Beschreibung:

A fine Camel Ace’s D.F.C. and bar group of four awarded to Captain T. W. Nash, No. 4 (Naval) Squadron, R.N.A.S., and No. 204 Squadron, R.A.F., officially credited with 8 kills before he himself was shot down and killed Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar; British War and Victory Medals (Capt., R.A.F.); French Croix de Guerre 1914-1917, with bronze palm; together with case of issue for the D.F.C. with label addressed to next of kin, his original hand-written Flying Log Book, this accompanied by a bound typed transcript, his personal wartime diary, a technical note book, and four portrait photographs of himself and younger brother, nearly extremely fine and rare, especially with log books (4) Footnote D.F.C. London Gazette 2 November, 1918. “After 4 months excellent service as a pilot this officer was appointed Flight Commander. His brilliant leadership has fully justified his selection. On a recent patrol his formation accounted for 6 enemy planes he himself destroying two. We suffered no casualties, mainly owing to the skill and judgement displayed by Lieutenant Nash.” Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 1 January, 1919. French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 8 November, 1918. Thomas Walter Nash was born at Littlehampton, Sussex, on 25 November, 1891. He joined the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 May, 1916, as a second air mechanic and was sent to Crystal Palace for training. He proceeded to France at the end of that year and, the following May, was recommended for a Commission which resulted in his attending Greenwich Naval college before being sent to Redcar Air Station where he made his first flight on 11 November, 1917. After graduating at Cranwell, with a V.G.I. 1st Class Certificate and six months seniority, Nash spent two weeks at Manston War School as a fighting scout pilot before joining No. 5 Wing, 12 Squadron, in France on 24 February, 1918. On the 3rd March he joined No. 4 (N) Squadron which became No. 204 Squadron R.A.F. the following month. It is some time before Nash has a successful combat despite the fact that his log book contains numerous entries giving details of contact with the Hun. On 23rd April, obviously ignorant of the enormity of the infamous raid that had just taken place, he joins a patrol in the direction of Zeebrugge as described in his log: ‘Go up with 5 machines of “B” Flight with Capt. Keirstead leading. We again try to reach Zeebrugge with the intention of shooting up men at work on the mole. This rather has been badly damaged with bombs, and attack from the sea . Just past Ostende, however, 11 enemy scouts appear well above us. We engage these but unsuccessfully and afterwards return home. I have a fight with two scouts, into one of which I fire about 250 rounds. He dives vertically but flattens and probably lands alright. The other scout gets some shots at me from behind, one of which passes right down my sleeve, inside my tunic. It tears my shirt without touching my skin and passes out at the back of my glove. It then smashes my switches and cutting my engine out suddenly, causes me to spin. I pull the machine out and get my engine going again. I then make for home and in examining my machine find another bullet hole through my induction pipe and the muzzle cap of one of my guns shot away. The gauze of induction pipe is blown away and engine sucks about 6 Pride Cartridge links into the inside, slightly damaging one cylinder.’ Nash was clearly sympathetic and understanding towards the many faults and values of the Camels that he flew, making constant comments in his log. Of D3372 he wrote: ‘Machine been re-rigged and I give it a good test. Flies very nicely now and with engine off will glide down with hands off. Christen her “Seagull”. Machine is very difficult to spin, I think she will be the best Camel I have flown.’ On 9 June this machine is badly damaged during an air raid and is replaced by Camel B7176 as “Seagull II”, becoming Nash’s regular steed. In this Camel he gains hi