Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of five to Brevet Major E. P. Manson, Middlesex Regiment, attached 22nd London Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; 1914-15 Star (2-Lieut., Midd’x. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2-Lieut.), these later/replacement issues, mounted as worn; Defence, this last in card box of issue; together with a mounted set of four miniature medals, extremely fine (9) £500-600

M.C. London Gazette 24 June 1916. ‘Temp. 2nd Lt. Edward Philip Manson, 14th Bn., Midd’x. R. (attd. 22nd Bn., Lond. R., T.F.).’ ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of bombers. His party repulsed determined attacks by the enemy and built blocks under heavy artillery fire. Though severely wounded and unable to stand, he continued to direct operations’.

Edward Philip Manson was born on 2 May 1891. After serving in the ranks for 50 days, he was appointed Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in the Middlesex Regiment, 9 January-30 September 1915, then Temporary Lieutenant, 1 October 1915-14 March 1918. Appointed a Lieutenant in the R.A.F. Administration in April 1918, he held the rank of Acting-Major with them in June 1918 and was promoted to Captain in the Middlesex Regiment in June 1926, retiring in 1935. With the onset of war he was appointed Brevet Major in the Middlesex Regiment (London Gazette 21 November 1939). He was awarded his Defence Medal as a Major with the Devon Territorial Army - this latter coming with an Army Council Condolence Slip, named to ‘Major E. P. Manson, M.C.’ Also with original registered envelope from the War Office (A.G.4 Medals), addressed to ‘Major E. P. Manson, M.C., Territorial Army & Air Force Assn. of the County of Devon, 23 Longbrook St., Exeter’, dated 12 March 1943, which presumably contained his replacement issue medals.