Full medal write up
AIR FORCE CROSS G.VI, THE REVERSE DATED 1945, IN ROYAL MINT CASE OF ISSUE, DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS, THE LATTER MOUNTED AS WORN. WITH A FINE SET OF CORRESPONDING MINIATURES, MOUNTED AS WORN.
A.F.C. London Gazette 3 April 1945. Flying Officer R.A.F.V.R.
Alfred Alan Gardiner, original served as a Sergeant in the Royal Air Force, before being commissioned. His R.C.A.F. Personnel Identification Card dated 7 March 1942, lists him as born on 1 February 1911 and then serving at No. 35 Service Flying Training School (35 S.F.T.S.) at North Battleford, west-central Saskatchewan, Canada. London Gazette entries list Gardiner as Sergeant (1532169) to be Pilot Officer on Probation (161737) 29 August 1943. Confirmed Flying Officer 29 February 1944, he was awarded the A.F.C. in April 1945 and advanced to Flight Lieutenant on 29 August 1945. No detailed research has been done on Gardiner’s service or to what his award was for. However given his medal entitlement, it is likely it was a Flight Instructor or such.
In addition to the full sized medals, the group contains the following:
a) Named Buckingham Palace enclosure for A.F.C.
b) Box of issue for Second War medals addressed to ‘F/Lt. A. A. Gardiner. This complete
with medal slips in postal box of issue, Air Council enclosure and tapes giving medal
entitlement, rank and number 161737
c) Royal Canadian Air Force Personnel Identification Card
d) Two snapshot portrait photographs of Gardiner in uniform
e) An R.A.F. sweetheart brooch
f) An Athletics enameled brass lapel badge dated 1932 for Johnston School
g) A Festival of Britain 1951 crown
h) The recipient's father's Great War Victory Medal ‘20456 Pte. R. B. Gardiner, North'd
Fus’ this officially renamed. In registered envelope of issue.
A good group, generally in NEF condition.