KEITH PAYNE/TASKER WATKINS/IAN FRASER Signed 2001 Douglas Bader Foundation FDC

Description: Buckingham first day triple signed Cover which was issued to celebrate Douglas Bader and raise funds for his foundation. Everyone who signed these covers did so to raise money for the charity. The Cover has three genuine hand signed signatures:- 1/ Keith Psyne, VC, AM is an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry “in the presence of the enemy” awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces. Keith Payne’s VC was awarded for his actions during the Vietnam War 2/ Ian Edward Fraser VC, DSC, RD, JP was an English diving pioneer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. 3/ Major Sir Tasker Watkins VC, GBE, DL was a Lord Justice of Appeal and deputy Lord Chief Justice. He was president of the Welsh Rugby Union from 1993 to 2004. In World War II, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest British award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. The Reverse of the cover has Information about the Douglas Bader Foundation . The stamps on the cover are:- 31p Sir Arthur Harris/Lancaster Postmarked:- 60th Anniversary Of The Bader Bale Out, 9 August 01, Goodwood, Chichester, W Sussex. 20p Military Cross and Military Medal stamp issued in 1990 with 8p Machin definitive stamp. Postmarked:- 60th Anniversary Of The Guinea Pig Club, 20 July 2001, British Forces 2641 Postal Services. The Guinea Pig Club symbol inside. Douglas Bader was a Royal Air Force flying ace during the Second World War. In 1931 while attempting some aerobatics he crashed and lost both his legs. Having been on the brink of death he recovered, retook flight training, passed his check flights and then requested reactivation as a pilot. He was initially refused but when Second World War two broke out in 1939 he was accepted as a pilot. In 1941 he bailed out over German occupied France and was captured. Despite his disability, he made a number of escape attempts and was eventually sent to the prisoner of war camp at Colditz Castle. He remained there until April 1945 when the camp was liberated by the first United States Army. The book and film ‘Reach for the Sky’ chronicled his life and RAF career to the end of the Second World War. The Guinea Pig Club was founded by Archibald McIndoe. It is based at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead in Sussex. It was for British and Allied aircrew who had been injured during the war. I hear that many underwent experimental reconstructive plastic surgery, including facial reconstruction, generally after receiving burns injuries in aircraft. This cover is certified on the reverse and is cover 9 of 50. Sorry listings are for one month only. 3      

Price: 55 GBP

Location: Harpenden

End Time: 2025-01-02T16:10:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 19.4 GBP