A Rare Piece of New Zealand’s WWI History Up For Auction
Under the hammer at Webb’s next Thursday is a group of family medals including a very rare WW1 Distinguished Flying
Cross (DFC), awarded to New Zealander Lieutenant Samuel Dawson in 1918. Only a very small number of New Zealanders were
awarded the DFC, and Dawson was possibly only the second to receive the award.
Lieutenant Samuel Dawson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and courage during a bombing
expedition of a German Airship off the coast of Schleswig in 1918. It was quoted in the London Gazette (20 Sept 1918)
‘’Lieutenant Samuel Dawson (Sea Patrol) was engaged in long distance bombing raid on an enemy aircraft station under
very difficult circumstances and carried out a successful attack from a low height in the face of severe enemy fire”.
The awards and memorabilia of Lieutenant Samuel Dawson, DFC, RNAS, and RAF together with further material relating to
Samuel Dawson and his two brothers, will be auctioned at 6pm on Thursday the 11th of August. The group of medals carries
an estimate of NZ$6,000 - $10,000.
ENDS