Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer H. J. Edwards, Royal Navy

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (H. J. Edwards, S.B.A., H.M.S. St George.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein (H. J. Edwards, S.B. Std: H.M.S. Doris); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (350304 H. J. Edwards, S.B. Std, H.M.S. Victory) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (3) £550-£750

Sold with an interesting original letter home to England, the envelope marked ‘On Active Service - Stamps not Obtained’:

‘Royal Naval Brigade
at Bloemfontein
Orange F. State
March 18th 1900

Dear George & Em,

Just a few lines at last as it was not until late last night that I got your address and that after being on the way out since the 30th of Nov ‘99. Consequently I could not write you before. This letter has been chasing me round to the following ships and places where I have never been viz. “Terrible” “Powerful” “Doris” “Tartar” Durban Peter Martizburg Point Natal Stormberg Colesburg and the RN Hospital Simons Town which last place it was sent on after me. I can assure you the envelope is quite a curio and shall keep it as such. Moreover it contained an Xmas Card from dear Jean and Dad which remained intact and unbroken. I had given it up for lost.
Well dear George we have been ashore now for two months tomorrow Monday the 19th and am pleased to say feels none the worse for it being in the best of health and spirits. Hoping that Em and all the family are quite well and that you are getting along allright in London. We are attached to Lord Roberts Column and came up to this place from Modder River via Enslin marching about 160 miles; the City Imperial Volunteers being with us all the way. They are a fine lot of fellows and are enduring the hardship or fortunes of war. Manly was present at capture of Jacobsdal and at Paardeberg where the hated Cronje was bombarded and where finally he surrendered to Lord Roberts with between 3 and 4 thousand Boers. My doctor and myself were engaged all the following day dressing the Boers wounds the sights being too horrid to describe. We then after resting to recruit our health etc for 3 days moved on to this place with but very little opposition and occupied this place on the 14th. As you know ere this per papers at home. I have read with pleasure the way in which the news of the relief of Kimberley, surrender of “Cronje”, relief of Ladysmith etc etc has been received at home.
Dear George, the sights of the firing of the 4.7 at night time and the rattle of rifle fire were awful but grand. I cannot find words to express it, but I never want to be in such places again. This is a very nice place containing some handsome buildings and nicely laid out. Government House (Steyn’s late residence) is now occupied by Roberts and staff and it does ones eyes good to see the Union Jack proudly flying over it as well as over the two large forts which are garrisoned by the Coldstream Guards as well as from almost every house in the town...’

Henry John Edwards was born in Pembroke on 29 March 1872, and enlisted in January 1895, giving his occupation as ironmongers assistant. Within two years he saw action aboard H.M.S. St George during the Benin expedition, and two years later he landed from H.M.S. Doris, seeing action at Paardeberg and Driefontein with the Naval Brigade. At the end of the Boer war he was serving on the hospital ship Maine. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal on 11 January 1910, and in 1913 he was rated Chief Sick Berth Steward. During the Great War he served at R.N. Hospitals Malta and Haslar to gain entitlement to the British War Medal and was discharged to pension as S.B.C.P.O. in 1920.