The extremely rare inter-war Northern Kurdistan 'immediate' D.F.C. group of nine awarded to...

The extremely rare inter-war Northern Kurdistan ‘immediate’ D.F.C. group of nine awarded to Wapiti pilot Group Captain J. Bradbury, 30 Squadron, Royal Air Force, for his repeated gallantry in supporting a column of troops ambushed by a substantial rebel force, despite coming under heavy fire himself and being holed in both petrol tanks. He later commanded 33 Squadron in Gaza, Palestine, before carrying out a number of station commands during the Second World War - including Marston Moor and Down Ampney, as well as commanding No. 26 O.C.U. Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. J. Bradbury. R.A.F.) surname partially officially corrected on BWM; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1921-24 (F/O. J. Bradbury. R.A.F.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Northern Kurdistan, Palestine (F/L. J. Bradbury. R.A.F.) 2nd clasp loose on riband as issued; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf, mounted on card for display, lightly polished, therefore generally very fine (9) £3,600-£4,400 --- Approximately 65 officers and 280 airmen were awarded the ‘Northern Kurdistan’ clasp. D.F.C. London Gazette 1 July 1932: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished service in Northern Kurdistan.’ The original recommendation states: ‘For exceptional courage, determination and initiative displayed in the leadership of a detachment of No. 30 (Bomber) Squadron stationed at Diana whilst affording air co-operation to a column of the Iraqi Army during recent operations against the Barzanis and associated tribes of Northern Kurdistan. On 3rd April, 1932, when the Iraqi Column was in great difficulties owing to rebel attacks upon its transport, Flight Lieutenant Bradbury attacked the rebels and drove them off with bombs and machine gun fire. Despite shots through both petrol tanks he succeeded in returning to Diana, whence he returned to the attack in another aeroplane. In the second action his observer was fatally wounded. Three days later, Flight Lieutenant Bradbury piloted one of five aircraft which drove the rebels from their positions with heavy casualties. The determination and persistence displayed by the personnel of the Royal Air Force detachment, who were flying over country the nature of which made forced landings impossible, undoubtedly saved the situation for the Iraqi Column, and it was due largely to Flight Lieutenant Bradbury’s leadership and example that the air attack was so successful.’ M.I.D. London Gazette 8 June 1944 and 1 January 1946. The following additional information on the above D.F.C. actions is found in the Air Ministry Report On The Operations Against Shaikh Ahmed of Barzan 1931-1932: ‘Advance of Dicol resumed. On 30th March, Dicol resumed its advanced, and reached Zhazhok, on the high ground between the valleys of the Balikian and Birisia Rivers, the same day. Here it was delayed by appalling weather conditions and continuous heavy rain. A large party of tribesmen sniped the camp during the night 2nd/3rd April. On 3rd April, it was able to resume its advance towards Birisia, but it was soon discovered that the movement would be exceedingly difficult. The entrance to the head of the Birisia valley was through a narrow “gateway” in a rocky cliff, allowing passage only in single file. A halt had to be made to improve this “gate”, and the column, after having passed through it, was found to have lengthened out considerably. The sides of the valley were steep, and offered plenty of cover to screen the enemy’s movements. As so often happens in the movement of a large column through rough or difficult country, the advanced guard pushed on too fast, and a wide gap soon developed between it and the main body. Realising the danger, the British officers tried to reach the head of the column and halt it, but the narrow track was blocked by transport, and the gap continued to widen. Successful surprise by rebels near Wazhi. It was at that moment (about 1430 hours local time) that a strong force of rebels descended suddenly on the rear of the column, striking in between the rear guard and the main body. They made, as they usually do, straight for the transport in search of loot. The civilian mule drivers, seized by panic, cut their loads, mounted their mules, and fled in all directions, throwing the column into confusion as they went. One of the picquets broke and fell back in confusion on the main body. Some of the Kurds got right down on to the track, and the situation became very critical. It was saved partly by the energy and gallantry of the British officers of the column and partly by the intervention of aircraft from Diana. The two patrolling aircraft, Flight Lieutenant J. Bradbury and Sergeant H. V. Hudson, had at once located the rebels on the slopes above the column, and by pressing home a rapid succession of attacks from a very low altitude forced them to retire and take cover further up the hillside. Both these aircraft came under heavy and accurate fire, one of them [Bradbury] being forced to return to Diana with both petrol tanks shot through, while the observer of the other was shot in the foot. Meanwhile, the officers of the British Mission were doing their utmost to restore order in the main body of the column and to re-establish the picquet line. They succeeded ultimately in persuading the commander of the advanced guard to return with his force to cover the head of the main body, and with the help of a few junior Iraqi officers and some of the N.C.O.’s, a defensive perimeter was at last organised. During all this time the enemy were kept engaged by aircraft. Flight Lieutenant Bradbury and Sergeant Hudson had both been compelled for reasons stated above to return to Diana, but they had been promptly been replaced by the three remaining aircraft from Diana, led by Squadron Leader [’Bunty’] Frew, and it was not long before Flight Lieutenant Bradbury returned in Sergeant Hudson’s aircraft with the latter as observer. For the remainder of the afternoon these aircraft, reinforced by two others from Mosul, succeeded in maintaining continuous attacks on the rebels, and undoubtedly kept the latter sufficiently busy to prevent them taking full advantage of the confused and disorganised condition of the column. In the course of these attacks, Sergeant Hudson was fatally wounded, and died soon after the return of the aircraft to Diana. In this action the Royal Air Force casualties were relatively high, and most of the aircraft were badly damaged by fire from the ground. This was due to the low altitude from which the attacks were carried out. The aircraft would, in any event, have had to descend very low before the rebels could be located in the thick cover on the slopes above the track. From what they could see of the column the pilots rightly gauged the situation as extremely critical and dangerous, and accordingly took greater risks in pressing home their attacks than would otherwise have been necessary.’ John Bradbury was born in Hampstead, London in April 1898. He was educated at Haberdashers and Tollington Schools, and studied Motor Engineering at the Poly Inst., Regent Street, London from September 1914. The latter was short lived, and Bradbury served as a Volunteer Ambulance Driver with the British Red Cross September 1914 - February 1915. He enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers in June 1915, before volunteering for service with the Royal Flying Corps in 1917 (and saw no overseas service until some date after 1 January 1916). Bradbury carried various pilot training before being commissioned in Februar...