Teddy that rode in First World War biplane
A TEDDY bear that was strapped to a biplane as a lucky mascot during the First World War and accompanied the Home Guard during the Second has been sold for £5,000.
The 1908 Steiff bear was named Squadron Leader Ted by his owner Captain S H Moy, who was given it as a child. The bear was sold by his grandson, who said: “They travelled together through history and time.”
Captain Moy, known as Bert, joined the Royal Flying Corps aged 18 and served with 6th Squadron at Oxford from March 1918. The bear is known to have been strapped on biplanes flown by him from England to the Western Front. During the Second World War, Bert worked in a reserved occupation producing machinery but served in the home front with Squadron Leader Ted.
The bear wears three service medals and the Moy family said: “Ted used to get covered in oil and soot on missions. Bert’s flight sergeant used to dunk him in a bucket of aviation fuel on his return, and that’s probably why he still has quite a lot of fur.”
Ted was auctioned at Specialist Auction Services in Newbury, Berks.