Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-war military M.B.E., Second World War M.M. group of eight awarded to Major E. D. Childes, Rhodesia and Nyasaland Army Service Corps, late Southern Rhodesia Regiment, attached Nigeria Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; Military Medal, G.VI.R. (CR/1247 Mech. S/Sjt. E. D. Childes, S. Rhod. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Southern Rhodesia (CR1247 T/Lieut Edgar D. Childes M.M.) M.M. uniquely named to the Southern Rhodesia Regiment, minor contact marks, very fine and better (8) £1800-2200

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1963. ‘Major Edgar Davey Childes, Rhodesia and Nyasaland Army Service Corps.’

M.M. London Gazette 30 December 1941. ‘.... in recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East (including Egypt, East Africa, The Western Desert, The Sudan, Greece, Crete, Syria and Tobruk) during the period February 1941 to July 1941.’ ‘ No. CR/1247 Mechanist Staff-Serjeant Edgar Davey Childes, The Southern Rhodesia Regiment (attached The Nigeria Regiment).’

Recommendation reads; ‘This B.N.C.O. has been the only Mechanical Staff Sgt. in the Bn. Tpt. since the arrival of the Bn. in East Africa in July 1940. His devotion to duty and response to every call has been most remarkable throughout the operations: since the 12th Feb. the Bn. has not lost a single vehicle, and every vehicle has covered over 1500 miles, much of it over nothing better than a camel track. This is due to the unfailing devotion to duty, and his resourcefulness and skill. On several occasions, in order that every vehicle should be ready for the next march, he has had no sleep for 48 hours.’

Recommended for the M.B.E. but awarded the M.M. as a member of the 23rd Nigeria Brigade, 11th African Division.

With copied gazette extracts, recommendation and copied photographs, including one of Childes wearing his newly awarded M.B.E.