Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Captain F. Ede, Royal Marine Artillery, who was mentioned in despatches and specially promoted for his services in the Dongola Expedition in 1896

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (2778 Sgt. F. Ede, R.M.A.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (Frank Ede, Qr. Mr. Sergt., No. 2778 R.M.A.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Hafir, unnamed as issued, contact marks, otherwise very fine or better, rare (3) £1200-1500

Ex-Douglas-Morris collection, 12 February 1997 (Lot 312); approximately 30 Queen’s Sudan Medals were awarded to the Royal Marines.

Frank Ede was born in Croydon, Surrey in February 1867 and enlisted in the Royal Marines in London in January 1886. On completion of his recruit training at the Walmer, he was posted to the Royal Marine Artillery and appointed a Gunner.

A number of seagoing appointments ensued, including H.M. Ships Cyclops (July 1887), Tamar (December 1887), Audacious (January 1888), Sapphire (January 1889), and Racoon (July 1890), and he was advanced to Bombardier in December 1890 and to Corporal in September 1893.

In the summer of 1896, Ede was embarked for Egypt in readiness for participation in the Dongola Expedition, the background to his employment being found in Colonel Robert Wisley’s article, ‘R.M.A. Nile Gunboat Detachments and the Battle of Omdurman’ (Royal Marines Historical Society Journal, Summer 2011):

‘In June 1896 Captain Humphrey Oldfield, R.M.A., was sent to Egypt in command of nine Corporals and Bombardiers of the R.M.A. with the task of training the Egyptian Army in the use of 6-pounder and 12.5 pounder quick firing guns. On arrival in Cairo the detachment were given instruction on the Krupp guns which were also in use with the Egyptian Army.

The R.M.A. N.C.Os were attached to the gunboats to act in the role of ‘gunnery officers’, responsible for training and supervising the crew in all aspects of gunnery and fire control, but it quickly became apparent that they would be required to conduct a varied range of other supervisory roles and duties. The gunboat flotilla, commanded by Commander Stanley Colville, R.N., at this time consisted of the Tamai class gunboats and the new Zafir (although she burst a cylinder shortly after being launched) ... In September 1896 the gunboats were in action at Hafir, shelling the Dervish defences.’

Ede was subsequently mentioned in despatches and recommended by Commander Colville, gaining special promotion to Colour-Sergeant (Queen’s Medal; Khedive’s Medal, clasp, Hafir).

Having then held appointments in the Renown and Hood, Ede was advanced to Sergeant-Major and Instructor of Musketry in April 1900 and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in March 1904. He was discharged in January 1907.

Although over 50 years of age he was recalled for service in August 1914 and was commissioned as a Temporary Lieutenant R.M in November 1915, but he remained employed in the U.K. with command of the Roa Head Battery in Scapa Flow. Demobilised as a Captain in 1919, he was awarded the British War Medal (ADM 171/92 refers) and died in February 1937; sold with copied service records.