A very rare Great War M.C. and ‘Faversham Explosion’ Edward Medal group of twelve awarded to Honorary Brigadier J. M. Stebbings, Royal Artillery, taken prisoner at Tobruk in 1942

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed; Edward Medal (Industry), G.V.R., 1st issue, with 2nd type reverse, bronze (Lieut. John Morley Stebbings.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt. J. M. Stebbings.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Decoration, Territorial, G.V.R., with Bars for Second, Third and Fourth Awards, all E.II.R. and all officially dated ‘1962’, mounted as worn, very fine or better (12) £4000-5000

Only nine Edward Medals were awarded to Army personnel.

M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

E.M. London Gazette 22 January 1918. The recommendation states:

‘I assumed command of the Battery (2/13th Lancashire Battery, now ‘C’ Battery, 293rd Army Brigade, R.F.A.) about six days before the incident. I followed Lieutenant (then 2nd Lieutenant) J. M. Stebbings, R.F.A., with a further relief party and arrived at the scene of the explosion 20 minutes later and after the second explosion. I found him and his party hard at work rescuing the wounded and under conditions which were even then very dangerous. I can myself most fully endorse Lieutenant Stebbings’ report on the work of these eight men, and all of them have since done splendid work out here in France on other occasions. As regards Lieutenant Stebbings himself, this Officer was undoubtedly the leading spirit in the rescue and, as I myself saw, he behaved with great courage, leading the men into the flames amongst the many minor explosions which followed the second large explosion, to rescue the injured at great personal risk. I recommend him very strongly for reward. Since then, out here in France, he has on many occasions shown the same courage and has never failed to risk his life when occasion has demanded and has proved himself in all respects a first class Officer’.

Mention in Despatches London Gazette 21 May 1918 and 16 April 1942.

Honorary Brigadier John Morley Stubbings, M.C., E.M., won his Edward Medal for the horrific explosion at the Explosion Loading Company's Works at Faversham on 2 April 1916, an incident that incurred heavy loss of life. Subsequently sent out to France in January 1917, he went on to win the M.C. for his services with C/293rd Army Brigade, R.F.A. and was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig. Invested with his Edward Medal at Buckingham Palace in July 1919, Stebbings maintained his links with the Territorials and was awarded his Efficiency Decoration while serving in the 59th (Home Counties) Field Brigade, R.A. (London Gazette 13.8.1935 refers). Posted overseas with the 89th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A., on the renewal of hostilities, he was Mentioned in Despatches for his services in the Middle East between July and October 1941 but, like many thousands of others, was taken P.O.W. at Tobruk. Interned in Italy he sometime found his way to the Vatican, from where he was repatriated in the final year of the War. But the Brigadier had yet further honours in hand, as evidenced by his remarkable tally of Efficiency Decorations which were announced in the London Gazette on 16 March 1962, namely First, Second, Third and Fourth Bars. A Deputy Lieutenant for Kent from July 1957, the Brigadier died at Ramsgate on 2 November 1966. Sold with comprehensive copied research including extensive official reports on the Faversham Explosion.