Capt. Horace Percy Lale. DSO. DFC. & Bar

Graeme · 2 November 2006, 02:00 PM

jonightflyer

You may already have seen these:

Citation for DFC (London Gazette number 31046, the Sixth Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, the 29th of November 1918, issued Tuesday, 3 December 1918, page 14323):

"2nd Lieut. (A./Capt.)

Horace Percy Lale. (FRANCE).

A bold and courageous officer, who leads his patrol with marked skill and judgment. He has accounted for twelve enemy aeroplanes — five crashed, four shot down in flames, and three driven down out of control. On 6th September he led his patrol of nine machines to the assistance of some formations that were attacked by thirty or forty enemy aircraft; in the engagement he and his Observer accounted for two Fokkers; eventually the enemy was driven off, five of their machines being destroyed and three shot down out of control."

Mention in Despatches (London Gazette number 31448, the Eighth Supplement to the London Gazette of Tuesday, the 8th of July, 1919, issued Friday, 11 July, 1919, page 8840):

"War Office,
11th July, 1919.

The following is a continuation of Sir D. Haig's Despatch of 16th March, 1919, submitting names deserving of special mention: —

ROYAL AIR FORCE.

Lale, Lt. (T./Capt.) H. P., D.F.C."

From London Gazette number 31974, the Second Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday the 9th of July, 1920, issued Monday, 12 July 1920, page 7422:

"Air Ministry
Kingsway, London, W. 2.
12th July, 1920.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned rewards for gallantry and distinguished services : —

ROYAL AIR FORCE.

AWARDED THE DISTINGUSHED SERVICE ORDER.

Flying Officer Horace Percy Lale, D.F.C. (Waziristan).

AWARDED A BAR TO THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.

Flying Officer Horace Percy Lale, D.F.C. (Waziristan)."

Graeme

jonightflyer · 2 November 2006, 09:46 PM

Thanks Graeme for the individual LG entries... much appreciated.

jonightflyer · 2 November 2006, 09:59 PM

I also have copies of the documents that recommended Lale for the Waziristan decorations... they make amazing reading and are highly detailed, including if I remember rightly, details of how he returned from one bombing raid on the NWF and made an emergency landing in a badly shot up Bristol Fighter on a polo ground!

normanf · 5 November 2006, 04:22 AM

Does anyone have a decent photo of Lale? At least, one better than I used, where he is flanked by two other airmen. A nice portrait would be wonderful. Normanf

jonightflyer · 24 November 2006, 11:56 AM

This is the only photograph I have ever seen of

Horace Lale (standing middle)... I am sure it must be the same one referred to above by normanf.

VtwinVince · 24 November 2006, 03:27 PM

Congratulations, that's a really outstanding group to an interesting individual.

jonightflyer · 30 November 2006, 01:03 PM

Thanks, much appreciated.

jonightflyer · 23 December 2006, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonightflyer

I also have copies of the documents that recommended Lale for the Waziristan decorations... they make amazing reading and are highly detailed, including if I remember rightly, details of how he returned from one bombing raid on the NWF and made an emergency landing in a badly shot up Bristol Fighter on a polo ground!

This is the document that recommended Lale for a Bar to his DFC... the reference to his forced landing on a polo field can be seen bottom right.