A SCARCE GREAT WAR 'BALLOONATICS' D.F.C. GROUP AWARDED TO BALLOON COMMANDER, ROYAL FLYING CORPS, LATER ROYAL AIR FORCE WHO WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION IN JUNE 1918 AND WAS LATER DECORATED FOR HIS CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY FOR CONTINUING HIS OBSERVATION WORK FOR OVER FOUR HOURS, DESPITE HIS BALLOON BEING SUBJECTED HEAVY FIRE DURING THIS PERIOD WHICH PUNCTURED IT IN NINE PLACES. HIS FELLOW OBSERVER, AN N.C.O. WAS AWARDED THE D.F.M.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, G.V.R. ‘LIEUT . R. S. BELL.’, CONTEMPORARILY ENGRAVED NAMING; BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS ‘LIEUT. R. S. BELL. R.A.F.’

D.F.C. London Gazette 3 August 1918:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At Ecurie, on the 19th of July, 1918, Lieut. Bell ascended in the Balloon at 2-26 p.m., and, whilst in the air, the Balloon was shelled continuously from 3-25 p.m. to 6-5 p.m. In all, 12 rounds (air bursts) were fired and although several of the rounds burst very close to the Balloon and punctured it in nine places, this officer continued his observation work; locating the hostile gun which was shelling the Balloon. He then gave observations for the Battery, engaging the hostile gun for neutralisation.

Lieut. Bell has been in the Balloon on seven previous occasions when it has been subjected to similar hostile fire and on one occasion, although the wind was estimated at 65 miles an hour, he remained in the air and in each case continued to carry on his observation work. Lieut. Bell has, on all occasions, set an excellent example to his Section thereby largely contributing to the excellent work carried out by them."

Robert Stevenson Bell was born on 5 May 1882, he was a Bank Clerk with the Chartered Bank of India, China & Australia in the City of London prior to joining the General List on 28 March 1917. He served at Roehampton with the rank of Temporary Second Lieutenant (on probation) before going to South Farnborough. He was then promoted to Temporary Second Lieutenant as a Balloon Officer on 30 May 1917. He was then transferred to the Kite Balloon School returning to Roehampton before going to 20 Balloon School on 11 June 1917.

He served in France as a Balloon Observer with 8 and 20 Sections, 1st Balloon Company, Royal Flying Corps from at least October 1917 and was appointed Balloon Commander and ……….

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Condition GVF. Sold with a file of copy research. Ex Spink 1992.

A scarce Great War D.F.C. group.