A Great War Pilots Military Cross group to Group Captain Gould RAF / Commanded 21 Squadron and had one confirmed kill

G.V.R. Military Cross, unnamed as issued

1914-15 Star, correctly impressed 2 Lieut. L. T. N. Gould, R.G.A.

British War Medal, correctly impressed Major L. T. N. Gould. R.A.F.

Victory Medal, correctly impressed Major L. T. N. Gould. R.A.F.

Defence Medal

End of War Medal with MID

1935 Jubilee Medal

1937 Coronation Medal

 

Swing mounted.

Condition VF+

 

Provenance Spink, hammered for £2700, after fees around £3350.

 

Lionel Thomas Nutcombe Gould was born in Alveston, Stratford on Avon, on the 22nd of November, 1893. He was educated at Marlborough School and received a direct commission into the Royal Garrison Artillery from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, in December 1913. 

 

He landed in France on the 6th of February 1915 with the RGA, and on the 4th of July 1915, he was wounded. Gould was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps the same year and served as an Observer. He completed Pilot training and was posted to No.23 Squadron. On the 28th of July 1916, Gould was wounded by Shrapnel whilst flying FE2b 6974. Gould and his Observer, 2nd Class Air Mechanic F Collinson, were escorting a formation of bombers from No. 8 & 12 Squadron. The bombers were attempting to hit the railway at Aubiny-Au-Bac. 

 

After recovery, he was posted to No. 16 Squadron; on the 15th of September 1916 he attacked eleven enemy machines over Bapaume and claimed one confirmed 'kill' 

 

Gould's Military Cross was announced in the London Gazette on the 18th of July 1917; the citation is as follows; 

 

'He has done consistent, good and valuable work while co-operating with the artillery, often under most difficult conditions. He always sets a splendid example by his exceptional pluck and determination.'

 

In July 1917, he was made Co of No. 21 Squadron, remaining in command until September 1918. He survived the war and made a career in the Royal Air Force.

 

He went of to serve at Worthy Down, Baghdad and India. Promoted to Wing Commander, he served at the Air Ministry in 1930 and 1931. After this, he commanded 502 (Ulster) Squadron, a heavy bomber unit based at RAF Aldergrove in Belfast. He was promoted to Group Captain and took command of the School of Naval Co-operation at Lee-on-Solent in 1934.  In 1936, he was posted to Coastal Command and was still there when war broke out once again. He was mentioned in despatches for his service there, gazetted 10th March 1940. 

 

In 1942, he was based at RAF Penrhos, an advanced training unit in North Wales. Gould again spent a period in Iraq and India during the war, serving with the Air Ministry Signals Branch. Sadly, his son Auriol Stephen Nutcombe Gould of 197 Squadron was killed on the 24th of January 1943 while flying a Hawker Typhoon. 

 

Placed on the Retired List in 1945, Gould died in tragic circumstances in January 1947; whilst visiting his brother, he was found dead in a gas-filled room. It was suggested that a gas pipe had become disconnected as he tried to light the fire.