Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-war civil M.B.E. group of four awarded to Captain C. F. Edwin, Royal Engineers, late Royal Marines, who was wounded at Gallipoli and twice Mentioned in Despatches for his services with the 1919 North Russia Relief Force

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; 1914-15 Star (Lieut. C. F. Edwin, R.M.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. C. F. Edwin) slight contact marks to BWM otherwise good very fine and better (4) £240-£280

M.B.E. London Gazette 9 June 1946. ‘Charles Frank Edwin, Esq., Manager of Battery Department, Siemens Bros. and Company, Ltd., Woolwich’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 5 June 1919:
‘For valuable and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations at Murmansk.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 3 February 1920:
‘For valuable and distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in North Russia during the period 1st March to 12th October, 1919. Dated 11th November, 1919.’

Charles Frank Edwin was born in Guildford, Surrey in 1884. Enrolling as a Sapper in the Royal Marines Divisional Engineers at Deal on 22 September 1914, he advanced to Corporal on 1 January 1915 and was commissioned Temporary Lieutenant on 22 February 1915. He witnessed active service in the Dardanelles Campaign with the Divisional Engineers Signalling Company, Royal Naval Division. Having suffered a bullet wound to his leg, Lieutenant Edwin was admitted to the 149th Field Ambulance on 15th July 1915 and the same day was transferred to a clearing hospital at W Beach, Cape Helles.

Edwin’s commission with the Royal Marines was terminated on 18 August 1916 and he transferred to the Royal Engineers, advancing to the rank of Captain before the end of the Great War. He further served with the Signalling Company, Royal Engineers during the operations in North Russia in 1919, being twice Mentioned in Despatches. He finally relinquished his commission on completion of service, retaining the rank of Captain, on 17 September 1919.