was initially recorded as missing in action during operations in the Near East during the night of the 12-13 August 1943. Based at the time with 70 Squadron in Kairouan-Temmar in Tunisia, this squadron was well-placed to bomb strategic targets in Italy. The Squadron diary states they had been involved in bombings in the area of Cape Peloro & Messina, and mentions Flight Sergeant Billing as 2nd Pilot of Aircraft 'A' HZ.427 Wellington X, and it states: 'This aircraft which is missing after operations on the night of 12th/13th August, was reported to have been shot down over target by 4 other aircraft. No other details.' Another report states: '...probably hit by flak in target area, as 3 aircraft reported seeing an aircraft exploding and falling to the ground.' He is commemorated at the Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily, grave reference VIII. H. 11-12, where he shares a grave with Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) John Ronald Clark with the moving inscription: 'to be in the hearts of those we love is not to die.' In addition, four other crew members were killed and buried there: Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Charles Edward Prince, Flight Sergeant James Eyval Duff (Royal Australian Air Force), Sgt (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) William Brownlie Gilchrist and Pilot Officer (Air Gunner) Walter Craig (Royal Canadian Air Force). Their bodies were exhumed from Faro Superiore in the Province of Messina, Sicily in June 1956 and transferred to the Syracuse War Cemetery.
(100-120 GBP)
*ex Baldwin's Auctions, September 26 2012, lot 2037
Sold with a quantity of useful research and photographs.
Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Stuart Bertram Billing, son of Bertram Joseph Harold Billing, a printer, was born on 28 January 1911 in Guildford. He became an architect and lived at 2 Nevern Road, Kensington. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer force between August 1940 and March 1941, with service number 1382317. The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, had begun on the 3 August 1943 and Billing was initially recorded as missing in action during operations in the Near East during the night of the 12-13 August 1943. Based at the time with 70 Squadron in Kairouan-Temmar in Tunisia, this squadron was well-placed to bomb strategic targets in Italy. The Squadron diary states they had been involved in bombings in the area of Cape Peloro & Messina, and mentions Flight Sergeant Billing as 2nd Pilot of Aircraft 'A' HZ.427 Wellington X, and it states: 'This aircraft which is missing after operations on the night of 12th/13th August, was reported to have been shot down over target by 4 other aircraft. No other details.' Another report states: '...probably hit by flak in target area, as 3 aircraft reported seeing an aircraft exploding and falling to the ground.' He is commemorated at the Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily, grave reference VIII. H. 11-12, where he shares a grave with Flight Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) John Ronald Clark with the moving inscription: 'to be in the hearts of those we love is not to die.' In addition, four other crew members were killed and buried there: Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Charles Edward Prince, Flight Sergeant James Eyval Duff (Royal Australian Air Force), Sgt (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) William Brownlie Gilchrist and Pilot Officer (Air Gunner) Walter Craig (Royal Canadian Air Force). Their bodies were exhumed from Faro Superiore in the Province of Messina, Sicily in June 1956 and transferred to the Syracuse War Cemetery.
(100-120 GBP)