 |
| 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: |
|
 |
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. |
|
