Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

Five: Brigadier B. B. Edwards, C.B.E., M.C., Royal Engineers

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf, with original Army Council condolence certificate in the name of ‘Brigadier B. B. Edwards, C.B.E., M.C.’, and card forwarding box addressed to Mrs. E. R. Edwards, Ackland Cottage, Shirley Holms, Lymington’, extremely fine (5) £80-100

Brian Bingay Edwards was born in October 1895 and was educated at Cheltenham and the R.M.A. Woolwich. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in September 1914, he served in France and Flanders from March 1915 until the end of hostilities, was twice wounded, mentioned in despatches and awarded the M.C.

A Lieutenant-Colonel by the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, Edwards served with the B.E.F. out in France, was mentioned in despatches and awarded the O.B.E., and was appointed Chief Engineer Home Forces, in the rank of Colonel, on his return to the U.K. In September 1942, as an Acting Brigadier, he was appointed Chief Engineer Allied Forces, and afterwards joined the 1st Army out in North Africa as Chief Engineer (Lines of Communication), and later in Italy, and was again mentioned in despatches and created a C.B.E.

He died on 8 November 1947, aged 52 years, while serving as the Chief Engineer of Scottish Command, leaving a widow, Ena Russell Edwards; sold with a portrait photograph of another family member, the holder of a D.S.O. with two Bars.