AIR MECHANIC (ACTING AIR GUNNER) T.E. ALLUM, ROYAL FLYING CORPS (LATE PRIVATE 1ST BATTALION EAST SURREY REGIMENT). Military Medal, George V (naming officially impressed, but details difficult to read as a result of attempted erasure of surname, what remains reads: 10708 Pte. T (.....) E.... :R.). Attractively toned, Good Very Fine, and with a length of original ribbon.
Medal accompanied by biographical details, copied Medal Index card, 1914 Star medal roll, April 1918 Royal Airforce Personnel List, Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force service record, Military Medal Index card, extract London Gazette re award of Military Medal and copied extract from Howard Williamson's "The Annotations Found on the Reverses of the Military Medal Index Cards 1916 to 1920". Medal Index card confirms Allum also entitled 1914 Star and Bar, British War and Victory Medals.
Allum's Medal Index card, Military Medal Index card and Howard Williamson record Allum as having been issued with replacement 1914 Star and Military Medal in the post-war years, a replacement Star in May 1924 and a replacement Military Medal in October 1925, both replacement medals being issued "on payment", his 1914 Star medal index card being annotated "dup 14 Star issd (on payment) IV. 1242/B06/23.5.24" and his Military Medal index card being annotated "Appln for replacement of MM AF B177 d/ 21.3.23 NW/1/16515, Dup MM issed (on payment) IV 1846 d/ 23.5.24 NW/1/16515, Off i/c Inf Recds Hounslow returns M Medal CRV 119 d/ 25.9.25, NW/1/16515, MM IV 146 d/ 23.10.25 NW/1/16515."
Only one man with the regimental number 10708 awarded the Military Medal during WW1, 10708 Private T.E. Allum, East Surrey Regiment (attached Royal Flying Corps).
The style of naming on this Military Medal, with its superscript "Pte" impressed rank indicates that this is Allum's original Military Medal, post-war Military Medals being named in a different style to Military Medals awarded for gallantry during WW1.
The two leading authorities on WW1 Military Medals, Chris Bate and Howard Williamson, have seen photographs of the naming on the edge of this medal and both are of the opinion that this is Allum's original Military Medal.
Only 167 Military Medals and two second award bars awarded to the Royal Flying Corps, along with 92 to the Royal Air Force and 6 to the Australian Flying Corps.
Medal accompanied by biographical details, WW1 Medal Index card, 1914 Star medal roll, 2 pages copied Royal Air Force service record, April 1918 Royal Air Force Personnel Record extract, 1920 RAF Airman Record, Military Medal Index card and London Gazette extract.
Thomas Emmanuel (Edmund) Allum (1896-1929) was born in Purfleet, Essex, on 5/10/1896, the son of Emmanuel and Alice Allum. He first saw active service in France during WW1 with the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, entering that theatre of operations on 16/8/1914 (the 1st East Surreys sailed for France on 15/8/1914, landing at Havre as a unit on the following day). Allum transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 5/4/1917 with the regimental number 77692 and saw service in France with 20 Squadron.
Allum is recorded in Trevor Henshaw's "The Sky Their Battefield" as having been shot down on 29/4/1917, just over three weeks after transferring to the Royal Flying Corps whilst acting as an aerial gunner in an FE2d of 20 Squadron, when his plane, having been attacked by seven hostile aircraft and hit by ground fire, was forced to land north-west of Sanitary Wood, Allum and his pilot, Lieutenant E.O. Perry, surviving but both being wounded in action.
By the time Allum was shot down on 29/4/1917 the aerial fighting on the Western Front had reached an intensity not seen previously, combats often involving several squadrons from both sides, British and German, in large-scale dogfights. Allums plane was one of four from 20 Squadron shot down or seriously damaged on 29/4/1917. On the same day, 12 Squadron lost three planes, 18 Squadron, three planes, and 19 Squadron, three planes. On the same day, three SE5s from 56 Squadron on an offensive patrol were attacked by six German Albatross fighters from Jasta 11, and although the SE5s survived the engagement, the dogfight was spotted by a formation of five 57 Squadron SE2ds who came down to assist. At this point a German patrol joined Jasta 11 in an attack on SPADs of 19 Squadron. The dogfight reached its conclusion when three Sopwith triplanes of 1 (Naval) joined in the combat.
Allum's Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette of 26/5/1917, page 5191, for bravery in the field. "Private T.E. Allum, East Surrey Regiment, attached Royal Flying Corps."
Howard Williamson's "Great War Medal Collector's Companion" notes that Military Medals announced in the London Gazette of 26/5/1917 were awards for March and April 1917, including early Arras awards. Allum was shot down in April 1917, during what came to be known by the Royal Flying Corps as "Bloody April".
Allum is recorded in the April 1918 Royal Airforce Personnel List as being a "disciplinarian" (physical education instructor) with the rank of Corporal (promoted Corporal 1/10/1917).
Following the end of WW1, on 11/11/1918, Allum rejoined the East Surrey Regiment, but subsequently enlisted into the Royal Air Force on 4/11/20. Allum deserted on 19/3/1921 and, after returning to duty, was discharged from the Royal Air Force on 7/11/1921 (para 392(xxv), services no longer required).
Royal Air Force Service Record confirms Allum's date and place of birth, that he had previously seen service in the army, and gives his pre-war trade as painter.
Allum was also entitled to a 1914 Star and Bar trio.
Medal Index Card gives correspondence address as Care Of Officer Commanding, 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, Hong Kong.
The 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment were stationed in Dublin when WW1 broke out in August 1914. The battalion sailed for France on 15/8/1914 and landed at Le Havre the following day. The battalion saw service initially in France, before transferring to Italy in December 1917, but returned to France in April 1918, and was still serving in France when the war ended.
