Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Brigadier-General W. E. Edwards, C.M.G., Director of Inspection of Munitions (Canada), late Royal Artillery, who served with distinction in Ghana and Nigeria and was twice wounded; subsequently serving at the War Office and Ministry of Munitions his contribution in raising the efficiency of overseas ‘war factories’ resulting in the award of the C.M.G. in 1918

Ashanti 1900, no clasp (Capt. & Bt: Maj: W. E. Edwards. R.F.A.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, S. Nigeria (Bt. Major W. E. Edwards. R.F.A.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Col. W. E. Edwards.) the first two mounted as worn, the last loose, good very fine and better (3) £1,000-£1,400

C.M.G. London Gazette 1 January 1918.

William Egerton Edwards was born in Mauritius on 25 June 1875, the son of C. F. Edwards, Registrar-General. Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from 1892-94, he graduated from the 1st Class as Senior Cadet of the Royal Artillery. Awarded the Tombs’ Memorial Scholarship with £28 gratuity, he was appointed to a commission on 1 April 1894 and posted to India. Transferred to the West African Frontier Force, 1899-1901, he participated in operations in Ashanti against Yaa Asantewa and was severely wounded; for his service in quelling the rebellion he was mentioned in despatches and raised Brevet Major.

Transferred to South Nigeria to maintain British control, Edwards is listed as ‘dangerously wounded’. Returned home to England to recuperate, he passed an advanced ordnance course in 1903 and is recorded in the Army and Navy Gazette of 5 March 1904 as Secretary of the Explosives Committee. Raised Staff Captain to the Director of Artillery, War Office, he served as Deputy Assistant Director of Artillery from 1907 to 1909 and is stated in the London Evening Standard of 23 January 1911 as a specialist in the development of armour plate.

Appointed to the Inspection Staff at Woolwich from 1910 to 1916, Edwards was raised Assistant Deputy Director General of Inspection at the Ministry of Munitions in 1916 and served as Director of Inspection of Munitions (Canada) until the tutelage of Sir R. Sothern Holland; it was in the latter capacity that he crossed the North Atlantic in the winter of 1916 with the brief of achieving the same standards of efficiency in Canadian war factories as achieved back home. With control of a staff of over 4,000 personnel, Edwards took a keen eye to the manufacture of aeroplanes, high explosives, steel shells, high explosive shells, shrapnel shells, fuses, and rounds of ammunition; in recognition of services rendered in this capacity, he was appointed C.M.G.

Raised Brigadier-General 9 October 1918, Mr. A. H. Collinson, Director General of Inspection, was particularly praiseworthy in a post-war letter of recommendation:
‘Colonel (sic) Edwards possesses considerable technical knowledge, as well as exceptional organising and administrative abilities. In the course of his duties he had to deal with many difficult problems requiring tact, initiative and energy, in handling all of which he displayed marked success. He possesses a fine sense of duty and responsibility...’

Called back home to Woolwich, Edwards took employment as Superintendent of Designs at the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich Arsenal. He died not long thereafter on 25 July 1921, aged 46 years, his body later conveyed with military honours to Charlton Cemetery for interment.

Sold with a fine archive of original documentation including R.M.A. Academic Reports for 1892 and 1894; Commission Certificate appointing W. E. Edwards, Gent: 2nd Lieutenant, Land Forces, Royal Artillery; Chancery of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George Award Certificate, dated 21 October 1918; Grand Lodge of Scotland Master Mason Award Certificate, Victoria Lodge, dated 15 July 1898; with a group graduation photograph at the R.M.A., Woolwich, and copied research.