BOY SCOUTS GILT CROSS & WW2 CASUALTY GROUP, FLEET AIR AIR, FROM PENCAITLAND, CRASHED AT STRATFORD UPON AVON

Boy Scouts Gilt Cross for gallantry, 1939-45 Star & 1939-45 War MedalTo- W.SANDS.3-12-1930William Sands was a member of the 1st Pencaitland Scout troop in Scotland & was awarded the Gilt Cross for gallantry when he rescued a boy from drowning in the river Tyne at Splimersford 3-7-1930. The cross was awarded 3-12-1930 & the citation was published in the Scouter in January 1931.In WW2 he enlisted in to the Fleet Air Arm and becameS/FX2215.NAVAL AIRMAN 2nd CLASS.W.SANDS.He was based onboard of HMS Kestrel when on the 13th of September 1941 he was one of a two man crew onboard an aircraft piloted by Sub-Lieut (A). J.A.Dowling when it crashed at the junction of Rother Street, Grove Road & Rother Street in Stratford Upon Avon. His body was returned to his home town and he was buried with full military honours in Pencaitland cemetery under a CWGC headstone.The people of Stratford upon Avon erected a memorial to the two men at the crash site.NEF & Complete with CWGC details, Gilt cross details, Basic crash details. The ribbon of the gilt cross is slighty frayed.