The very good Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member, M.B.E. 2nd type, Military Division, Second World War, Malyan Emergency and Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air group awarded to Flight Lieutenant R. Clarke, Royal Air Force who saw service in the Physical Fitness Branch being recognised as a specialist in training women’s parachutists and subsequently being recognised with a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the London Gazette of 1st January 1955 and subsequently appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the London Gazette of 1st January 1964. In later life he was ordained a Deacon in 1967 and Priest in 1968, being appointed Curate of New Sleaford, Lincolnshire 1967-70, Rector of Stickney 1970-72 and retired in 1983.
Group of 6: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member, M.B.E. 2nd type, Military Division; Defence Medal; War Medal; General Service Medal 1918-1962, EIIR Br:Omn bust, 1 Clasp: Malaya; (FLT. LT. R. CLARKE. R.A.F.) Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. These court-mounted for wear. Swiss Life Saving Society Silver Medal engraved to the reverse ‘F.O. ROY CLARK’
Condition: the first five court-mounted for wear, Good Very Fine
Roy Clark having enlisted into the Royal Air Force during the Second World War would see continued service afterwards as part of the Physical Fitness Branch being appointed Pilot Officer 2nd October 1947, Flying Officer, Physical Fitness Branch on 2nd October 1949, this becoming a Permanent Commission as Flying Officer on 16th December 1953 and finally Flight Lieutenant 15th June 1954.
Clarke would be recognised with a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air in the London Gazette of 1st January 1955, and subsequently made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the London Gazette of 1st January 1964, later retiring from the Physical Fitness Branch at his own request on 22nd October 1965.
An article from Flight Magazine on 9th November 1951 records that Clark was a member of a Para-rescue training camp:
‘Marking the end of 14 weeks’ arduous training, two medical officers, four nursing sisters and nine medical assistants of the Royal Canadian Air Force have received their Para-rescue badges from Air Marshal W.A. Curtis, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.C., E.D. Chief of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Air Staff. Five nurses stated the course, but F/O. Muriel Beaton broke a leg during a practice jump. F/O R. Clark, because of his experience in training women parachutists, was lent by the Royal Air Force for this course.
Each trainee had to make total of ten jumps – six into open country and a further four into densely timbered areas. Physical training took up a large proportion of the curriculum, but the main subject, other than actual parachuting, was bush lore. In this last subject members of the team were taught how to maintain life and find their way in the wilds.’
Pictures of the training later appearing in the February 1952 edition.
After retiring from the Royal Air Force, Roy Clark took Holly Orders and was ordained a Deacon in 1967 and Priest in 1968, he was appointed Curate of New Sleaford, Lincolnshire 1967-70, Rector of Stickney 1970-72 and retired in 1983, he died in Boston, Lincolnshire 14th August 2002.
