Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-war civil B.E.M. group of six awarded to Mr. Alfred Edwards, late Chief Petty Officer, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Alfred Edwards); 1914-15 Star (218104 A. Edwards, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (218104 A. Edwards, P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (218104 Alfred Edwards, P.O., H.M.S. Barham); Italy, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver, unnamed as issued, one or two edge bruises and contact wear, generally very fine or better (6) £300-350

B.E.M. London Gazette 8 June 1950.

Alfred Edwards was born in Portsmouth in July 1886 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in November 1901. Advanced to Able Seaman in May 1905, he joined H.M.S. Exmouth in May 1907 and participated in the rescue operations after the Messina Earthquake in the following year. Having then been advanced to Leading Seaman, he purchased his discharge in March 1913 and was enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve.

Quickly recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Edwards joined the cruiser Europa and remained similarly employed for the remainder of the war, gaining advancement to Petty Officer in August 1915. Europa served in the 9th Cruiser Squadron in the Atlantic until June 1915, following which she departed for the Dardanelles.

Edwards finally came ashore as a Chief Petty Officer in November 1927 and was awarded his B.E.M. in respect of his services as a chargehand millwright at the Pressed Steel Company Ltd. in 1950; sold with the recipient’s original Buckingham Palace B.E.M. forwarding letter.