Medals of a war hero who fought in WW1 and WW2 go under the hammer

RAF pilot Ernest Mayne fought in both World Wars. His bravery, including his efforts at Dunkirk, were honoured with service medals. Now, the Newcastle-born squadron leader's prize possession go to auction

The medals of the oldest member of The Few, who was affectionately called Grandad by his peers, are up for sale for £12,000. Sq Ldr Ernest Mayne flew in the First World War and was called up by the RAF 22 years later, aged 39.

He shot down a German artillery spotter plane and a Messerschmitt 109 fighter while defended allied troops evacuating Dunkirk in 1940. Then he used all his experience and guile as one of The Few airmen who beat back the Nazis’ Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain.

Proudly wearing his First World War Royal Flying Corps badge on his RAF cap, he flew in more than a dozen sorties in Spitfires, shooting down two Messerschmitts and damaging two more on August 11, 1940. But his flying came to an end when a daring dive during a dogfight damaged his eardrums and equilibrium. He became an RAF instructor.

Marcus Budgen, of London-based Spink & Son which auctions the medals, including his 1939-45 Star with Battle of Britain clasp, on November 28, paid tribute to the Newcastle-born squadron leader, who died in 1978 aged 77.

He said: “It was men like him who gave all to ensure the freedom we sometimes take for granted today when the Nazi shadow roamed our skies. His actions on August 11, 1940 are the thing of legend.”

He was an airman pilot with 74 Squadron when it reformed in 1935. Some 1,542 Allied aircrew were killed in the Battle of Britain. Churchill said of their wartime contribution: “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.”