Australian Singles

Lot 3895    SESSION 10 (9.30AM FRIDAY 27TH NOVEMBER)    Australian Singles

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $840

COLONIAL AUXILIARY FORCES LONG SERVICE MEDAL, (EVIIR). Major V.H.Edwards. Unattached List. 30.8.04. Engraved. Very fine.

Entitled to Queen's South Africa Medal 1899 with three clasps.

CAFLSM: CAG No.53 3/9/1904, p1005- South Australia - Maj Vernon Harridge Edwards, Unattached List.

Vernon Harridge Edwards, served in South Australian Military Forces from 1884; commissioned Lieutenant in 02Feb1888; to Captain 30Sep1891 and Adjutant 2nd Militia Infy Regt; Adjutant 1st Militia Infy Regt 30Sep1898; to Major with Adelaide Rifles 08Jun1898; to South Africa with Fifth South Australian Contingent as a Special Service Officer arriving 23Mar1901; Major with SA Infy Regt 01Jul1903; Trf to Unattached List 07Nov1903; Trf as Major to Retired List 03May1909.

Vernon Harridge Edwards was born on 20 July 1866, at Brighton, South Australia, the eldest son of the late Mr Henry Edwards, a farmer and grazier. During 1882-3 he accompanied Ernest Giles F.R.G.S. on an exploration expedition into the interior of Australia. Then in 1884 he joined the Garrison Artillery at Largs Bay and Adelaide as a Gunner. His service from then is set out above. When he went to the war in South Africa his first appointment was with Colonel De Lisle's column until he contracted enteric fever and was invalided home. After recovering he returned to South Africa and was posted to the staff of General Sir Henry Settle at Cape Town. He was then sent as Chief Staff Officer to Colonel White's column operating in Namaqualand District. Major Edwards was twice Mentioned in Despatches, first by the officer commanding the Namaqualand District and then by Lord Kitchener. He then had a roving commission in the Intelligence Department.

After peace was declared, Major Edwards was appointed Permit Officer for East London and then returned to South Australia in 1902 and was placed on the Unattached List the following year. In his civilian life he had started work in the Land Titles Office in September 1883. When he returned from South Africa he resumed work with the Land Titles Office and in June 1904 he was appointed Deputy Registrar.

With research.