Great War and Second World War original Royal Navy documents to Petty Officer O.C. Edwards, B.E.M., Royal Navy. From Farnham, and later Fleet, Hampshire, he saw service between January 1912 and August 1945. He was aboard the destroyer Leven on the outbreak of the Great War and for a period saw service with the Dover Patrol as part of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla, and during the Second World War he was based at Newhaven on shore duties in relation to Coastal Forces, service for which he was awarded the British Empire Medal in June 1944.
Royal Navy Parchment Certificate of Service, as issued to: Oliver Conway Edwards, covering his service between January 1912 and August 1945.
Royal Navy Parchment Gunnery and Torpedo History Sheet, issued to: Oliver Conway Edwards.
Royal Navy Trade Certificate for Seaman Branch Torpedo Ratings, issued to Edwards.
Royal Navy Certificate for Petty Officer’s Course No.6, issued to Edwards, dated 26 September 1930.
The above all housed in their original Certificate of Service blue envelope.
Two original photographs of the recipient’s when a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy, one taken with his family, both of him in uniform and, one wearing his medal ribbons prior to his WW2 issued awards.
Also a National Registration Identity Card, issued in the name of the recipient’s wife, Marian V. Edwards, of Queens Rd, Shrewton, Fleet, dated May 1943.
Condition: Fair condition for age and use.
Oliver Conway Edwards was born on 23 May 1895 in Farnham, Hampshire, and having worked as a solon boy, then joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class (Portsmouth No.J.15490) with Impregnable on 16 January 1912, being rated as a Boy 1st Class on 8 June 1912, and he first saw service afloat aboard the cruiser Donegal between June and September 1912. Rated as an Ordinary Seaman whilst aboard the battleship Neptune on 23 May 1913, he was still aboard her when rated as an Able Seaman on 14 November 1913, and on the outbreak of the Great War was with Attentive and aboard the destroyer Leven with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Dover Patrol. He was aboard the battleship Hindustan during April 1916 to April 1917, and again from May 1917 to February 1918. He was latterly aboard the battleship Implacable between April 1918 and May 1919 when she was the depot ship for the Northern Patrol.
Inter-war he was advanced to Leading Seaman on 1 March 1920 and saw service aboard the battleship Centurion from May 1920 to August 1922, and the aircraft carrier Hermes from February 1924 to March 1925. He was then aboard the minesweeper Alresford from May to August 1925 and was appointed to Acting Petty Officer on 1 June 1923, before being promoted to Petty Officer whilst aboard the light cruiser Cardiff when promoted to Petty Officer on 1 Jun 1926, he being aboard her from October 1925 through to May 1928. Edwards was aboard the destroyers Westminster and Wakeful between January 1929 and April 1930, and after service with the heavy cruiser Hawkins from September 1932 to June 1934, was latterly employed ashore, being pensioned ashore on 22 May 1935. He went to live n Fleet, Hampshire.
Recalled for the Munich Crisis during September to October 1938, and then for the Second World War, he was employed as a Petty Officer with the Newhaven shore base Forward from 30 August 1939 right through to 14 August 1945, during which period he was appointed to temporary Chief Petty Officer on 30 November 1942 but reverted to Petty Officer again from 21 January 1943. One aspect of Forward was to oversee Coastal Forces operations in that area of East Sussex.
Edwards was awarded the British Empire Medal for meritorious service in the London Gazette for 8 June 1944, and is also entitled to the 1914-1915 trio, the Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-1945, and the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, this having been awarded to him back on 1 September 1928 when he was with Vernon.
