.455 S&W MkII Hand Ejector

Previously owned by Captain Kenneth William Junor MC.  Canadian Royal Flying Corps ace

Kenneth William Junor

Kenneth William Junor was born in Toronto, Ontario on August 3rd, 1894, son of William and Alice E. Junor of 106 Jameson Avenue, Toronto, Ontario. 

He attended Queen Victoria Public School, followed by St Andrew's College from 1908 to 1912 and continued his education at the University of Toronto (University College) from 1912 to 1915 where he was a member of Kappa Alpha.http: //www.ka.org/

On the 24th July 1915 he enlisted in the 75th battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).
He had previous service in the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles with the 9th Mississauga Horse. The Mississauga Battalion was recruited from Toronto, Hamilton and London Ontario, predominately from people with Scottish origins. There are Junor’s in Scotland.

He went overseas with the CEF in March 1916. He stayed in England for a few months then he went to France in July 1916 and joined the newly formed 11th Machine Gun Company serving first at St. Eloi and then he went down to the Somme. 

Having suffered badly with trench fever Ken Junor was put on a secondment to the RFC from 24th April 1917 but he remained part of the 75th CEF. He was later promoted to Captain and was killed on 23rd April 1918 exactly one year after he had joined the RFC.

Ken Junor joined the Royal Flying Corps at Reading on 24th April 1917 and was then posted as follows:

• Begins training at Hendon, 1st June 1917; 
• Sent to No. 65 Training School, 21st June 1917; 
• Sent to No. 63 Training School, 28th July 1917; 
• Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, 28th July 1917; 
• Sent to No. 56 Training School, 15th August 1917; 
• Sent to CFS, 18th August 1917; 
• Sent to No. 72 Squadron, 23rd September 1917; 
• May have briefly been in No. 70 Squadron, sometime during November 1917; 
• Returned to No. 65 Training School, 8th December 1917; 
• Served in No. 56 Squadron, 15th December 1917 until his death on 23rd April 1918. 

With the RFC he served on the Third, Fourth, and Fifth British Army fronts from Arras to St. Quentin. Junor is credited with 8 victories making him an Air Force Ace.

This revolver was a private purchase, although the same model was issued by the British Army. (See the S&W tab on the firearms section of my webpage for more information).

The backstrap of the revolver is inscribed with “Lieut K W Junor 75th Battn CEF”. I am almost certain that he bought the revolver in Canada or had it sent from Canada, the reason for this is that it has a relatively low serial number nor does it have any contemporary proof marks, also as far as I am aware no revolvers of this type were imported into Britain other than for the military. The inscription would indicate that it wasn’t engraved until after he was made 2nd Lieutenant on the 28th July 1917.

Although parachutes existed they were only allowed for the Balloon Corps. It became a standard practice with flyers to carry a revolver as an option in case of fire and being burned alive, this was apparently a flyer’s greatest fear.  Possibly this is the reason that he bought the revolver at this point. If you read letter 3 of Lt Junor’s letters below, he was once covered in petrol during a dog fight and came very close to being set alight himself.

Junor named his last two S.E.5a aeroplanes Bubbly Kid and Bubbly Kid II.

            

      

 

Egon Koepsch who shot down Lt Ken Junor.

Born 27th October 1890 Died 26th November 1976.

Koepsch took temporary command of Jasta 11 when the German ace Ernst Udet was wounded. Udet was next on the kill list after von Richthofen with 62

Egon Koepsch who shot down Lt Ken Junor.

	Allied planes shot down by Koepsch
	Date		Unit	Aircraft	Opponent	Location
1	05 Dec 1917		Jasta 4		D.H.5	Graincourt
2	23 Apr 1918		Jasta 4		S.E.5a (C1086) Ken Junor	Sailly-Laurette
3	17 Jul 1918		Jasta 4		Bréguet 14	Comblizy
4	22 Jul 1918		Jasta 4		D.H.9	S of Braisne
5	01 Aug 1918		Jasta 4		Nieuport 28	S of Braisne
6	13 Aug 1918		Jasta 4		Bréguet 14	Bilancourt
7	31 Aug 1918		Jasta 4		S.E.5a (D6927)	Combles
8	05 Sep 1918		Jasta 4		S.E.5a (E1397)	Paillencourt
9	04 Nov 1918		Jasta 4		D.H.4	SW of Montmedy

 

Letters written by Lt Junor MC

Letter 1 

"Day before yesterday I went over to 2 A.D. to get my new bus. (I told Dolly, I think, or mother about the crash I had with the other one.) It has a French engine (Hispano Suiza) built by the Pengot Company. There are a few slight differences to the Wolsey Hispano, but I am getting accustomed to them. Above all, it has new type Zenith carburettor, which is a slight improvement on the old. 

French engines in the squadron have the reputation of giving the most remarkable results for the first few weeks, and then going "dud", but I am convinced that it is mostly due to the pilots, and think that with care I can get good results with this one. At present it will out distance and out climb any other bus in the squadron. It had its first initiation today. Capt. Billings dropped out of the patrol before we reached the lines, with engine trouble, so I took over the leadership. First we had a fight with a two-seater. I didn't get a shot, but MacPherson killed the observer from such close range that he has spots of his blood all over his fuse bags. Dear old Mac! He is so keen on getting a Hun that he literally rushes in where angels fear to tread. I am afraid he will be done in. 

I got the patrol together, minus one chap who got lost, again, and we climbed to 14,000 when we spotted five Albatross scouts about 500 feet below us and west of us. (We were then 12 and 15 miles into Hunland.) We got in behind them and attacked from the east. They were going toward the lines and were not expecting trouble from that quarter. The result was that they didn't even know we were upon them until we opened fire. I got slap bang on the leader's tail and fired 50 rounds. He went down out of control and crashed. Then my trouble began. First, my Lewis gun, which is mounted on the top, came unfastened - blew down and hit me an awful whack on the head, my Vickers gun jammed, and worst of all, my engine cut out completely. I was in a bad way with Huns "revving" about all over the place. 

Discovered that lack of air pressure in the petrol tank had caused my engine to stop, so pumped it up with the hand pump - engine picked up. The Lewis gun bracket was broken, and the gun would not stay up. Just then I spotted a Hun on Porter's tail. That would never do. I dived at him, holding the Lewis up with my right hand and pressing the firing lever with the left. Couldn't take a decent aim. The shots were wild, but they served to scare the old Hun away. I then turned for the lines. When I got there, I found neither Mac or Porter were with me. I was afraid they had been done for. Back I went 15 miles to the place where the fight had been; not a bus of any kind in the blue. Archie was darn bad, and I was still holding the Lewis gun up. I turned for home feeling pretty low. It was the first fight I had led a patrol into, and I didn't want to have any casualties. I couldn't even feel happy about my Hun. Imagine my relief when I got to the airdrome to find both Mac and Porter standing on the tarmac and wondering what had become of me. "All's well that end well," and everyone was pleased with the morning's scrap.

Since I wrote last we have had to move about thirty miles back to a new aerodrome. The Huns have our old place now. You remember in one of my letters I spoke of walking over an old battlefield, visiting my old gun emplacements, etc., etc. - well, that is all in Hunland now. The air has been stiff with Hun machines "revving" about in droves. I have been shot down twice in three days. I feel that I have passed a most critical point in my flying career. I certainly hope so. I have never had such a close shave before."

Letter 2 - When I Get Home 

"As this is to be a bit of shop, it probably won't be interesting for all the folks. I will write it to you, dad. I wish you would keep my letters containing so called "combat reports" as I would like to have them when I get home. In my log book I keep a short synopsis of each. I should keep a diary, but I haven't time or energy to do so. If you will save these, or have them copied, it will serve the purpose.

Just as we were turning to come home from patrol the other day, I spotted two Albatros scouts, left the formation and attacked them. This was a foolish thing to do, because none of our chaps saw me leave the formation. I was nearly out of petrol, and two Huns on their own, when the rest of their chaps travel in flocks, are a thing to beware of, as they are sure to be "stunt merchants."  As soon as I got on the tail of one chap, and was manoeuvring for firing position, I saw I was in a hob. The other chap climbed above me, got on my tail and opened fire. (To distinguish between these two chaps, one was painted yellow, with a bright red nose, the other blue.)  I attacked the yellow chap and the blue one got on top of me. Right then I gave up all hope of a fight, my main object being to get home. But they had no intention of allowing me to do that. In a few seconds they were both on top of me, driving me down into Hunland. Every time I looked over my tail a Hun was driving and firing at me, they were good shots, too - their bullets came crashing into my bus.  I expected to feel one any minute.  I did every stunt I knew to avoid them and disturb their aim. I threw my old bus all over the sky. Once I nearly collided with the yellow chap.  He rolled over on his back, and I could see the blue and yellow checks on the underside of his plane.

The fight started at 17,000 and we were now at 5,000 and I could see the Huns in their trenches below.  For some reason, I wasn't the least bit excited, quite cool, in fact - cold, I guess.  I was only annoyed at being beaten up. Suddenly the Hun stopped diving at me, and left his pal to finish me off.  I think probably he ran out of ammunition, as he must have fired over 400 rounds at me.  When I saw I only had one machine to deal with, my spirits rose.  I determined to out climb him on my turns (we were then down to 2,000 feet, about four miles east of the lines.)  When he saw what I was doing, he got "wind up" and turned nose down for home. That was my chance, and I literally pounced upon him.  I fired a long burst from both guns at close range. He went down in bits and crashed in a field. His miserable pal sat up above and watched the proceedings. They certainly are sportsmen, these Huns - I don't think!

I came home across the floor mighty thankful to be alive.  When I landed my machine practically fell to pieces.  It was shot full of holes and a complete write off."

 

Letter 3 - A Visit from the King 

"By the way, the King called on us yesterday; shook hands with us all, and was very nice and 'chatty'.  He told us that he had just awarded McCuddens the Victoria Cross - loud cheers!  He certainly deserved it. I don't suppose there is another chap in the army, of his age, with such a string of medals - VC, DSO, with a bar; MC with bar; Military Medal, Star of Mons and Croix de Guerre. It is also the second VC for this squadron - Capt. Ball being the other one.

But is must get on with my Combat Report. I hope you aren't bored reading these comic things, dad, but I can't help writing about what I am constantly thinking and dreaming. For the present, I have put everything else aside and live for nothing but flying and downing Huns. I am determined to make a success of this business or "peg out" in the effort.

If my letters seem one continual line of "shop", and if I seem to neglect and forget things which may seem more important, please forgive me. No one will be more thankful than I when this cursed business is over, and we can get back to normal life again. My only fear, at present, is that during the fine spring weather, when we do two shows a day, my nerves or heart, or something will let me down. I think it would break my heart if I had to go to a hospital now. For months it has been borne upon me that I have a job to do here, and I am determined to it to the best of my ability. I have never felt anything so strongly before.

Well the other day we did a patrol - two flights of six machines each; one flight about 2,000 feet above the other. The idea being that the bottom flight would look for scraps, while the top flight would protect them, and prevent Hun scouts diving on them. I was in the top flight, Hank in the bottom (which was led by a chap named Mealing). Our flight was led by Captain Billings. I was on his right. Shortly after we crossed the lines, the bottom flight went down after a Hun two-seater. We "revved" around over them, when turning toward our lines, I suddenly spotted 10 Albatros scouts (purple and white) led by a silver coloured Pfalz scout (don't forget him) below us, and diving toward our bottom flight. I immediately dived on them. I got on the silver chap's tail and opened fire. Both my guns jammed. I didn't worry much, as I expected all the other Huns would be busy with our chaps, but no such luck. Before I knew it there were half a dozen of them on top of me, and they certainly could shoot. The air was filled with tracer bullets. They came crashing into my bus. They shot my main petrol tank through, just in front of my feet. About fifteen gallons of petrol poured all over me, my engine stopped. Of course, all this time I was throwing my bus all over the sky - never still a second - rolling, spinning, etc. and worst of all, losing height.

If there had been one Hun or perhaps two, I could have avoided them, but with so many it was hopeless. I was absolutely terrified that my bus would catch fire. I switched on to my emergency tank, and the engine picked up. There were only three Huns after me - two Albatross and the Silver Pfalz. While I was avoiding one of the former, the Pfalz dived right on top of me and fired from close range. The burst crashed right into my emergency tank above my head; one went through my wind-shield. Petrol poured over my face into my eyes, absolutely blinding me. I thought my time had come and I almost gave up. My engine stopped again. I wish I could relate all the thoughts that flashed through my mind in those few wild seconds. I thought of dinner in a Hun mess, if I could only get down alive. I recalled with a tinge of regret that I had not had a chance to wear me MC ribbon, and a thousand other things.

I was down to 3,000 feet. Looking up, I saw that both Albatross had disappeared, and only the silver Pfalz diving. But I was quite powerless with no engine. Suddenly an S.E. came out of the sky like a bolt from the blue, smack onto the Hun. I saw his tracers as he opened fire, and quick as a flash the Pfalz went down, his beautiful silver plane flashing in the sun, completely out of control.

I could hardly realize that I was saved. Then the horrible thought that I could not reach the lines. I tried everything with my engine; pumping with the hand pump, switching on to different tanks, and praying it to go. I was too done up to cheer when it started to sputter - ten, twelve, fourteen hundred revs - enough to keep me going. What it ran on I don't know. The oil tank was shot through - no oil pressure. The radiator was shot, letting out all the water, temperature over 100 degrees, but on it went like a lame duck - "clankety clank".  It sounded like a farm tractor. But it was game, and with a sigh of relief, I crossed over the lines. I picked the nearest field and went down.  The engine seized up as I landed. I wish you could have seen my machine. It was full of holes. Besides what I have told you, there were several bullet holes in different parts of the engine - even the tips of the propeller blades were shot through. One flying wire was gone and fusebags punctured in several places. I didn't waste much time inspecting it, but commandeered the nearest car and beat it back to the aerodrome.

If you have never had your life saved, you can't imagine how you feel toward the chap who does it. He and I have been great rivals in the camp in a friendly way.  We got our decorations on the same day, and were nearly equal for Huns. Since I have been on leave he has quite outdistanced me, The Pflatz made eleven Huns for him, as well as two balloons. He was about due for a DSO. But here is the sad part. On another shot that same day he failed to return. A machine was seen to go down in flames, and Walkerdine saw an S.E. burning on the ground."

King George V visiting 56 squadron as mentioned in the letter above on the 29th March 1918. Captain Junor is the one on the far right.