Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Sapper W. Edmondson, Royal Engineers, late Devonshire Regiment

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1894-5 (797 Pte. W. Edmondson, Tel. Dept.); India General Service 1895-1902, 2 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Tirah 1897-98 (797 Pte. W. Edmondson, 1st Devon Regt.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (797 Pte. W. Edmondson, Devon. Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (797 Pte. W. Edmondson, Devon. Regt.); 1914-15 Star (56546 Spr. W. Edmondson, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (56546 Spr. W. Edmondson, R.E.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (797 Pte. W. Edmondson, Devon. Regt.), the earlier award with contact marks, nearly very fine or better (8) £700-900

William Edmondson was born in Liverpool and enlisted in the Devonshire Regiment in February 1884, aged 19 years, noting previous service in the 3rd Battalion, Manchester Regiment. Embarked for India in September 1886, he passed a Telegraphist’s course in 1894 and was duly employed in that capacity by the Telegraph Department in the Waziristan operations (Medal & clasps). Returning to normal regimental employ, he next witnessed active service during the Punjab Frontier operations of 1897-98, as part of the Tirah Field Force (Medal & 2 clasps), and, having been embarked for South Africa in September 1899, at the defence of Ladysmith and in subsequent operations up until January 1902 (Queen’s Medal & clasp; King’s Medal & 2 clasps). Having then been awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal, he was discharged at his own request in July 1904.

With the advent of hostilities, however, Edmondson re-enlisted in the Special Reserve R.E. in October 1914, and, according to his service papers, served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from July-December 1915. But he was subsequently found unfit for further military service and discharged in May 1917. He died in Exeter in October 1945, aged 82 years; sold with an original portrait photograph, in old age, wearing his medals, together with copied research, including service records.