Orders, Decorations and Medals

An inter-war O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Captain E. Edkin, Royal Naval Reserve and Mercantile Marine, who ended his career in command of Cunard’s Mauretania

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1926; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. E. Edkin, R.N.R.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Commr. E. Edkin, R.N.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Ernest Edkin); Victory Medal 1914-19, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Commr. E. Edkin, R.N.R.); Jubilee 1935; Royal Naval Reserve Decoration, G.V.R., silver, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1920, gilt somewhat worn on the first, otherwise generally good very fine (7) £500-600

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1927.

Ernest Edkin, who was born at sea in November 1880, was employed by the Cunard Company on the Atlantic run as a 3rd and 2nd Mate, and 1st Officer, in the period leading up to the Great War, his ship appointments including the Caronia.

In common with other Mercantile Marine officers, he also joined the Royal Naval Reserve, being appointed Midshipman in November 1899 and advanced to Sub. Lieutenant in November 1905 and to Lieutenant in June 1909.

His seagoing appointments in the Great War included the battleship H.M.S. King Edward VII (June 1915-January 1916), in which latter month she was mined and sunk off Cape Wrath; the armed merchant cruiser Orotava (February-April 1916), in the Northern Patrol; the monitor M. 18 (April-July 1916), in operations in the Mediterranean; the cruiser Europa (July 1916-January 1917), the flagship at Mudros, and the ex-armed merchant cruiser Patuca (January 1917-December 1918), a kite balloon ship in which he was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander.

Awarded the R.N.R. Decoration in October 1920, Edkin gained advancement to Captain in December 1929, and was otherwise employed by the Cunard Company, his commands in the period leading up to the renewal of hostilities including the Aquitania, Laconia, Georgic and Franconia. His final appointment was to the Mauretania in her new role as a troopship but, owing to ill-health, he came ashore at the end of 1940. Edkin died in January 1949.

Sold with a file of research, including copied photographs, and extensive R.N.R. service records which confirm his award of the Jubilee Medal 1935.