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Lot

№ 328 x

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8 December 2016

Estimate: £2,400–£3,000

A fine modern campaign group of four awarded to Warrant Officer David Edwards, Royal Marine Commando, mentioned in despatches for services in Borneo, and later a Major in the Rhodesian Army

Zimbabwe Independence 1980, the edge numbered ‘16946’; Naval General Service 1915-62, 3 clasps, Cyprus, Near East, Arabian Peninsula (R.M. 15071 D. Edwards. Mne. R.M.); General Service 1962-2007, 3 clasps, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Northern Ireland (RM. 15071 D. Edwards. Sgt. R.M.) with M.I.D. oak leaf; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue with swivel suspension (RM 15071 C/Sgt D. Edwards. R.M.) mounted for display and sold with his original Certificate of Service, very fine and better (4) £2400-3000

M.I.D. 30 December, 1965: ‘For distinguished services in the Borneo Territories during the period 24th December 1964 to 23rd June 1965.’ Edwards is the only Royal Marine to be honoured in this otherwise Royal Navy list of awards.

David Edwards was born in Birkenhead on 9 February 1938, and enlisted at Liverpool on 11 July 1955. He completed his training with 42 Commando on 25 May 1956, and was shortly after posted to 40 Commando with whom he served in Cyprus, Suez and in the Arabian Peninsula. He next spent a year with 45 Commando in Aden and Malta before joining 42 Commando, in December 1962, with whom he served in Borneo and Malaysia. For his services in these campaigns he was mentioned in despatches. His later service took him to Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Turkey, North America, the Dutch Antilles and the Far East. Edwards was awarded the long service medal in February 1971, together with a £20 gratuity, and was finally discharged as Warrant Officer 2 on 8 February, 1978. He joined the Rhodesian Army in 1979 becoming Commandant of Llewellyn Barracks, in charge of the Army Services training school. He retired as a Major in 1984 and died in Zimbabwe of a heart attack in 1998.