Reference:4033 The Mount Everest Flight Expedition Medal Awarded to Air Commodore P.F.M. Fellowes, D.S.O., 1933

A biplane in flight, to right; a snow-capped mountain range beyond. An inscription detailing the award of the medal. Edge inscribed: Air Commodore P.F.M. Fellowes. D.S.O. By Percy Metcalfe. Silver. 51 mm. (2.05 inches) in diameter.

Condition: Extremely fine, contained within its original gilt-tooled case.

Notes: Details of the expedition are set out in the book 'First over Everest - The Houston-Mount Everest Expedition' (1933), written by Air-Commodore Fellowes, and some of its other members, L.V. Stewart Blacker, Colonel P.T. Etherton and Squadron Leader the Marquess of Douglas and Cydesdale, M.P. It epitomises the spirit of daring-do, but as the Foreword, written appropriately enough by John Buchan, makes clear, the purpose of the expedition 'was not to perform a feat of daring and endurance', nor indeed, 'to break a record or break a record'. Noble though these objectives were, the true purpose of the expedition was to demonstrate that the 'aeroplane and the air camera could be made the means of acquiring important knowledge which would otherwise be unattainable'. The expedition comprised two separate flights, on 3 and 19 April 1933, in which a total of four pilots, and two observer / camermen took part. It was largely funded by Lady Houston, who saw the need to prove that 'pluck and courage' were not dead in Britain, and were worthy of some 'great deed of heroism'. The footage resulting from the flights formed the basis of the film 'Wings over Everest', which was produced by the Gaumont-British Picture Corporation. The decision by The Times newspaper to commemorate this pioneer flight with a medal was made at the eleventh hour. In view of the time scale, and in order to minimize any risk to the dies on striking, the medals were made in pure silver instead of the usual sterling .925 hardness. The entire project from conception to striking took just two weeks, and ten medals were delivered to The Times offices ready for the presentation ceremony on 31 May. Despite only one side of the medal having a design, it will have sorely tested the skills of the medallist Percy Metcalfe, who succeeded in producing a design which not only captures the mood of the moment, but which is amongst his best medallic work. Would you please note that you are in the ARCHIVE page of the website, where all sold items are placed. For items that are still available, please go to the menu opposite and click on MEDALS & MEDALLIC ART.