1942 RAF Autograph ALS Charles Symonds - 5th Earl Bandon Raynham Station Report For Sale

1942 RAF MORALE REPORT LETTER – SIR CHARLES SYMONDS – TO GROUP CAPTAIN PERCY “PADDY” BANDON – STATION COMMANDER, RAF WEST RAYNHAM – SIGNED AUTOGRAPH LETTER

Item Description

Offered here is an original wartime autograph letter, dated 21 June 1942, written from St Hugh’s, Oxford by Sir Charles Symonds, the RAF’s Consultant Neurologist. Addressed to Group Captain Percy Ronald Gardner Bernard, 5th Earl of Bandon (“Paddy” Bandon), then Station Commander of RAF West Raynham, this is a rare surviving example of Symonds’ private morale‑assessment correspondence.

Symonds had just completed an official inspection of Bandon’s station, interviewing both General Duties (G.D.) flying personnel and medical officers. His findings were exceptionally positive: he reports that every single man expressed deep respect and affection for Bandon, crediting his leadership with the station’s unusually high morale during the critical middle phase of the air war.

Symonds emphasises that this praise is “not a bouquet but unvarnished fact!” — a striking endorsement from one of the RAF’s most influential medical figures.

This letter links two major RAF personalities:

• Sir Charles Symonds, pioneer of wartime neurological and psychological assessment

• Group Captain “Paddy” Bandon, later Air Chief Marshal, known for humane and effective command

A superb morale‑related document from 1942, with strong historical and collector Hugh’s, Oxford. 21.6.42.

Dear Bandon,

Thank you so much for your kindness and hospitality, and for enabling me to get through my job smoothly. I enjoyed my visit to your station in every way — a happy family. You may like to know that every single man I interviewed — G.D. and medical — paid tribute marked to the affection and respect felt by all for yourself, as a factor contributing greatly to the high morale of the station. This is not a bouquet but unvarnished fact!

Yours sincerely,C. P. Symonds

Historical Context

• Sir Charles Symonds was responsible for RAF neurological assessment, morale evaluation, and aircrew psychological screening.

• St Hugh’s College, Oxford served as an RAF medical and administrative centre during WWII.

• Group Captain Bandon commanded RAF West Raynham in June 1942, later RAF Horsham St Faith, before overseas posting to India at the end of the year.

• Bandon was widely respected for his leadership; this letter provides rare documentary evidence of that reputation.

• Morale reports of this type were used internally by the Air Ministry to evaluate station performance and command as photos. Guaranteed Original. All items can be returned for a full refund if found to be not as described.

  Air Vice Marshal Sir Charles Putnam Symonds KBE CB (Apr 1890 – Dec 1978) was an English neurologist and a senior medical officer in the Royal Air Force.His initial medical training was at Guy\'s Hospital, followed by specialised training at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Contributions to neurology by Symonds include a highly accurate description of subarachnoid haemorrhage in 1924, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension (which he termed \"otitic hydrocephalus\") in 1931.

  Air Chief Marshal Percy Ronald Gardner Bernard, 5th Earl of Bandon, GBE, CB, CVO, DSO (Aug 1904 – Feb 1979) was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat who served as a senior commander in the Royal Air Force in the mid-20th century. He was a squadron, station and group commander during the Second World War, and the fifth Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps after the war. He was awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal in class=\"MsoNormal\">One of c.2,500+ items once from the collection or dealer stock of Winifred A Myers (Autographs) Ltd, St Martins Lane, London, evidenced by the quantity of Myers pre-printed envelopes and paper folders and the general ‘presentation’ of the items, many having Myers identification notes in pencil.

  Winifred Alice Myers (1909 - 1985) served as ABA (Antiquarian Booksellers Assoc) president, 1950-1952. See the ABA website for an extended article on Myers. Myers left her business, in 1985, to Ruth Shepherd, who traded from home until 2004.

  Complete with digital .jpg CoA - as photo - for you to print if needed

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