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Auction: 25111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 485

The 1914-15 Star trio to Regimental Sergeant Major W. Edgar, Australian Machine Gun Corps, late Royal Marines Light Infantry, who was posthumously awarded the D.C.M. in October 1918, who was wounded in action in the Gallipoli campaign and later died of wounds in France on 28 May 1918

1914-15 Star (10 Cpl H. Edgar. 10/Bn. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (10 A.W.O.CL.I. W. Edgar. 1 M.G.Bn. A.I.F.), extremely fine (3)

[D.C.M.] London Gazette 21 October 1918. The original citation states:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Whilst in charge of pack transport and supply parties he has personally superintended the delivery of rations and large quantities of S.A.A. to gun positions, day after day, under exceptionally heavy enemy shell fire. By the example of his courage and his disregard of personal safety he has enabled the gun crew to respond successfully to the many calls for barrages of machine-gun fire against enemy counter-attacks, and at all times he has distinguished himself by his thoroughness and his devotion to duty.'

William Edgar was born in Londonderry, Ireland, on 17 March 1876, and was the son of John and Letitia Edgar. He originally joined the Royal Marines Light Infantry and enlisted at Glasgow on 3 January 1894 and completed his service with the rank of Private on 22 March 1906 and then emigrated to South Australia.

With the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted as a Private into the Australian Imperial Force at Morphettville, South Australia, on 19 August 1914, he was quickly promoted to Corporal on 16 September 1914. Edgar embarked on the Ionian to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Alexandria on 2 March 1915 and arrived in Gallipoli on 28 April 1915 and was promoted to Sergeant on the same day. Edgar suffered a Gun Shot Wound to the thigh (service papers note 25/29 April 1915) and he was evacuated to Malta on the Clan McGilvray disembarking on 4 May 1915. Having recovered he embarked at Alexandria on 14 June 1915 and returned to Gallipoli arriving on 20 June 1915. He was admitted to hospital on 12 September 1915 with Febrile (fever) and put on the hospital ship Nevasa the following day. Edgar was to further suffer from Malaria and eventually rejoined his unit at Mudros on 24 November 1915.

He transferred to the 3rd M.G.Company on 13 March 1916 at Serapeum, Egypt and was promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant on 18 March 1916. Edgar then proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria on 29 March 1916 and arrived at Marseilles on 5 April 1916. He was further promoted to W.O.II on 5 August 1916 in the field. He had leave to England on 26 November 1916 and returned to the field on 14 December 1916. Edgar had further leave this time in Paris between 5 August 1917- 8 August 1917 and rejoined his unit on the 9 August 1917. He again returned to England for further leave on 15 September returning to the field on 26 September 1917. Edgar was promoted to Acting Regimental Sergeant Major on 2 March 1918. On the 1 April 1918 his unit had a Designation Change to become the 1st Machine Gun Battalion.

Edgar suffered from Shrapnel Wounds received to the right ankle and hand on the 28th May 1918 and firstly went to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance but was transferred to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station and died later the same day and was buried in the Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, Nord, France. His effects including the D.C.M. were left to his sister who lived in South Australia, his papers note the Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll were issued to his father John Edgar who lived in Scotland.

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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£210