Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Korea Medal awarded to Private C. H. Edkins, Gloucestershire Regiment, who served with the Regiment throughout the retreat from Burma during the Second World War and was captured at the Battle of Imjin in the Korea War, 25 April 1951- he was ‘Mentioned’ by Colonel Carne, V.C. for a possible Honour in a letter to the Military Honours and Awards Committee for his conduct whilst a Prisoner of War

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (5183950 Pte. C. H. Edkins. Glosters.) light scratch to obverse field, otherwise extremely fine £700-900

Charles Henry Edkins was born in Birmingham on 30 January 1923 and was educated at the Nautical School in Bristol. He attested for the Gloucestershire Regiment as a Boy on 21 April 1937. He served with the 1st Battalion in India from March 1938, and in October of that year went with the Regiment to Burma. He took part in the retreat across Burma, March to May 1942, in which the Battalion suffered 8 officers and 156 other ranks killed or died of wounds or disease. Promoted acting Corporal on 11 October 1943, he left India for home in January 1944. In July 1945 he joined the 2nd Battalion in Germany and subsequently served with the Glosters in post-War Jamaica. He was discharged in January 1950 and was employed at Gloster Aviation Company.

Edkins was recalled to the Colours for service in the Korean War, and served as a Bren Gunner in ‘A’ Company at the Battle of Imjin. ‘It was known everyone had done well out of the compulsory sacking of Pyongyang, none more so than Charlie Edkins who was the proud owner of some 5,000 cigarettes, just name the brand ad he had them.’ (Korea: The Commonwealth at War by Carew refers). The first frenzied assault of the battle fell on Major Angier’s ‘A’ Company and as always the Chinese came head on, headless of casualties. Throughout the night ‘A’ Company had inflicted astronomical casualties, but had suffered grievously. Half their number were dead or wounded, and they remained red-eyed, crouched in their weapon pits waiting for the next attack, all the time being lashed by machine gun fire. With Castle Hill now occupied by the Chinese, Second Lieutenant Curtis’s platoon, only 20 men strong, retook this feature but were unable to hold it with Second Lieutenant Curtis being awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross in the process. At 08:30, ‘A’ Company, now only one officer and 53 men strong, pulled back to Gloster Hill. By early morning on the 24th April the lines had shrunk from 4 miles to 600 yards with the complete Battalion now together on Gloster Hill. Among the Glosters who fought at Imjin it is universally agreed that ‘A’ Company had the roughest handling of all. On the morning of the 25th April it was the remnants of this Company, some 30 men, that Captain Farrar Hockley took command of to retake Point 235, a high feature on Gloster Hill that had earlier been lost. With the Adjutant at their head the men of ‘A’ Company charged across 30 yards of bullet swept ground and at bayonet point ejected the Chinese. When all was lost and the Battalion was ordered to break out, the remnants of ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ Companies headed south. ‘The wounded had to be left behind and the men had a whip round of cigarettes, it was said even Charlie Edkins parted with 20.’ (ibid).

Edkins was one of the 53 men of ‘A’ Company who made it to Gloster Hill, but was unable to break out and was taken prisoner of war. Held at Camp One, he was one of the last to be released suggesting he was probably one of the hardline ‘reactionaries’. This belief is supported by a letter written by Colonel Carne, V.C. to the Military Secretary of the Honours & Awards Committee in March 1954. Offering comment on the merits of those soldiers submitted by the Prisoner of War Interrogation Unit for recognition for the conduct whilst prisoner, Carne, when asked to comment on the inclusion of a mention for Private Thomas, remarks: ‘He is known to me as one of the lesser leading lights in one of the men’s camps. If he is to be included it is possible that one or two others should also be included (for instance Pte Edkins) but that sort of possibility will always arise.’ (copy of letter included in lot refers).

Finally released on 30 August 1953, Edkins arrived back at Southampton on 14 October of that year, and was finally discharged on 25 January 1954, after 16 years and 280 days’ service. His testimonial on discharge states: ‘Private Edkins was recalled from the reserve for service in Korea and was with the 1st Glosters at the Imjin Battle where he was captured. He is a cheerful and reliable man who is capable of hard work and can be recommended to any employer who wants a steady man. He has a pleasant sense of humour and gets on well with his comrades under all circumstances. His military conduct has been very good.’ He returned to work at the Gloster Aviation Company, and died in Gloucester on 15 November 1974.

Sold together with a large quantity of research including copied service papers and P.O.W. questionnaire.