Edward Unwin
Commander, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 1245 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Commander (register: Captain) all Commanders →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS River Clyde) all HMS River Clyde VCs →
- Date of action
- 22 April 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 16th August 1915 on this day → all of 1915 →
- Born
- 17th March 1864 at Forest Lodge, Hythe, Hampshire
- Died
- 10th April 1950 at Hindhead, Surrey
- Memorial / grave
- at St Luke's Churchyard, Grayshott, Surrey
- Medal held by
- unknown
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
UNWIN, Edward. (reg No. 1245).
Commander. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 16th August 1915.
VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.
Born on 17th March 1864 at Forest Lodge, Hythe, Hampshire.
Died on 10th April 1950 at Hindhead, Surrey.
Memorial on grave at St Luke's Churchyard, Grayshott, Surrey. (Headstone raised in 1995).
Digest of Citation reads: At Gallipoli on 25th April 1915 during the landing on V Beach at Cape Helles, Commander Unwin along with two Midshipmen, Drewry and Malleson, Able Seaman Williams and Seaman Samson, left HMS River Clyde under devastating fire from the enemy to get the lighters, that were forming a bridge to the shore, in position after they had come adrift. Suffering from the effects of cold through immersion in the water he worked endlessly until he was forced to return to the ship for treatment. Against the orders of the medical officer he again returned to his work until its completion. He received medical attention for three wounds and again left the ship in a lifeboat in order to rescue three men, who were wounded, in the shallow water. He eventually was forced to stop through physical exhaustion.
Additional information:. Captain Unwin was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). He also held the Order of the Nile . The four men who assisted in the above deed were also awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the son of Edward Wilberforce and Henrietta Jane (nee Carmac) Unwin. As a sailor he served in Donald Currie's sailing ships, and worked for the P and O line. Before joining the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant in 1895 he served in the Egyptian Navy. He retired from the Royal Navy as a Commander. He was recalled on 29th July, 1914 as Fleet Coaling Officer serving aboard HMS Iron Duke under Admiral Jellicoe. He was given the acting rank of Captain of HMS River Clyde during the landing.
Alf's notes on his life
(Headstone raised in 1995). Digest of Citation reads: At Gallipoli on 25th April 1915 during the landing on V Beach at Cape Helles, Commander Unwin along with two Midshipmen, Drewry and Malleson, Able Seaman Williams and Seaman Samson, left HMS River Clyde under devastating fire from the enemy to get the lighters, that were forming a bridge to the shore, in position after they had come adrift. Suffering from the effects of cold through immersion in the water he worked endlessly until he was forced to return to the ship for treatment. Against the orders of the medical officer he again returned to his work until its completion. He received medical attention for three wounds and again left the ship in a lifeboat in order to rescue three men, who were wounded, in the shallow water. He eventually was forced to stop through physical exhaustion.
Additional information
Captain Unwin was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). He also held the Order of the Nile The four men who assisted in the above deed were also awarded the Victoria Cross. He was the son of Edward Wilberforce and Henrietta Jane (nee Carmac) Unwin. As a sailor he served in Donald Currie's sailing ships, and worked for the P and O line. Before joining the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant in 1895 he served in the Egyptian Navy. He retired from the Royal Navy as a Commander. He was recalled on 29th July, 1914 as Fleet Coaling Officer serving aboard HMS Iron Duke under Admiral Jellicoe. He was given the acting rank of Captain of HMS River Clyde during the landing.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at St Luke's Churchyard, Grayshott, Surrey
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