Orders, Decorations and Medals

An important Jutland C.B. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Collard, R.M., the senior Royal Marine officer afloat during the Battle
The Most Honourable Order of The Bath, C.B. (Military) breast badge in silver-gilt and enamels, converted for neck wear; East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (Capt., R.M.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Rhodesia, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Capt., R.M.L.I.); King’s South Africa, 2 clasps (Capt., R.M.L.I.); 1914 Star (Major, R.M. Brigade); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col.) the British War Medal renamed; Russia, Order of St. Stanislas, 2nd class neck badge with swords, gold and enamels, maker’s marks for K. Edouard, St. Petersburg, one sword tip detached, otherwise generally good very fine (8)

C.B. London Gazette 15 September, 1916 (Jutland): ‘For very materially assisting in controlling the gunfire of H.M.S. Benbow from an exposed position in the control top.’
Order of St. Stanislas London Gazette 5 June, 1917 (Jutland).
Charles Edwin Collard was seconded, 8 January, 1898, for special service with the Rand Rifles in South Africa, and served during the operations in Uganda, 1898 (Despatches, medal with clasp); and in 1899 in command of forces in the expedition into the Wyoma country. In the South African campaign he served as Special Service Officer and was afterwards employed on the Staff of the Military Governor of Johannesburg. He was appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for Musketry on the Permanent Staff of the Volunteer Force in the Transvaal, with the local rank of Major, 12 December, 1902; Chief Staff Officer, Transvaal Volunteers, to 31 March, 1906; on retirement he was appointed to the Reserve of Officers, R.M., and was Headquarters Commissioner for Musketry, Boy Scouts’ Association, 1913. Collard resumed active service in 1914 and landed at Ostend in August of that year, with a Special Service Battalion. At the age of 47 he volunteered for service afloat and was the senior Royal Marine Officer afloat at the battle of Jutland, aboard H.M.S. Benbow (Despatches, C.B., Order of St. Stanislas). In April 1918 he took over command of the defences of the Shetland Islands.
The East and Central Africa medal is believed to be unique to the Royal Marines. In addition only two Rhodesia clasps were issued to R.M. officers serving with the army, and only 12 K.S.A.’s were issued to the Royal Marines.