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Auction: 17001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 224

A rare Chindit's campaign group of six awarded to Major P. Edwards, Royal Engineers, late Royal Artillery, a casualty from Operation "Thursday", Orde Wingate's second foray behind Japanese lines in March 1944: originally flown by glider to 'Blackpool' airstrip as a Transport Officer with charge of mules, he was subsequently attached to the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, with whom he fought in 'Mad Mike' Calvert's offensive at Mogaung

1939-45 Star, privately engraved naming, 'Major P. Edwards, R.A.'; Burma Star, privately engraved naming, 'Major P. Edwards, R.A., Att. 1st XX L. Fus., Chindits 1944'; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these with privately engraved naming, 'Major P. Edwards, R.A.'; Korea 1950-53 (Major P. Edwards, R.E.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, privately engraved naming, 'Major P. Edwards, R.E.', generally good very fine (6)

Peter Edwards was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in August 1941. Embarked for India in October 1943, he was attached to the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Regiment, in which capacity he served in Wingate's second Chindit operation. As part of 111 Brigade, the Battalion was flown by glider to 'Blackpool' airstrip on 9 March 1944.

Edwards, who was appointed Transport Officer, had charge of the unit's mules. Extremely temperamental and difficult to handle, the animals were nonetheless essential to shift vital supplies behind enemy lines: on this occasion - following lessons gleaned from Wingate's first Chindit operation - the animals had their vocal cords cut to prevent them revealing positions to the enemy; a heavily laden mule forms the centre piece of the wonderful 'Animals at War Memorial' in Hyde Park.

In subsequent fighting in atrocious conditions around a defensive perimeter south-west of Myitkyina, 111 Brigade suffered 50% casualties. Meanwhile, 77 Brigade, under Brigadier 'Mad Mike' Calvert, had suffered comparable losses in the bitter fighting to take Mogaung in early June - two of his Chindits were awarded the V.C.

On 18 June, Edwards was transferred as a 'Reinforcing Officer' to 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, a unit in Calvert's 77 Brigade: this was the very same date on which the Battalion launched a costly attack on Nuanghaitaw, sustaining casualties of 16 killed and 38 wounded. Judging by regimental returns, it possible that Edwards himself became a casualty on this date. Certainly by September he was residing in hospital, shortly after which he was evacuated to India.

Having been demobilised on his eventual return to the U.K., Edwards obtained a commission in the Royal Artillery (T.A.) in March 1948. But with the advent of hostilities in Korea, and in the rank of Major, he joined the Royal Engineers as part of the Movement Control Section in Pusan. He finally relinquished his commission in June 1965.

Sold with copied research and photographs, the latter depicting Edwards with one of his mules, and the other a group of Chindits from 2nd Battalion, King's Own Regiment, including the recipient.

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Sold for
£900