Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1900, no clasp (E. Edwards, Sto., H.M.S. Woodlark) suspension a little slack, contact marks, very fine £300-£400

Woodlark was entitled to this medal for the period 10 June to 31 December, 1900. 37 medals to the ship but only 22 were to Europeans, the remainder being a locally recruited Pilot and 14 Chinese crewmen. Only Snipe had fewer awards for China 1900.

Ernest Edwards was born on 10 September 1875 at Saltash, Cornwall, and joined the Navy on a 12 year engagement on 27 August 1895, at the age of almost 20, as a Stoker 2nd class. He advanced to Stoker on 24 August 1896, regraded Stoker 1st class on 1 July 1906 and advanced to Leading Stoker on 1 April 1908, and to Stoker Petty Officer on 1 March 1910, the rate he remained for the rest of his career. He was traced for pension on 18 August 1918, and it appears that he was finally demobilised on 12 August 1919, at the age of nearly 44. He was awarded three Good Conduct Badges but there is no sign that he was ‘traced’ for his long service medal. He is also entitled to a W.W.I trio.

Sold with copied record of service and other research.