Description
British Empire Medal, EIIR, in box of issue and carton, Terence Frederick Cusack.
A rare complete set, the medal still inside its original box of issue, and carton, inside the original large titled outer carton.
Terence Frederick Cusack Esq, was awarded his long deserved Civil Division British Empire Medal in the 1966 New Years Honours.
It was awarded for his service as Examiner at No 7 Maintenance Unit, RAF Quedgeley, Ministry of Defence (Royal Air Force).
Terence was serving in the Royal Naval Air Service at the time of the original founding of the Royal Air Force during World War 1, his award of the BEM completing a connection going back almost 50 years.
With an original newspaper cutting regarding his award:
“BEM FOR YEOVIL MAN
Awarded the British Empire Medal, Civil Division, in the New Years Honours, was Terence Frederick Cusack at No 7 M.U. Quedgeley.
Mr Cusack’s home address since the outbreak of the Second World War has been 8 Compton Road, Yeovil, but at present he is at 21 Heathville Road, Gloucester.
Apprenticed to the Automobile and Aircraft industry, he joined the Royal Naval Air Service as A.M.I.E. in 1917.
In 1918 transferred to the Royal Air Force on the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service.
He returned to civil employment in 1919 and was in charge of the repair and maintenance of a large fleet of vehicles with the supervision of all staff.
WORKED AT WESTLAND
In 1939 he became a member of the Aeronautical Inspection Directorate and after training took up duties as an A.I.D. Inspector at Westland Aircraft Ltd, Yeovil.
He was transferred to 7 M.U. in 1946 and spent 10 years there as an inspector of repaired aircraft components and motor transport.
After a short spell elsewhere, he returned to 7 M.U. in 1960 since when his inspection duties have been particularly concerned with furniture and barrack equipment.
He was a founder member of the Yeovil Branch of the Royal Air Force Association, being elected as Honorary Secretary until March 1946.”
Terence Frederick Cusack, was born on 3rd April 1899 in Great Yarmouth Norfolk.
During World War 1, a young Motor Mechanic, he signed up for wartime service in the Royal Naval Air Service on 5th May 1917 at President II as an Aircraftsman II Class.
He went to Crystal Palace and Eastchurch RNAS Station from 8th May 1917 – 30th June 1917.
Joining HMS Daedelus at Eastchurch from 5th November until 31st March 1918.
He was promoted to Aircraftsman 1st Class on 5th Nov 1917.
His unit the RNAS was then absorbed a few days later making him a founding member of the Royal Air Force.
He transferred from Eastchurch to Calshot on 5th June 1918.
Remaining there for the rest of the war until 11th January 1919.
For his service during the war, he had only served in Britain working on aircraft so earned the British War Medal only.
After leaving active service, he continued his work as a Mechanic, he is later shown on the 1939 Census as an Air Ministry A.I.D. (Aeronautical Inspection Department) Inspector, whilst doing part time duty with the A.R.P. (Air Raid Precautions).
The A.I.D. is a mainly civilian Engineering Organisation under the Air Ministry that was made to ensure that all the RAF and RN equipment being manufactured or repaired by contractors and by RAF Maintenance Units was constructed to approves designs and was fit and serviceable for issue to the users, the Operation and Maintenance units of the RAF.
He remained in this career, culminating in the award of the BEM during 1966, typically being a retirement award for decades of loyal service.
Terence died aged 80 during October 1879 in North Dorset, Dorset.
