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

[jonightflyer]

Doing some research on Horace Percy Lale (23 victories, Bristol Fighter pilot with 48 & 20 Squadrons) as I own his medals. DFC in WW1. DSO and Bar to DFC for gallantry in Waziristan in 1919/20. I have many of his combat reports but if anyone has any additional information regarding his career I would love to hear from them. Thanks for any info.

[Frank_Olynyk]

Do you have any information on his date and place of death? All I have been able to find is that it occurred sometime in the 1950s, due to arthritis.

I have copies of all his combat reports, except for Aug 19, 1917, and Sept 14, 1917. I have a large number of uncataloged combat reports, and they may be amongst them. The combat report for Oct 30, 1918 only supports a claim for a single victory, not two; although the RAF Communiqué claims two for him.

References for the award citations from the London Gazette are DSO (LG #31974, July 9, 1920/S2 of July 12, pg 7422; Waziristan), DFC (LG #31046, Nov 29, 1918/S6 of Dec 3, pg 14323) and Bar (LG #31974, July 9, 1920/S2 of July 12, pg 7422; Waziristan).

Frank.

[jonightflyer]

Originally Posted by Frank_Olynyk

Do you have any information on his date and place of death? All I have been able to find is that it occurred sometime in the 1950s, due to arthritis.

My records indicate that the M.O.D. confirmed that he died 5/04/1955 but no place of death given.

Originally Posted by Frank_Olynyk

I have copies of all his combat reports, except for Aug 19, 1917, and Sept 14, 1917. I have a large number of uncataloged combat reports, and they may be amongst them.

Strange, I'm missing those two as well - the rest are complete.

Originally Posted by Frank_Olynyk

References for the award citations from the London Gazette are DSO (LG #31974, July 9, 1920/S2 of July 12, pg 7422; Waziristan), DFC (LG #31046, Nov 29, 1918/S6 of Dec 3, pg 14323) and Bar (LG #31974, July 9, 1920/S2 of July 12, pg 7422; Waziristan).

He was also M.I.D. 11/07/1919. He received his DSO from the King at Buckingham Palace on 9/02/1922.

[Frank_Olynyk]

Thanks for the information. I assume that is European date notation, April 5, 1955?

I might also note an article in the old Cross & Cockade (GB), Vol 1 No 1 (Spring 1970), pg 8. It is now Cross & Cockade (International). I haven't dug it out, and I don't remember what it says.

Frank.

[jonightflyer]

Originally Posted by Frank_Olynyk

Thanks for the information. I assume that is European date notation, April 5, 1955?

Sorry - yes, definitely European dating.

Originally Posted by Frank_Olynyk

I might also note an article in the old Cross & Cockade (GB), Vol 1 No 1 (Spring 1970), pg 8. It is now Cross & Cockade (International). I haven't dug it out, and I don't remember what it says.

Thanks for that info Frank... was the article specifically about Lale?

[Graeme]

Volume 1, Number 1 was devoted to the Bristol Fighter and the piece on Page 8 was a potted biography of Lale:

CAPTAIN HORACE PERCY LALE. DSO DFC by Norman L.R.Franks

Horace Lale is one of the little known exponents of the Bristol Fighter who flew with both Nos. 48 and 20 Squadrons during 1917 and 1918.

He had his first victory on 25.June 1917 when he shot down an enemy machine out of control. On 22nd.July his gunner Lt. G.R.Waters sent down an Albatros Scout and Lale himself shot down another.

After a period of Home Establishment he was promoted to Captain and returned to France to join 20 Squadron. His first victory in 1918 came on the last day of June when he brought down a German scout. He then crashed another enemy craft on 25.July. On the 11th August he managed to destroy a kite balloon and on the 14th his observer Lt. P.J.Ralphs sent a Fokker DVII spinning earthwards. Seven days later Lale crashed a Pfalz and got an Albatros D.V out of control while Ralphs destroyed a Fokker.

On the 3rd.September Ralphs, who had been awarded the DFC, got another scout out of control but he was then hit and killed. Two days later on Lale’s new rear gunner, Lt.H.L.Edwards destroyed a Fokker and the next day he got another, Lale also getting one.

Further victories over the Fokker D.VII’s came for Lale on 7th. September and on the 3rd and 23rd October. On the 23rd Lt.C.G.Boothroyd in the rear seat crashed one more. Lale’s last two victories came on 28th and the 30th October, making a total of 12 destroyed; 7 out of control; plus 1 balloon to make the final score 20 victories. In combat he had flown F.2B A-7117 in 48 Sqn., and A—8716, E—2467, E—2181 in 20 Sqn. His reward was the DFC Gazetted on 3rd December 1918.

After the war Horace P. Lale served in the Waziristan Campaign, winning a bar to his DFC and the DSO, and he later rose to the rank of Wing Commander in 1930. He was on the Grants Committee of the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund during the thirties, and then in January 1936 he became a Group Captain. This valiant airman died in the 1950’s, after suffering for some time with severe arthritis.

Graeme

[jonightflyer]

Originally Posted by Graeme

Volume 1, Number 1 was devoted to the Bristol Fighter and the piece on Page 8 was a potted biography of Lale:Graeme

Thankyou Graeme, much appreciated, I hadn't seen this piece by Norman Franks before.

[jonightflyer]

Not sure if I'm allowed to post images... mods please delete if against the rules.

These are the medals of G/C H.P.Lale, DSO.,DFC.& Bar as worn by him in the 1920s and 1930s.

[Graeme]

jonightflyer

The first four I know - Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar, British War Medal, Victory Medal with palm (indicating a Mention in Despatches),

The remainder are (I believe) - India General Service Medal with three Clasps, General Service Medal with Clasp, 1937 Coronation Medal.

Graeme

[jonightflyer]

Originally Posted by Graeme

The remainder are (I believe) - India General Service Medal with three Clasps, General Service Medal with Clasp, 1937 Coronation Medal.Graeme

Quite correct Graeme. The IGSM 1908-35 has three clasps:- Afghanistan NWF 1919, Mahsud 1919-20 and Waziristan 1919-21.

The GSM 1918-62 has one clasp:- Southern Desert, Iraq.