Air hero's medals go up for auction; Sad story of RAF gunner recalled.Byline: By NEIL NEIL Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited NEIL Network Engineering and Integration Lab ATKINSON News Editor HE was a young man with a wife at home in Lockwood. But taking part in a daring 1,000-bomber raid into the occupied Netherlands cost Kenneth Manley his life. Now details of his life and his heroism as a serving air gunner An air gunner (AG) is a member of an air force aircrew who operates flexible-mount or turret-mounted machine guns or autocannons in an aircraft. Modern aircraft weapons are usually operated automatically without the need for a dedicated air gunner, but bombers used to carry in the RAF Volunteer Reserve more than 66 years ago have been uncovered. Memorabilia from SgtManley's past is to go under the hammer in a specialist auction of medals. SgtManley was just 23 when his Halifax bomber from 158 Squadron was shot down on May 31, 1942, in the huge Allied offensive. His body is now buried in the quiet solemnity SOLEMNITY. The formality established by law to render a contract, agreement, or other act valid. 2. A marriage, for example, would not be valid if made in jest, and without solemnity. Vide Marriage, and Dig. 4, 1, 7; Id. 45, 1, 30. of the Jonkerbos War Cemetery in the Netherlands - only a short drive from the famous World War II battle sites of Arnhem and Nijmegen. He and 1,629 otherwar heroes are interred in the grounds. Sgt Manley's past was recounted by auctioneer Richard Beale, of Warwick & Warwick Ltd, who is auctioning the medals on April 8. Mr Beale said: "We have Sgt Manley's medals up for sale. They are the World War II Star, the Air Crew Europe Star The Air Crew Europe Star was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. Specifically, the medal was awarded to Commonwealth aircrew who participated in operational flights over Europe, from UK bases. and the British War medal The British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I. The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August1914 and 11 November1918. . "In purely financial terms, they are not worth a huge amount of money, perhaps pounds 250. But what is of such value is the wonderful tale behind them. "Kenneth Manley was the son of Frederick and Minnie Manley and enlisted in the RAF Volunteer Reserve. "He lived in Lockwood with his wife Margaret Hilda but was on active duty for much of his married life. "He was with 158 Squadron and was an air gunner on board when the aircraft joined the huge raid into the Netherlands. "The lot we have for sale includes a last photo of him in his uniform and the condolence slip, sent out by the Government to his family. It is a poignant tale". The auction house was prohibited from revealing who they were selling the medals on behalf of. CAPTION(S): TRAGIC: The late Sgt Kenneth Manley (above) and the medals up for auction; below, the citation honouring him and his resting place at Jonkerbos War Cemetery in the Netherlands; and (left) a Halifax Bomber, the type of warplane he served in |
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