Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Company Sergeant-Major W. C. A. Edwards, Calcutta Presidency Battalion, Auxiliary Forces India, late Gloucestershire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal (4297 Pte., Glouc. Regt.); 1914-15 Star (No. 7243 Cpl., Cal. Vol. Rfls. Mtr. Cycst. Des. Rider); British War Medal 1914-20 (7243 Cpl.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (7243 Cpl., M.C. D. Rider); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Waziristan 1919-21 (7243 Sgt., M.C.D.R. 2nd C.V.R.) re-impressed naming; Delhi Durbar 1911 (7243 Cpl. W. Edwards, 2nd C.V.R.); Volunteer Force Long Service (India & the Colonies), G.V.R. (Coy. Sgt. Maj., The Cal. Presy. Bn., A.F.I.) impressed naming, mounted court style, some contact marks, nearly very fine and better (7) £400-500

Ex John Tamplin Collection.

William Charles Albert Edwards was born in Coombe Hill, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. A Labourer by occupation and a member of the 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment Militia, he attested for the Gloucestershire Regiment at Bristol on 15 March 1894, aged 18 years, 11 months. With the regiment he served in Egypt, October 1896-February 1897; India, February 1897-September 1899; South Africa, February 1899-December 1900; Ceylon, December 1900-January 1903, and India, January 1903-March 1906. Serving in the Boer War with the 1st Battalion, he was taken prisoner at Farquhar’s Farm, 30 October 1899 but was later released. For his service in the War he was awarded the Queen’s Medal with three clasps. Edwards was discharged at Ambala on 14 March 1906. Remaining in India, he joined the Calcutta Volunteer Rifles and as a member of the unit, was awarded the Delhi Durbar in 1911. During the Great War he served as a Motor Cyclist Despatch Rider attached to the Royal Engineers, serving in France from 6 October 1915. As a Company Sergeant-Major in the Calcutta Presidency Battalion A.F.(I), he was awarded the Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, this notified in I.A.O. 136 of 22 February 1924. With copied service papers and other research.