1914 Star (E.S. STEVENS. B.R.C.S. & O. ST. J.J.); British War Medal (29943 SJT. E.S. STEVENS. R.A.M.C.); Victory Medal (29943 SJT. E.S. STEVENS. R.A.M.C.); Defence Medal; Police Long Service Medal GVIR (SERGT. EDWIN S. STEVENS)
Edwin Stevens was born in Hendon, Middlesex on 22 December 1890. He was a Messenger with the Great Western Railway when he attested for service with the 7th London Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery on 9 February 1909. Assigned no. 539 he served with them as a Gunner until he was discharged on the termination of his engagement after 4 years service - on 8 February 1913.
With the outbreak of WWI Stevens was an Orderly with the British Red Cross & St John Ambulance Brigade and was posted to France in October 1914 - one of the early entrants to that theatre which earned him the 1914 Star. He was there until being discharged on 28 February 1915. He next went to Mesopotamia with the R.A.M.C. (N0. 29943) landing at Basrah in April 1917 where he was deployed as an Operating Theatre Attendant with 12 Indian General Hospital.
It was whilst stationed here that he contracted Malaria in April 1918 and had recurring bouts of the illness whilst stationed in Egypt. A Medical Report stated that, "Sergt Stevens states that he had an attack of fever on board ship when on his way to England from Egypt. His blood was not examined and he was told that the fever was Malaria and he was treated with Quinine. He has had no fever since rejoining 12 I.G.H. in October 1918 and is in excellent health at present."
Stevens was discharged to the Reserve on 15 May 1919 with an address 67 Northcote Avenue, Southall. A keen and enthusiastic would-be politician, he stood as an Independent candidate in the 1936 local elections - at which time his address was 10 Rectory Road, Barnes.
According to the 1939 Register he was a Railway Police Detective and it would have been in this capacity that he earned the Police Exemplary Service Medal and the WWII Defence Medal. In fact, a newspaper article (included) confirms that he was a Railway Police Detective as far back as 1922.
He died in Richmond Upon Thames in April 1978.
Medals are in good condition unless indicated otherwise. Sold with research and three original photos - two of the recipient on his own and a group photo which identifies Stevens and reads "About 1914. Was in Territorials (Artillery) but was in St Johns Ambulance Brigade and as such went to France with a unit raised and paid for in those days by Lady... of Wilton House, Wilts."
