Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War A.F.C. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Reginald Threlkeld Edwards, Royal Field Artillery, late Royal Flying Corps

Air Force Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Lieut. R. T. Edwards, Sea Patrol’; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial, reverse dated, in small numerals, ‘1937’ unnamed, mounted court style for wear, nearly very fine and better (6) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Long Service Medals from the Collection formed by John Tamplin.

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A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1919 (General Citation).

Reginald Threlkeld Edwards was born in Essex and educated at Southend-on-Sea and Finsbury Technical College. Originally enlisting into the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in June 1917 but transferred to the Royal Flying Corps for Pilot Training at Upavon, Wiltshire, soon afterwards. He graduated in November 1917 and served as a Flying Officer in No. 104 Squadron, Western Group Command, No. 38 Training Squadron and, from 31 March 1918, at Air Station Leamington. For his wartime services on ‘Sea Patrol’ he was awarded the A.F.C. At the end of hostilities he reverted to the Territorial Army and was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (London Gazette 19 November 1937) when he was serving as a Major in the 74th Northumbrian Field Brigade, R.A. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1939 and went with his regiment as part of the B.E.F. in France in February 1940. In the second week of May, Edwards went on leave; he therefore missed the German attack and retreat and withdrawal from Dunkirk. After this Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards was placed on the Unemployed List of the R.A. (T.A.), remaining as such until 1949. In civil life he was an Engineer and became a Director of the Caterpillar Tractor Co. Ltd. Latterly living at Westcliffe-on-Sea and Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, he died on 22 February 1981.

Sold with Commission Documents (2), appointing him 2nd Lieutenant in the Special Reserve of Officers, 3 July 1917; and Lieutenant in the Territorial Force, 17 February 1921; R.F.C. Officers’ Graduation Certificate, 28 November 1917; two copied caricatures by Fred May which depict ‘Major R. T. Edwards’ c.1938; original photographs (4); R.A. cap badge; R.F.C. cloth wings; riband bar; scarf; together with copied research.