Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 318

(x) Four: Flight Lieutenant E. F. Marquis, Royal Air Force, who was latterly prominent in screen and printed media

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., 1st issue (F/O. E. F. Marquis. R.A.F.), minor official corrections to this last, good very fine and scarce (4)

Approximately 272 Efficiency Medals to the Royal Air Force in the reign of King George VI.

E.M. London Gazette 18 May 1951.

Edward Frank Marquis - or 'Max' to his friends and comrades - was born Edward Frank Markey on 15 September 1919 at Ilford, Essex, son of Edward Markey, a native of County Louth, who later became Mayor of East Ham. Young Marquis was educated at East Ham Grammar and he was working as a Clerk with the Metropolitan Water Board upon the outbreak of the Second World War. Commissioned into the 2/6th Battalion, Essex Regiment, Marquis manned search lights in London during the Battle of Britain. Transferred to the Royal Air Force in April 1941, he joined the General Duties Branch as a Pilot and from August 1944 flew 3 Ops with No. 640 Squadron over North-West Europe, which saw him evade two night fighters on one occasion. He was posted sick in September 1944 and did not return to operational flying.

Post-War, Marquis found fame as a screen writer, with over thirty credits to his name, including Pathfinders, The Avengers and Z Cars. He was also responsible for a number of publications including a biography of Sir Alf Ramsey and many more under the nom-de-plumes Edward F. Barnes and Michael Meath, assisting Michael Varney to publish Bodyguard to Charles. Besides this he was heavily involved in football, being a County FA referee and was the TV commentator for the F.A. Cup from 1977. Marquis also regularly appeared on television in Switzerland.

Sold together with a signed copy of Bodyguard to Charles, besides copied research.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£260

Starting price
£270