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| Sgt.
Samuel James Whittingham |
| Craig
McIntosh was going through his
grandparents' papers when he
found some newspaper cuttings
regarding an ex pupil who was
decorated for bravery in WW2. |
| The
cuttings refer to Sgt. Samuel
James Whittingham who was a
Prescot Grammar School boy from
1930 to 1935. During the Second
World War, he was awarded the
Distinguished Flying Medal for
his bravery in an air raid over
the strategic French Atlantic
Coast port of St. Nazaire, which
was heavily defended by the Nazi
occupiers. |
| We
are privileged to bring to you
the three newspaper cuttings
about Sgt. Whittingham: |
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The
Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was
instituted together with the DFC in 1918,
and was awarded to NCOs and men for
bravery whilst flying on operations
against the enemy. All DFMs were named
with the recipient's details around the
rim of the medal. The World War One
medals had the details impressed. The
Second World War DFMs had the details
engraved.
During World War I, approximately 105
DFMs were awarded, with 2 first award
bars. During World War II, approximately
6,000 DFMs were awarded, with 60 first
award bars and 2 second award bars.
All the DFM awards are listed in the
London Gazette. A few of the First World
War entries have a citation. The majority
of Second World War DFM awards have
citations. |
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