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The extremely rare Queen's Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Force, 1st issue, group of...
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Description
The extremely rare Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Force, 1st issue, group of four awarded to Chief Technician C. H. Greenlee, Royal Air Force, who was ‘Chaired’ at Bisley in 1954
Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, E.II.R., 1st issue, with dated clasp ‘1954’ (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) engraved naming, edge prepared prior to naming; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, generally very fine or better (4) £1,600-£2,000
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Provenance: Buckland, Dix and Wood, July 1995 (when the Champions Shot Medal was given as ‘appears to have been officially renamed but probably as issued’, and the L.S. & G.C. was erroneously listed as a ‘1st issue’).
The Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, 1st issue, is extremely rare - with no more than 5 of 6 being awarded for the 2nd issue of the medal was introduced.
Charles Henry Greenlee was born in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland in November 1918. He enlisted in the ground trade of armourer with the Royal Air Force in September 1939. Greenlee served in this capacity throughout his entire career, including at R.A.F. Luqa, Malta. It was whilst stationed at the latter in 1949, that Greenlee discovered a natural ability for competitive shooting. He quickly became one of the finest marksmen of his generation in the Royal Air Force. In addition to his ability as a marksman, he also had a natural ability to lead as evidenced by his success as a team captain.
The first pictures in his album/scrap book of photographs and newspaper cuttings (included with the lot) show him as a member of the R.A.F. Luqa rifle, bren gun and pistol teams. He was the only non-Royal Navy/Royal Marine member of Malta’s Empire Day Challenge Cup team who took first place in the Colonial Overseas Postal Matches of 1950 (teams hailing from all over the Empire - including Hong Kong, Jamaica, Singapore etc). This resulted in him being presented later with the first of his many major shooting medals and trophies by His Excellency the Governor in the Palace Drawing Room in Valetta.
Greenlee was subsequently posted to R.A.F. Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, and with it came the annual participation at the R.A.F. Week at Bisley. His first performance in 1953, saw him coming second in the Longcroft Challenge Cup. However, he bettered this next year when he won the Queen’s Medal by one point against an extremely competitive field. Greenlee was presented with his medal by the Hon. George Ward, MP, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air. Amongst the dignitaries present were M.R.A.F. The Lord Tedder and M.R.A.F. Sir John Slessor. In the following years Greenlee came close to repeating his success, being runner-up on one occasion.
Greenlee captained Station and Command teams for a number of years, and frequently winning individual and team trophies. Subsequent postings included to Geilenkirchen, West Raynham, Swanton Morely and Watton in Norfolk. He was discharged as Chief Technician, having served just over 29 years, 27 November 1968. The latter date being his 50th birthday. In later life Greenlee resided at ‘Greenleas’, Gresley Close, Gressenhall, East Dereham, Norfolk. He continued attending the annual R.A.F. Week at Bisely after retirement, and was a member of a local rifle club. He died in August 2001.
Sold with a superb personal photograph album/scrap book, compiled by recipient, containing numerous photographs and newspaper cuttings relating to his competitive shooting career between 1949-56, including images of him being ‘Chaired’ at Bisley; a letter from recipient to a Flight Lieutenant Routledge, dated 25 June 1969; and copied research.
Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, E.II.R., 1st issue, with dated clasp ‘1954’ (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) engraved naming, edge prepared prior to naming; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, generally very fine or better (4) £1,600-£2,000
---
Provenance: Buckland, Dix and Wood, July 1995 (when the Champions Shot Medal was given as ‘appears to have been officially renamed but probably as issued’, and the L.S. & G.C. was erroneously listed as a ‘1st issue’).
The Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, 1st issue, is extremely rare - with no more than 5 of 6 being awarded for the 2nd issue of the medal was introduced.
Charles Henry Greenlee was born in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland in November 1918. He enlisted in the ground trade of armourer with the Royal Air Force in September 1939. Greenlee served in this capacity throughout his entire career, including at R.A.F. Luqa, Malta. It was whilst stationed at the latter in 1949, that Greenlee discovered a natural ability for competitive shooting. He quickly became one of the finest marksmen of his generation in the Royal Air Force. In addition to his ability as a marksman, he also had a natural ability to lead as evidenced by his success as a team captain.
The first pictures in his album/scrap book of photographs and newspaper cuttings (included with the lot) show him as a member of the R.A.F. Luqa rifle, bren gun and pistol teams. He was the only non-Royal Navy/Royal Marine member of Malta’s Empire Day Challenge Cup team who took first place in the Colonial Overseas Postal Matches of 1950 (teams hailing from all over the Empire - including Hong Kong, Jamaica, Singapore etc). This resulted in him being presented later with the first of his many major shooting medals and trophies by His Excellency the Governor in the Palace Drawing Room in Valetta.
Greenlee was subsequently posted to R.A.F. Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, and with it came the annual participation at the R.A.F. Week at Bisley. His first performance in 1953, saw him coming second in the Longcroft Challenge Cup. However, he bettered this next year when he won the Queen’s Medal by one point against an extremely competitive field. Greenlee was presented with his medal by the Hon. George Ward, MP, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air. Amongst the dignitaries present were M.R.A.F. The Lord Tedder and M.R.A.F. Sir John Slessor. In the following years Greenlee came close to repeating his success, being runner-up on one occasion.
Greenlee captained Station and Command teams for a number of years, and frequently winning individual and team trophies. Subsequent postings included to Geilenkirchen, West Raynham, Swanton Morely and Watton in Norfolk. He was discharged as Chief Technician, having served just over 29 years, 27 November 1968. The latter date being his 50th birthday. In later life Greenlee resided at ‘Greenleas’, Gresley Close, Gressenhall, East Dereham, Norfolk. He continued attending the annual R.A.F. Week at Bisely after retirement, and was a member of a local rifle club. He died in August 2001.
Sold with a superb personal photograph album/scrap book, compiled by recipient, containing numerous photographs and newspaper cuttings relating to his competitive shooting career between 1949-56, including images of him being ‘Chaired’ at Bisley; a letter from recipient to a Flight Lieutenant Routledge, dated 25 June 1969; and copied research.
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The extremely rare Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Force, 1st issue, group of four awarded to Chief Technician C. H. Greenlee, Royal Air Force, who was ‘Chaired’ at Bisley in 1954
Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, E.II.R., 1st issue, with dated clasp ‘1954’ (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) engraved naming, edge prepared prior to naming; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, generally very fine or better (4) £1,600-£2,000
---
Provenance: Buckland, Dix and Wood, July 1995 (when the Champions Shot Medal was given as ‘appears to have been officially renamed but probably as issued’, and the L.S. & G.C. was erroneously listed as a ‘1st issue’).
The Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, 1st issue, is extremely rare - with no more than 5 of 6 being awarded for the 2nd issue of the medal was introduced.
Charles Henry Greenlee was born in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland in November 1918. He enlisted in the ground trade of armourer with the Royal Air Force in September 1939. Greenlee served in this capacity throughout his entire career, including at R.A.F. Luqa, Malta. It was whilst stationed at the latter in 1949, that Greenlee discovered a natural ability for competitive shooting. He quickly became one of the finest marksmen of his generation in the Royal Air Force. In addition to his ability as a marksman, he also had a natural ability to lead as evidenced by his success as a team captain.
The first pictures in his album/scrap book of photographs and newspaper cuttings (included with the lot) show him as a member of the R.A.F. Luqa rifle, bren gun and pistol teams. He was the only non-Royal Navy/Royal Marine member of Malta’s Empire Day Challenge Cup team who took first place in the Colonial Overseas Postal Matches of 1950 (teams hailing from all over the Empire - including Hong Kong, Jamaica, Singapore etc). This resulted in him being presented later with the first of his many major shooting medals and trophies by His Excellency the Governor in the Palace Drawing Room in Valetta.
Greenlee was subsequently posted to R.A.F. Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, and with it came the annual participation at the R.A.F. Week at Bisley. His first performance in 1953, saw him coming second in the Longcroft Challenge Cup. However, he bettered this next year when he won the Queen’s Medal by one point against an extremely competitive field. Greenlee was presented with his medal by the Hon. George Ward, MP, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air. Amongst the dignitaries present were M.R.A.F. The Lord Tedder and M.R.A.F. Sir John Slessor. In the following years Greenlee came close to repeating his success, being runner-up on one occasion.
Greenlee captained Station and Command teams for a number of years, and frequently winning individual and team trophies. Subsequent postings included to Geilenkirchen, West Raynham, Swanton Morely and Watton in Norfolk. He was discharged as Chief Technician, having served just over 29 years, 27 November 1968. The latter date being his 50th birthday. In later life Greenlee resided at ‘Greenleas’, Gresley Close, Gressenhall, East Dereham, Norfolk. He continued attending the annual R.A.F. Week at Bisely after retirement, and was a member of a local rifle club. He died in August 2001.
Sold with a superb personal photograph album/scrap book, compiled by recipient, containing numerous photographs and newspaper cuttings relating to his competitive shooting career between 1949-56, including images of him being ‘Chaired’ at Bisley; a letter from recipient to a Flight Lieutenant Routledge, dated 25 June 1969; and copied research.
Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, E.II.R., 1st issue, with dated clasp ‘1954’ (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) engraved naming, edge prepared prior to naming; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (653649 Sgt. C. H. Greenlee. R.A.F.) mounted on card for display, generally very fine or better (4) £1,600-£2,000
---
Provenance: Buckland, Dix and Wood, July 1995 (when the Champions Shot Medal was given as ‘appears to have been officially renamed but probably as issued’, and the L.S. & G.C. was erroneously listed as a ‘1st issue’).
The Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces, 1st issue, is extremely rare - with no more than 5 of 6 being awarded for the 2nd issue of the medal was introduced.
Charles Henry Greenlee was born in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland in November 1918. He enlisted in the ground trade of armourer with the Royal Air Force in September 1939. Greenlee served in this capacity throughout his entire career, including at R.A.F. Luqa, Malta. It was whilst stationed at the latter in 1949, that Greenlee discovered a natural ability for competitive shooting. He quickly became one of the finest marksmen of his generation in the Royal Air Force. In addition to his ability as a marksman, he also had a natural ability to lead as evidenced by his success as a team captain.
The first pictures in his album/scrap book of photographs and newspaper cuttings (included with the lot) show him as a member of the R.A.F. Luqa rifle, bren gun and pistol teams. He was the only non-Royal Navy/Royal Marine member of Malta’s Empire Day Challenge Cup team who took first place in the Colonial Overseas Postal Matches of 1950 (teams hailing from all over the Empire - including Hong Kong, Jamaica, Singapore etc). This resulted in him being presented later with the first of his many major shooting medals and trophies by His Excellency the Governor in the Palace Drawing Room in Valetta.
Greenlee was subsequently posted to R.A.F. Ballykelly, Northern Ireland, and with it came the annual participation at the R.A.F. Week at Bisley. His first performance in 1953, saw him coming second in the Longcroft Challenge Cup. However, he bettered this next year when he won the Queen’s Medal by one point against an extremely competitive field. Greenlee was presented with his medal by the Hon. George Ward, MP, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air. Amongst the dignitaries present were M.R.A.F. The Lord Tedder and M.R.A.F. Sir John Slessor. In the following years Greenlee came close to repeating his success, being runner-up on one occasion.
Greenlee captained Station and Command teams for a number of years, and frequently winning individual and team trophies. Subsequent postings included to Geilenkirchen, West Raynham, Swanton Morely and Watton in Norfolk. He was discharged as Chief Technician, having served just over 29 years, 27 November 1968. The latter date being his 50th birthday. In later life Greenlee resided at ‘Greenleas’, Gresley Close, Gressenhall, East Dereham, Norfolk. He continued attending the annual R.A.F. Week at Bisely after retirement, and was a member of a local rifle club. He died in August 2001.
Sold with a superb personal photograph album/scrap book, compiled by recipient, containing numerous photographs and newspaper cuttings relating to his competitive shooting career between 1949-56, including images of him being ‘Chaired’ at Bisley; a letter from recipient to a Flight Lieutenant Routledge, dated 25 June 1969; and copied research.
Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria
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