The unique and exceptional Great War Western Front Fighter Ace 17th January 1916 multiple victory Military Cross, India North West Frontier Waziristan 1924 Distinguished Flying Cross, and Biggin Hill Commanding Officer’s Home Service November 1918 Air Force Cross group awarded to Group Captain E.O. Grenfell, M.C., D.F.C., A.F.C., Royal Air Force, formerly Royal Garrison Artillery attached Royal Flying Corps, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, Artist’s Rifles and Surma Valley Light Horse. Grenfell was an early aviator, and gained his Royal Aero Club Certificate in November 1914, having begun his training pre-war. He then saw service with No.1 Squadron out on the Western Front from March 1918 when thrown into combat operations during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. He gained his first aerial victory in September 1915 and another in December 1915 and was Mentioned in Despatches soon afterwards, however it was in aerial combat over the Houthoulst Forest on 17th January 1916 that he came to notice, when he engaged multiple enemy aircraft and was credited with three victories in a single sortie lasting 40 minutes when piloting a single seater Moraine Saulnier in the area of the Houthoulst Forest. This remarkable engagement saw him credited with having brought down three Fokker Eindekker’s, and also an Albatros. His award of the Military Cross for this specific engagement was announced in March 1916, he being soon afterwards appointed posted home as an instructor and Flight Commander with the Central Flying School. As a Flight Commander he was posted to the front in July 1916 when with No.60 Squadron and operating during the Battle of the Somme. Grenfell had command of “C” Flight between September and December 1916, and in the period from September to October 1916 his fellow “A” Flight commander was Captain Albert Ball, V.C., D.S.O., M.C. He was most probably engaged with the elite Jasta 2 when on 30th September he met a very skilled German pilot in a very fast single seater pusher and very nearly met his end, only just bringing his badly damaged aircraft safely home having failed to outfly his adversary who was in a far superior aircraft. He was however more successfully engaged on 20th October , this time whilst flying in a Nieuport in the area of Rocquigny. His combat report states that he was engaged against 1 Rowland Scout, 4 two-seater Albatrosses, 2 Albatros Scouts, and 1 large two-seater machine! Finally on 11th December 1916 he fought an aerial battle with an Albatros C11 which was then captured over Danville. Grenfell’s own combat report was taken at No.41 Casualty Clearing Station and states: ‘I brought down the Albatros. My first drum his the Pilot on the foot, and a lot of my bullets hit the machine. Have been talking to the German pilot, who had lost his way. German observer is dead. Grenfell was himself injured, he having suffered a broken left leg and a wound to his head whilst landing near the hostile machine which would brought down near Dainville, he had stalled whilst landing in a rush to capture it. He spent the rest of the war on home service, being latterly the commander of the station at Biggin Hill, and awarded the Air Force Cross in November 1918. Grenfell then flew operationally with No.27 Squadron over Waziristan during 1921 to 1923, service for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in May 1924, he having led his Flight on every raid and never failed to carry out the task set him, he had shown the greatest gallantry in doing so. His was one of four such awards for Waziristan in that year, and would appear to be the only one with a citation. Grenfell would again command Biggin Hill from 1933 to 1937, and was there in 1935 when he was placed in charge of experiments in intercepting attacking enemy aircraft with the system of ground control being developed under his ‘watch’, this top secret experiment was integrated with the new radar system which for the Battle of Britain became ‘key’ to British Victory. He was latterly a Station Commander at Gosport.
Group of 10: Military Cross, GVR GRI Cypher; Distinguished Flying Cross, GVR GRI Cypher; Air Force Cross, GVR GRI Cypher; 1914-1915 Star; (LIEUT. E.O. GRENFELL. D. OF CORN.L.I.); British War Medal and Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches Oakleaf; (MAJOR E.O. GRENFELL. R.F.C.); India General Service Medal 1908-1935, 2 Clasps: Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24; (F/L. E.O. GRENFELL. R.A.F.), officially re-impressed naming; War Medal 1939-1945; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937. Mounted swing style for display.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with a very fine Great War period photograph album relating to the recipient, inscribed ‘E O Grenfell’ on inside front cover, 49 images in all, some annotated, at least half of these detail aircraft, some identified, a number having been crashed or upended.
Provenance: ex Dix Noonan and Webb, 5th March 1996.
Eustace Osborne Grenfell was born on 26th August 1890 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Educated at Bradfield College, he was a Cadet in the Officer Training Corps there between 24th September 1906 and 1st April 1908, and then enlisted into the Territorial Force on 16th March 1909 as a Rifleman (No.660) with the 28th City of London Battalion - Artist’s Rifles, London Regiment, with whom he served through to 19th November 1911. Presumably he had gone out to India, as he then enlisted as a Trooper (No.1436) into the Surma Valley Light Horse on 4th March 1912, and saw service with this unit until 6th June 1912. Grenfell then travelled home to take a commission into the British Army Territorial Force, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the 5th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry on 2nd June 1913, being promoted to Lieutenant on 1st March 1914.
Grenfell had already decided on becoming a pilot prior to the outbreak of the Great War when he was mobilised, and then gained his Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate (No.966) in a Maurice Farman Biplane on 9th November 1914, and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, being posted to No.1 Squadron. He then flew out from Netheravon to St Omer in France on 7th to 8th March 1915. Within four days of his having arrived at the front with his squadron, Grenfell formed part of a flight of four aircraft which took off on a reconnaissance sortie and bombing mission in an attempt to destroy the railway junction at Don. This occurred during the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. Bombs were dropped, but no results noted, and one pilot failed to return and was later noted as a prisoner of war. Grenfell was promoted to Flying Officer on 17th August 1915, and to Flight Commander with the rank of Temporary Captain on 5th September 1915, when still with No.1 Squadron. He at some stage transferred into the Royal Garrison Artillery whilst attached to the Royal Flying Corps.
He scored his first aerial engagement occurred on 13th September 1915 when engaged an Albatros whilst flying a Moraine Saulnier L, an early monoplane with a forward firing gun through the propellor. He drove down the enemy aircraft over Wytschaete-Menin in the Ypres Salient. His Combat Report records that a ‘hostile aircraft was observed from aerodrome on return from reconnaissance, this was an Aviation, apparently with a automatic pistol or rifle. “Got up to machine over Wytschaete 500 feet beneath it and opened fired with Lewis gun, the German appeared more stubborn than usual and did not seem inclined to retreat until Captain Barrington-Kennett arrived in the Bristol Scout. It was either two machines or the fact we had a machine-gun which decided his retreat. Our gun jammed and left the German diving over Comines with the Bristol still in pursuit.’
Then on 7th December when once again in a Moraine, he shot down the “new type” of Albatros “C” which was driven down in the area of Tournai-Lille. This was closely followed on the 17th January 1916 when he successfully engaged a remarkable four enemy aircraft. Grenfell first shot down a Fokker Eindekker ‘out of control’ over Houthoulst Forest, and on the same day he forced down another Fokker Eindekker, which made a forced landing in the same forest. He then drove down an Albatros to the north east of Houthoulst Forest, and finally drove down another Fokker Eindekker in the same area to the north east of the forest. All four victories came during a single 40 minutes dogfight and are described in his Combat Report as follows: ’Two very fast Fokker monoplanes, single seater, apparently with deflector propellors (for firing through the propellor). Wings, sheet white. A very fast Albatros with machine-gun as passenger. A slower Fokker monoplane also with deflector propellor.’ Each individual combat is recorded below.
Aircraft 1 - Fokker Eindekker: ‘When 2000 feet above the Morane I was escorting two Fokker’s suddenly appeared behind it. I immediately dived and sent one of the Fokker’s down after several rounds, who continued to nose dive down for at least 6000 feet.’
Aircraft 2 - Fokker Eindekker: ‘My attention was then attracted by the second Fokker who was now above and behind me. I climbed and turned above this one, getting to within 100 feet, after 30 rounds this machine nose dived very steeply. I followed him down to 4,500 feet and saw him land in a ploughed field down wind.’
Aircraft 3 - Albatros: ‘Claiming again to 10500 feet an Albatros was noticed above and behind one of our Moranes. I got above it and drove it north east of Houthoulst Forest until close enough to fire. After half drum, the tracer bullets of which appeared to hit him, he was seen still going down over Houthoulst Forest until lost sight of.’
Aircraft 4 - Fokker Eindekker: ‘Returning towards my own lines a Fokker was found amongst about 6 or 7 B.E.2c’s. This machine was engaged at 70 feet range. Several tracer bullets could be clearly seen to hit the cowl and fuselage of this Fokker who immediately nose dived and was last seen still nose down diving at a very steep angle 5,000 feet below. I was unable to see the last of this owing to have turned myself to escort a B.E.2c. This machine fired at me and seeing his tracer bullets going over my head I made for home.’
These counted as four aerial victories for Grenfell. Early Great War victories were counted if the enemy aeroplane was driven down as this was a victory in stopping the enemy doing what he set out to do. Grenfell was however successful in fully bringing down three aircraft in this engagement, a remarkable achievement for which he would be awarded the Military Cross.
Grenfell was awarded a Mention in Despatches for gallant and distinguished services in Sir John French’s Despatch of 15th October 1915, as published in the London Gazette for 1st January 1916.
Having score six victories with No.1 Squadron, he returned to the United Kingdom on 1st April 1916, and was appointed as an instructor and Flight Commander with the Central Flying School from 1st April to 11th July 1916.
Grenfell was awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette for 15th March 1916, the citation reading as follows: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He attacked single-handed and brought down three Fokker aeroplanes. Captain Grenfell has shown great bravery and initiative at all times.’
Grenfell was then posted back out to the Western Front as a Flight Commander with No.60 Squadron from July 1916, this being another single seater fighter squadron flying the new Nieuport. He was given command of “C” Flight between September and December 1916, and in the period from September to October 1916 his fellow “A” Flight commander was Captain Albert Ball, V.C., D.S.O., M.C.
On 30th September he was back flying a Morane Scout at 11.55 am when he met a very skilled German pilot in a very fast single seater pusher with the nacelle very similar to an F.E.8. The whole machine was painted a brownish yellow. It had a stationary engine, machine gun, with a speed of about 105-110 mph, therefore much faster than the Morane Scout. He also came across four Albatrosses with a speed of 85 mph. Grenfell’s combat report states: ‘After the bomb raid I noticed 4 Albatrosses flying in diamond formation over Bapaume. I dived to the rear machine, but before I had fired more than 30 rounds at it, I heard a machine gun behind me, I pulled the machine out of the nose dive and looked round and saw a pusher biplane very close to my tail. I threw the Morane about but could not shake my opponent off for more than a few seconds, so well did he handle his machine. I then climbed steeply, but he held me easily; I then nose dived and pulled the machine up vertically until it ‘tail slid’ and stalled, but the German was still within 30 feet of my tail. I could only look round and when I noticed his gun on me and alter course. Every time I crossed his bow he fired, and hit the machine, but mostly behind me. I kept this up until I reached the trenches south of Bapaume, where he left me. We had dropped from 3500 to 1800 feet. The four Albatrosses went down, I do not think I hit the rear machine. The four machines I think were part of the scheme to get me below the pusher.’
The damage report to his Morane Scout reads: ‘machine badly damaged in combat. Left wing, both spars shot through. Right wing rear spar and internal bracing wire shot through, bottom pylon and undercarriage left hand V piece shot through, rear bottom cross member of housing shot through, two cross members at the bottom of Pilot’s seat shot through, rudder control wire shot through, and one flying wire on left wing frayed.’ He however managed to land his aircraft.
It is interesting to note that Manfred von Richthofen of Jasta 2 claimed a victory on 30th September 1916 at 11.50 am over Lagnicourt, near to Bapaume, while bombing aircraft were attacking Jasta 2’s aerodrome at Lagnicourt, perhaps Grenfell met another of Jasta 2’s pilots. In addition to von Richthofen, the main Jasta 2 pilots flying in September 1916 were Baumer, Bohme, Boelcke, and Bormann. With Grenfell’s description of a ‘very skilled pilot’ it has to be one of these.
Grenfell was once again in extensive action on 20th October 1916, this time whilst flying in a Nieuport in the area of Rocquigny. His combat report states that he was engaged against 1 Rowland Scout, 4 two-seater Albatrosses, 2 Albatros Scouts, and 1 large two-seater machine. ‘Dived from 12000 feet on to Albatros over Combles. Engaged it at 4000 feet, commenced firing at 300 feet range, getting to within 30 feet before I had to pull machine out of nose dive for fear of colliding with hostile machine. Hostile aircraft did not fire a round as I think I surprised him. After I turned I observed the hostile machine side slipping straight down with a bank of well over 45 degrees. Lost sight of it still side slipping quite steadily over Hocouagny very low down. Met Rowland flying north over Bapaume nose to nose. Did not fire until it had passed. We chased each others tails for 3 or 4 minutes without firing a shot. I got in the first few round after which he dived in north easterly direction zig-zagging the while. I chased him to 5000 feet and left him. I do not think I hit machine as it manoeuvred too quickly for me to keep my sights on him for more than a second or two at a time. Dived on Albatros two-seater machine backed by another Nieuport Scout half a mile south west of Bapaume, drove it from 6000 to 4000 feet and left it, as other hostile aircraft were collecting behind and above me. Got off 50 rounds, but machine apparently not hit. Dived on 3 Albatrosses 3 miles east of Bapaume, two-seater machines. Picking out the right hand machine, it nose-dived down. One of the other Albatrosses got alongside me and fired from the observers gun. I got under him and pulled my gun down and fired at him underneath. Did not make good shooting as I could not elevate gun with one hand and line the gun with my feet. Machine however turned sharp to the left and nose-dived. Once Albatros passed 1000 feet over my head at 13000 feet. I fired with my gun down, and the tracer bullets seemed to enter the machine. It glided down, but I could not keep up with it. Attacked rearmost of the 2 Albatrosses over Bapaume, one machine I kept in front of me, but the other got behind and fired at met. I tried to loop Nieuport over rear machine but it would not go over, and stalled. I found myself behind and under the rear machine and fired 50 rounds. They both gradually drew away. Is I turned south. Met large camouflaged machine with top wire like a B.E.2c fired at it from above and beneath it until it glided steadily away.’
Grenfell was then back in action in aerial combat on the 22nd October, when engaged with two Rowland Scouts, of the type with the tractor engine, machine-gun fixed firing through propellor, with a speed of 100 mph, being noted as extraordinarily quick on their controls. He stated that they put up quite an exhibition of crack flying, other than that nothing was noted.
Then on 11th December 1916 whilst in a Nieuport he engaged an Albatros C11 which was then captured over Danville. He shared this engagement with Lieutenant’s H. Meintjes, A.P.V. Daly, K.L. Caldwell, A.D. Whitehead, and L.S. Weedon. Grenfell’s own combat report was taken at No.41 Casualty Clearing Station and states: ‘I brought down the Albatros. My first drum his the Pilot on the foot, and a lot of my bullets hit the machine. Have been talking to the German pilot, who had lost his way. German observer is dead. It was his first trip over the lines. I was in such a hurry to land that I stalled.’ As a result he inured himself and ended up at the Casualty Clearing Station, presumably undergoing treatment alongside his former adversary. His commanding officer would note in the immediate aftermath that ‘I am not certain which of the 6 officers brought this machine down. I have not yet been able to see Capt. Grenfell on the subject.’ Grenfell in stalling had suffered a broken left leg and a wound in his head whilst landing near the hostile machine which would brought down near Dainville.
Grenfell was taken off combat operations as a result of this injury, and posted home. He held the rank of temporary Major from 11th April to 28th October 1917, and then revered to temporary Captain through to 2nd November 1917 when he was promoted back to temporary Major. In this period he was employed with the Air Ministry continuously from 1st April 1917 through to 31st July 1919, and was transferred into the Royal Air Force on its formation on 1st April 1918, being selected to command R.A.F. Biggin Hill in Kent in 1918, he eventually granted a permanent commission into the Royal Air Force on 1st August 1919.
It is uncertain what he did during this period, however in the ‘Observer’ newspaper on 6th May 1960 when attending a Freedom Ceremony he was quoted as having recalled memories on combat and bombing patrols “the bombs were just rolling around in the cockpit and we had to find them with out feet and then drop them over the side. We fired with revolvers and cut down rifles, once I attacked a Zeppelin with a revolver and, running out of ammunition, I just threw my revolver at it.” The majority of this recollection must have been from his early service during 1915.
Grenfell was noted in the category of flying instructors, test, ferry and experimental pilots when it was announced that he had been awarded the Air Force Cross ‘in recognition of valuable flying services performed’. This award was published in the London Gazette for 2nd November 1918.
He ended the war with eight confirmed aerial victories.
Grenfell then continued to see distinguished service in the inter-war years with the Royal Air Force. After his command of Biggin Hill, he revered to the rank of Flight Lieutenant and was posted to join No.205 Squadron at Leuchars in Scotland, and then in 1921 was posted out to India to join No.27 Squadron, and would then participate in aerial operations on the North West Frontier of India over Waziristan in the period from January 1922 to 1923. Whilst operational he was promoted to Squadron Leader on 30th June 1923, and then transferred to Iraq to join his old No.1 Squadron which was stationed at Hinaidi.
It was however for his time on operations over Waziristan that he won a rare inter-war Distinguished Flying Cross, the award being published in the London Gazette for 30th May 1924, with the following citation: ‘This officer has shown the greatest gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations. He has led his flight on every raid and has never failed to carry out the task set him. He has consistently set a high example of hard work and efficiency both in the air and on the ground.’
In all only 16 Distinguished Flying Crosses were gazetted during 1924, of which 4 were for Waziristan, and according to the book ‘British Gallantry Awards’ by Abbott and Tamplin, one one had a citation. This must therefore being the one to Grenfell.
Grenfell would also become one of only 24 members of the Royal Air Force to be awarded the India General Service Medal 1908-1935, with the two clasps for Waziristan 1919-21 and Waziristan 1921-24. This is confirmed in the book ‘Taming the Tiger - the I.G.S. Medal 1908-1925’ by R.G.M.L. Stiles.
Grenfell was then posted home to the United Kingdom in 1924, when he joined No.7 Squadron at Bircham Newton, and then in 1928 was back with No.1 Squadron when at Tangmere. In 1931 he was posted to join the Headquarters of No.10 Group at Gosport, and was promoted to Wing Commander on 1st July 1931. He again commanded Biggin Hill station from 1933 and was there in 1935 when he was placed in charge of experiments in intercepting attacking enemy aircraft with the system of ground control being developed under his ‘watch’, this top secret experiment was integrated with the new radar system which for the Battle of Britain became ‘key’ to British Victory.
As such Grenfell was at Biggin Hill when he was awarded the Jubilee Medal 1935, being listed as ‘Commanding Officer, Station Headquarters, Biggin Hill’ on the medal roll. However, having been promoted to Group Captain on 1st January 1937, on the occasion of his award of the Coronation Medal 1937, he is shown on the medal roll as then serving as second-in-command of the Aircraft Depot at Hinaidi in Iraq. By 1938 he was back in the United Kingdom and shown as the Station Commander at Gosport, and he was still in service on the outbreak of the Second World War, before retiring on 17th February 1942. Grenfell died in 1964. His combination of awards is unique.