Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1916 ‘Somme’ M.M. and 1917 Second Award Bar group of four awarded to Corporal, later Lieutenant, H. J. Edwards, 10th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who was recommended for a D.C.M. for his gallantry in Gallipoli, and subsequently commissioned in 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar (890 Cpl. H. J. Edwards. 10/Aust: Inf: Bn:); 1914-15 Star (890 Pte H. J. Edwards. 10/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. H. J. Edwards. A.I.F.) mounted for display, generally nearly very fine or better (4) £2,000-£2,400

M.M. London Gazette 11 November 1916. The original recommendation states:

‘At Pozieres, France, during the early morning of 22nd August the enemy had been attacked near Mouquet Farm, whilst endeavouring to consolidate the trenches gained the telephone wire between Battalion Headquarters and the front line was broken by shell fire. It was most essential that communication should be established and Corporal Edwards was detailed to repair the line. Under a heavy barrage he went along the trenches until he discovered the break in the wire which he repaired. Upon another occasion during the operations between 20th-23rd August this NCO brought two reels of telephone wire forward under heavy fire.’

M.M. Second Award Bar London Gazette 26 April 1917.

H. J. Edwards was born in Port Pirie, South Australia in 1894. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 31 August 1914, and served with the 10th Australian Infantry Battalion in Gallipoli from April 1915. Edwards was recommended for the D.C.M. for his bravery, 7 November 1915:

‘An enemy 8.2” shell fell and burst in a gun pit of the 9th Battery, demolishing a portion of the pit, exploding 7 rounds of 18-pdr, and setting fire to the brushwood covering the pit. This fire threatened the safety of the magazine, containing 300 rounds of 18-pdrs. The Officer (Lieut. Evans) was dazed by the first explosion, but assisted by Signallers Edwards and Lindrop, Pte. Baker and two gunners, beat out the fire. During this time the Detachment were in danger of being blown up by their own magazine, and were also likely to be again shelled by the enemy.’

Two gunners and Private G. E. A. Baker of the 10th Australian Infantry Battalion were awarded the D.C.M. for the above action. Edwards was evacuated from Gallipoli at the end of 1915, and served with the Battalion in the French theatre of war from April 1916. He distinguished himself in action on the Somme, and was subsequently commissioned Second Lieutenant in June 1918. He advanced to Lieutenant in September of the same year, and returned to Australia in May 1919.