1914/15 trio, Italy. Al Valore Militaire, officially named, Lieutenant H.A.C. (Art.) & Captain R.A.F. attd to RNAS as Observer in Gallipoli, to RFC as pilot . 15. &34 Sqdn (RE.8s) later CO 59 Sqdn. Recommended for the AFC. Squadron Leader in India 1933 when killed by a bison when shooting

1914/15 Star (Lieut. H.A.C. (Art), B.W.M. , Victory (Capt. R.A.F. , Italy, Al Valore, Bronze , reverse ‘Durston Cedric (sic) Campbell, Piave-Trentino-Inverno 1917-18:

With fine original photograph on card, Victory and possibly Star lightly gilded

Al Valore L.G. 2/11/1918

Cecil Campbell Durston.

Recommended for the AFC (not forthcoming) as. CO 59 Sqdn Bonn 27 June, 1919.

Born 21 August, 1884, Chilton Polden, Someset. A qualified architect. Cmmd. 2. Lieut. H.A.C. (Art.) 25/4/1914, Lieut, 15/1/1915. A Bty., H.A.C. 1st. City of London Horse Artillery. served Gallipoli from attd  R.N.A.S. Observer.

His written application ‘I have just returned from 1/1 ‘A’Battery, Honourable Artillery Company in Egypt and as instructed by the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force I reported to the War Office where I explained that I had three months experience as an Observer with the Royal Naval Air Service at Gallipoli.

On returning to Egypt I saw Colonel Salmong of the Royal Flying Corps who wrote to the War Office recommending that I m should be trained as a Pilot.’

His Log Books are. extant having sold on Ebay 2006

Notes from these stated ‘became operational 28 March 1917 to serve in 34 squadron, France (Villiers Bretonneaux) flying R.E.8’s on reconnaissance.’

‘Attacked by Hun machine which was shot down by a Bristol Fighter.’ Many enemy aircraft and A.A. fire, bullets in machine; 9 E.A. seen in distance.’

T/Major 27 July 1918, 59 Sqdn. Recommended for an AFC following the Armistice whilst in command of 59 Sqdn.

Squadron Leader Durston was killed by a bison whilst shooting at Koiba, chhattisgarh , India , 12/1/1933.