EXCEPTIONAL WWII & LATER CURATED MILITARY AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
An exceptional and unusually extensive British military and aviation autograph collection, understood to have been compiled by Eric Wormald, whose name and address appear on labels on the end papers, and who it is believed was associated with RAF Public Relations.
Contained in a compact album of 156 pages measuring approximately 16 x 10 cm, the collection comprises 330 different signatories, represented by 332 indexed entries, including only two duplicates.
The strength of the collection lies not only in its extent, but also in the extraordinary concentration of distinguished servicemen and women represented within a single, curated collection. An important and historical celebration of the collective achievements, valour and courage of the recipients.
The index below identifies each autograph which is individually mounted and accompanied by a printed manuscript identification giving the signatory's name, principal decorations and a brief indication of his or her service or distinction. This gives the album the character of a carefully assembled and curated RAF and military reference collection, rather than a conventional autograph book. The signatures are clipped and signed slips rather than complete letters or documents. The collection is offered intact and complete as assembled.
The following index is in page order and shows the first two / three principal medal and / or decoration abbreviations.
Major Agansing Rai — VC, MM
Captain Rambahadur Limbu — VC, MVO
Lt Col Marcus Ervine-Andrews — VC
Captain Richard Annand — VC
Corporal Richard H. Burton — VC
Rifleman Havildar Bhanbhagta Gurung — VC
Brigadier Lorne MacLaine Campbell — VC, DSO
Group Captain Lord Leonard Cheshire — VC, OM
John Bamford — GC
Major Edward Cooper — VC, MM
Lt Col Stephen George Styles — GC
Flt Lieut John Alexander Cruickshank — VC
Admiral Sir Victor Crutchley — VC, KCB
Sir Arthur Roden Cutler — VC, AK
Viscount De L'Isle / Major William Sidney — VC, KG
Major General Henry Foote — VC, CB
Lt Cdr Ian Edward Fraser — VC, DSC
Leading Seaman James Joseph Magennis — VC
CSM George Harold Eardley — VC, MM
Sgt John Daniel Hinton — VC
Lady Ryder of Warsaw, SOE — CMG, OBE
Lady Ryder of Warsaw, SOE — CMG, OBE
Captain Philip John Gardner — VC, MC
Lieut Thomas William Gould — VC
Warrant Officer Norman Cyril Jackson — VC
Major David Auldgo Jamieson — VC, CVO
Sgt John Patrick Kenneally — VC
Sgt Harry John Laurent — VC
Insp Anthony John Gledhill — GC
Wg Cdr Roderick Alastair Brook Learoyd — VC
Lt Col Charles Cecil Merritt — VC
Capt Gerard Ross Norton — VC, MM
Rear Admiral Basil Charles Place — VC, CB
Colonel Patrick Anthony Porteous — VC
Sgt Ernest Alvia Smith — VC, CD
Captain Robert Edward Ryder RN — VC
Flt Lieut William “Bill” Reid — VC
Naik / Hon Capt Gian Singh — VC
Captain Quentin George Smythe — VC
Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham — VC & Bar
Rt Hon Lord Justice / Major Tasker Watkins — VC, PC
Air Commodore Ferdinand West — VC, CBE
Lt Col Eric Charles Twelves Wilson — VC
CSM Peter Harold Wright — VC
Colonel Frederick Albert Tilston — VC
Odette Marie Celine Hallowes, SOE — GC, MBE
Count Albert Guérisse “Pat O'Leary”, Resistance — GC, KBE
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Lawrence “Frank” Sinclair — GC
Air Marshal Sir John Rowlands, bomb disposal — GC, KBE
Captain Alexander “Sandy” Mitchell Hodge RN — GC, VRD
Harry Harrington, London Fire Service — GC
Captain Gaje Ghale — VC
Captain Ganju Lama — VC, MM
Lieutenant Tulbahadur Pun — VC
Subadar Major Umrao Singh — VC
Rifleman Lachiman Gurung, signed “L.M.N.G. VC” — VC
Warrant Officer II Keith Payne — VC
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Edward “Beckwith” Ashmore — GCB, DSC
Admiral of the Fleet Lord Lewin of Greenwich — KG, GCB
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Michael Patrick Pollock — GCB, LVO
Field Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver — GCB, DSO & Bar
Field Marshal Sir Roland Christopher Gibbs — GCB, DSO
Field Marshal Sir Richard Amyatt Hull — KG, GCB
Marshal of the RAF Sir Michael James Beetham — GCB, CBE
Marshal of the RAF Sir Dermot Boyle — GCB, KCVO
Marshal of the RAF Sir William Forster Dickson — GCB, KBE
Marshal of the RAF Lord Samuel Elworthy — KG, GCB
Marshal of the RAF Sir John Grandy — GCB, KCVO
Marshal of the RAF Sir Denis Graham Smallwood — GBE, KCB
Marshal of the RAF Sir Keith Williamson — GCB, AFC
Wing Commander David J Shannon — DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar
Flight Lieutenant Leonard Sumpter — DFC, DFM
Wing Commander Daniel Walker — DFC & Bar
Air Marshal Sir Harold “Mick” Martin — KCB, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar
Wing Commander Donald McLean, RCAF — DFM
Flight Lieutenant David Rodger, RCAF — DFC
Flight Lieutenant Anthony Burcher, RAAF — DFM
Pilot Officer James Henry Clay — DFC
Flight Lieutenant William Howarth — DFM
Flying Officer Stefan Oancia, RCAF — DFM
Flight Sergeant Grant McDonald, RCAF
Sergeant Dudley Heal — DFM
Flight Lieutenant Edward Johnson — DFC
Sergeant Raymond Ernest Grayson
Squadron Leader Gerry F. Hawke, 617 Squadron — DSO, DFC
Squadron Leader “Mac” L. Hamilton, 617 Squadron — DFC & Bar
Wing Commander A. Raymond Poole, 617 Squadron — DSO, DFC
Wing Commander “Jock” Calder, 617 Squadron — DSO & Bar, DFC
Group Captain James B. “Willie” Tait, 617 Squadron — DSO & 3 Bars, DFC & Bar
Flight Lieutenant Paddy Gingles, 617 Squadron — DFC, DFM
Flight Lieutenant Ken Sumner, 617 Squadron — DFM
Squadron Leader John H. Pryor, 617 Squadron — DFC
Flight Lieutenant Alex M. McKie, 617 Squadron — DFM
Squadron Leader Tony C. Iveson, 617 Squadron — DFC
Warrant Officer G. H. “Gerry” Hobbs, 617 Squadron
Flying Officer Jack Harrison, 617 Squadron
Flying Officer Basil Fish, 617 Squadron
Squadron Leader R. S. Derry Kearns, 617 Squadron — DSO, DFC
Flight Lieutenant Gerry A. Witherwick, 617 Squadron — DSO, DFC
Squadron Leader Larry W. Curtis, 617 Squadron — DFC & Bar
Squadron Leader Tom Bennett, 617 Squadron — DFM
Sgt Derrick John Allen, 467 Squadron — CGM
WO John Terry Allen, parachuting — AFM & Bar
Group Captain Kenneth Batchelor — KBE, DFC
Sgt Edward Dyson Durrans, RAFVR, No. 90 Squadron — CGM
Squadron Leader Jack Emmerson — DFC, AFM
Flight Lieutenant Tadeuszjan Frankowski “Ted J. Franks” — VM, KW & 3 Bars
Air Vice-Marshal John Astley “Dolly” Gray — CBE, DFC
Flight Sergeant Derrick Teify Jones, No. 62 Squadron — CGM
Flight Lieutenant E. Gwyn Jones — DFC, AFC
Flight Lieutenant Gwyn Martin — DFM
Flying Officer Alex Graham Mitchell — CBE, DFM
Flight Sergeant Geoffrey Frank Keen, No. 427 RCAF Squadron — CGM, DFM
Squadron Leader Derry C. L. Kearns — DSC, AFC
Flight Lieutenant Donald A. MacDonald, 50 Squadron — DFM
Squadron Leader William J. O. Magrath, escaper — MM
Group Captain Thomas “Hamish” Mahaddie, Pathfinder — DSO, DFC
Sgt John W. MacFarlane, escaper — MM
Sgt James Stephen Powell, 224 Squadron — CGM
Group Captain William Randle — CBE, AFC
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Constantine — KBE, CB
Air Vice-Marshal Frederick Samuel Hazlewood — CB, CBE
Air Marshal Sir Gareth Clayton — KCB, DFC & Bar
Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Heward — KCB, DFC & Bar
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Ian Douglas Lawson — CB, DFC & Bar
Air Chief Marshal Sir Wallace “Digger” Kyle — GCB, KCVO
Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burnett — GCB, DFC
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Le Cheminant — GBE, KCB
WO Roy Marlow, escaper — MM
Robert “Bob” Frost, rear gunner, shot down and evaded capture
Air Vice-Marshal H. A. C. Bird-Wilson — CBE, DSO
Wing Commander P. P. C. “Paddy” Barthrop — DFC, AFC
Squadron Leader John M. Bentley-Beard — DFC, AFC
Flying Officer Frederick J. Barker, Defiant gunner — DFM & Bar
Flying Officer Leonard D. Bowman, Defiant gunner — DFM
Squadron Leader G. H. “Ben” Bennions — DFC
Air Commodore Peter “Pete” Brothers — CBE, DSO & Bar
Squadron Leader Anthony Charles Bartley — DFC & Bar
Group Captain John “Cats-Eye” Cunningham — DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & 2 Bars
Flight Lieutenant James D. Culmer — DFM, AE
Squadron Leader Lionel Harwood Casson — DFC, AFC
Flight Lieutenant Arthur W. Cook — DFM
Wing Commander C. F. “Bunny” Currant — DSO, DFC & Bar
Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling — KCB, DSO, DFC & Bar
Group Captain Frank R. Carey — CBE, DFC & 2 Bars
Group Captain W. Dennis David — CBE, DFC & Bar
Wing Commander R. F. T. “Bob” Doe — DSO, DFC
Squadron Leader R. W. “Hank” Dalton, 604 Squadron — DFM
Group Captain H. S. “George” Darley, 609 Squadron — DSO
Air Commodore Edward Donaldson — CB, CBE
Group Captain Duke Wooley — DSO, DFC
Group Captain Denys Gillam — DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar
Flight Lieutenant Fred Gash, Defiant gunner — DFM
Group Captain Thomas Gleave — CBE
Wing Commander G. J. “Sticks” Gregory — DSO, DFC & Bar
Squadron Leader Charlton Shaw — DFC, DFM
Wing Commander N. P. W. Hancock — DFC
Group Captain Sir Hugh “Cocky” Dundas — CBE, DSO & Bar
Squadron Leader Ronald Hamlyn — AFC, DFM
Wing Commander H. J. L. Hallowes — DFM & Bar
Wing Commander F. W. “Taffy” Higginson — OBE, DFC
Air Vice-Marshal “Harry” A. V. Hogan — CB, DFC
Air Vice-Marshal J. E. “Johnnie” Johnson, leading RAF fighter ace — CB, CBE
Air Vice-Marshal A. V. R. “Sandy” Johnstone, 602 Squadron — DSO & 2 Bars, DFC & Bar
Wing Commander B. J. Jennings — AFC, DFM
Wing Commander John Ignatius Kilmartin — DFC
Wing Commander Don E. Kingaby — DFM & 2 Bars, AE
Wing Commander Brian C. F. Kingcome, 92 Squadron — DSO, DFC & Bar
Squadron Leader James H. “Ginger” Lacey — DFM & Bar, AE
Air Commodore James Anthony Leathart — CB, DSO
Squadron Leader Percy F. Morfill — DFM
Flight Lieutenant J. K. “Jack” Norwell — AFC
Group Captain R. W. “Bobby” Oxspring — DFC & 2 Bars, AFC
Squadron Leader Alan Geoffrey Page — DSO, DFC & Bar
Wing Commander Peter Lawrence Parrott — DFC & Bar, AFC
Flight Lieutenant Jim Pickering — AFC, AE
Jeffrey K. Quill, Spitfire test pilot — OBE, AFC
Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Rosier — GCB, CBE
Flight Lieutenant William E. Rolls — DFC, DFM
Wing Commander R. R. “Bob” Stanford Tuck — DSO, DFC & 2 Bars
Wing Commander H. M. Stephen — DSO, DFC & Bar
Squadron Leader Ronald L. Stillwell — DFC, DFM
Group Captain Peter W. Townsend — CVO, DSO
Air Commodore John M. Thompson — DSO, DFC & Bar
Colonel Witold Urbanowicz, Polish fighter ace — DFC, KW
Wing Commander George C. Unwin — DSO, DFM & Bar
Squadron Leader Alfred Whitby — DFM
Air Commodore Stanley Charles Widdows, 29 Squadron — CB, DFC
Squadron Leader G. T. Williams — OBE, DFM
Air Commodore Sir Archibald Winskill — KCVO, CBE
Group Captain Allan Richard Wright — DFC & Bar, AFC
Air Commodore E. W. “Ricky” Wright — CBE, DFC
Wing Commander Roland “Bee” Beamont, test pilot — CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar
Flight Lieutenant Anthony “Tony” R. F. Thompson — DFC
Corporal Elspeth C. Green, later Elspeth Henderson — MM
Sgt Elizabeth Mortimer — MM
Generalleutnant Adolf Galland, Luftwaffe fighter ace — KC
Colonel James Goodson, Eagle Squadron / USAAF
Air Marshal Sir Ivor Gordon Broom — KCB, DSO
Wing Commander Percy Belgrave “Lachie” Lucas — CBE, DSO & Bar
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Wykeham — DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar
Air Vice-Marshal Sir John “Hugh” Lapsley — KBE, CB, DFC
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Colin Scragg — KBE, CB
Group Captain George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk — KT, GCMG
Air Marshal Sir Paul Davie Holder — KBE, CB
Wing Commander Arthur “Artie” Ashworth — DSO, DFC & Bar
Air Commodore Harry E. White — CBE, DFC & 2 Bars
Flight Lieutenant Michael Allen — DFC & 2 Bars
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Barraclough — KCB, DFC
Air Vice-Marshal Michael D. Lyne — CBE, AFC & 2 Bars
Flight Lieutenant D. “Rocky” Oliver — GM
Wing Commander Edward Howell, POW — OBE, DFC
Sub Lieutenant Peter Adam — DSC
Vice Admiral Sir Peter Ashmore — KCB, KCVO
Sir Robert Atkinson — DSC & 2 Bars, RD
Very Rev Professor Robert “Robin” Barbour — MC
Vice Admiral Sir Patrick “Uniacke” Bayly — KBE, DSC & 2 Bars
Captain Eric Melrose “Winkle” Brown, test pilot — CBE, DSC
Admiral Sir Desmond “Parry” Dreyer — GCB, CBE
Rear Admiral P. D. Percy Gick, Bismarck operations — CB, OBE
Lieut W. Marcus Graham, survivor HMS Prince of Wales
Captain M. G. “Pinkie” Haworth, Battle of Matapan — CBE, DSC & Bar
Vice Admiral Sir John Hayes — KCB, OBE
Vice Admiral Sir Ian Hogg — KCB, OBE
Lt Cdr Sir William Garthwaite Bt — DSC & Bar
Vice Admiral Sir Hugh Richard Janvrin — KCB, DSC
Lt John Moffat, 818 Squadron, Bismarck operations
Captain Peter E. Fanshawe, Stalag Luft III — CBE, DSC
Captain Derek W. Napper, Battle of Matapan — CBE
Cdr Richard A. W. Pool, survivor HMS Repulse — DSC
Major “Dick” R. T. Partridge, Royal Marines — DSO
Lt Cdr Sir Peter Markham Scott — CBE, DSC & Bar
Rear Admiral Ian G. W. Robertson — CB, DSC
Captain Geoffrey A. “Hank” Rotherham, Bismarck operations — DSO, OBE
Cdr F. Alan Swanton, 818 Squadron, Bismarck operations — DSO, DSC & Bar
Lt Albert E. P. “Ted” Briggs, survivor HMS Hood — MBE
Leading Seaman Robert E. Tillman, survivor HMS Hood
Herbert Herrmann, U-47 torpedo mechanic, HMS Royal Oak association
Admiral Sir Desmond “Parry” Dreyer — GCB, CBE
Rear Admiral Arthur Rodney Sturdee, HMS Exeter / River Plate — CB, DSC
Able Seaman Arthur E. Clayton, Arctic Convoy survivor — DSM
Chief ERA Albert Denis Saunders, HMS Regent — MID
Peter Twiss, Fleet Air Arm and Fairey test pilot, world speed record — OBE, DSC & Bar
Sub Lieutenant Victor Souter Lowden — DSC
Lt Cdr Sir Ludovic Kennedy, Bismarck operations, author and broadcaster
Cdr Richard Woodman RN, naval historian and author
Major General John D. Frost, Bruneval and Arnhem — CB, DSO
General Sir John Hackett, Arnhem — GCB, DSO & Bar
Brigadier Stanley J. L. Hill, Parachute Brigade — DSO & 2 Bars, MC
Brigadier Alastair Pearson — DSO & 3 Bars, MC
Major General Roy Elliot Urquhart, Arnhem — CB, DSO & Bar
Major Richard Todd, actor and airborne officer — OBE
Major General Douglas Kendrew — CB, CBE, DSO & 3 Bars
Lt General Sir Derek Lang — KCB, DSO
Simon, 17th Lord Lovat, Commandos — DSO, MC
Major General David Lloyd Owen, Long Range Desert Group — CB, DSO
Major Donald V. Henderson, bomb disposal — GM
Major General Edward Maitland-Makgill-Crichton — OBE
Captain James Allan Ford, Hong Kong — CB, MC
CSM H. Simpson, 7th Battalion Black Watch — DCM
AC1 Marcel Comeau, Crete — MM
Sgt Finlay MacLachlan, Argylls, Singapore POW
Gordon Skelton, HMT Lancastria survivor and association official
Rt Hon Lord Denis Healey of Riddlesden, wartime Royal Engineers — CM, MBE
Brigadier Peter Young, Commandos — DSO, MC & 2 Bars
Corporal Duncan Ferguson, Argylls, Singapore and Burma railway
Major General Derrick Wormald — DSO, MC & Bar
Major Peter Walton, Parachute Regiment — entry incomplete in original index
Corporal Jack Buchanan — MM
Colonel Maurice Buckmaster, head of SOE F Section — OBE
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Alan Boxer — KCVO, CB
Yvonne Cormeau, code name “Annette”, SOE — Légion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre
Flight Sergeant Syd Firth, RAF Tempsford
Group Captain Ron C. Hockey, Special Duties — DSO, DFC
Sir Robin Hooper, Special Duties — DSO, DFC
Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges, Special Duties / SOE operations — KCB, CBE
Sir Fitzroy Maclean of Dunconnel, British military mission to Yugoslav Partisans — DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar
Flight Lieutenant Oliver Philpot, “Wooden Horse” escaper — MC, DFC
Professor Harry A. Rée, SOE / French Resistance — DSO, Croix de Guerre
Micheline “Michou” Dumon, Belgian Resistance / Comet Line — GM
Group Captain Peter Vaughan-Fowler, Special Duties — CVO, DSO, DFC
Group Captain Hugh Verity, Special Duties — DSO & Bar, DFC, Croix de Guerre
Sir Charles Villiers, wartime special operations — MC
Sir Peter Allix Wilkinson, SOE — KCMG, DSO
Flight Lieutenant Edward Cerely, escaper / Greek Resistance — MM
Major Pat Reid, Colditz escaper — OBE, MC
Sgt Eric Moss, RAF, escaper from captivity in Italy
Sgt Terence Kelly, 258 Squadron, POW in Japanese captivity
Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey William Tuttle — KBE, CB
Air Chief Marshal Sir Alasdair Alexander McKay Sinclair Steedman — GCB, CBE
Air Commodore Sir Peter Beckford Vanneck — GBE, CB
Squadron Leader Terry Malcolm Bulloch — DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar
Squadron Leader Tony Spooner — DSO, DFC
Air Marshal Sir Alfred “Freddy” Ball — KCB, DSO, DFC
Lettice Curtis, Air Transport Auxiliary
Group Captain N. T. “Tom” Harvey, 201 Squadron
Air Commodore Tim Elworthy, Queen's Flight — CBE
Group Captain John Ward, Transport Command
Group Captain Reverend John Haslam — MC, DFC
Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Howard Dhenin — KBE, AFC & Bar
Flight Lieutenant Norman Page, RAF Regiment — OBE, MC
Wing Commander Brian P. Coote, RAF Regiment — MC
Flight Lieutenant John Donnelly, Search & Rescue — AFM
Flight Sergeant Ty Barraclough, parachute instructor — AFM
Flight Lieutenant Francis W. Mason, RAF historian and author
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Squire, Falklands veteran — DFC, AFC
Air Commodore James A. McCarthy, Medical Branch — OBE, GM
Air Commodore Arthur E. Clouston, long-distance record pilot — DSO, DFC
Squadron Leader Peter C. Crouch — AFM
Squadron Leader Michael J. Lakey, Search & Rescue — GM
Air Commodore Mark Perkins, RAF Association — MBE
Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Soutar — KBE, MB
Pilot Officer James Simpson
Raymond Frederick Baxter, RAF pilot and broadcaster
Air Marshal Sir Richard John Kemball — KCB, CBE
Air Vice-Marshal Dudley Graham “Bill” Bailey — CB, CBE
Lord Morris of Kenwood JP
Squadron Leader John Graham, 49 Squadron
A. E. “Ben” Gunn, Chief Test Pilot — MBE
Wing Commander Glenn Edge, Tucano Display Team, Biggin Hill 1995
Flight Lieutenant Graham Williams, Tucano display pilot
Flight Lieutenant Gary Shingles
M. E. Murphy née Hall, ATA ferry pilot — forename/initials uncertain in original index
David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn — KCMG
Cmdt Eugene Hedebouw, display team, Biggin Hill 1995
Major S. Tverdokhlebov, display team, Biggin Hill 1995
Lt Col Peter Gasparovic, Slovak display team, Biggin Hill 1995
Major Ivan Hůlak, Slovak display team, Biggin Hill 1995
Capt Miroslav Kelemen, Slovak display team, Biggin Hill 1995
Ľubomír Lovás, Slovak display team, Biggin Hill 1995
Anatoly Adamishin, Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1995
Unidentified / indistinct Chargé d'Affaires, Armenian Embassy, London
The album carries a Royal Air Force Public Relations label to the front cover and it is believed that the original owner Eric Wormald, who was associated with RAF Public Relations, collected the signatures whilst attending investitures and other events.
The album has been handled and used over many years. The outer covers show rubbing and wear, particularly to the edges and corners. The RAF Public Relations label has some obvious wear. Internally, the mounted signatures and accompanying notes are generally well preserved, although condition varies from page to page. Please study the photographs as these form part of the condition description.
Further photographs are available on request.