Edwin Girling joined The Leicestershire Regiment at 15,
During WW1 he served with the 1st Battalion in Flanders was more than once mentioned in Dispatches and twice awarded the Military Meda . Then India, Egypt, Germany (2nd.Btn) He was CSM, and later (5th.Btn) as Drum Major then Bandmaster.
He was Mentioned in Dispatch by General Haigh.
"For gallant and distinguished services in the Field". Awarded Military Medal.
On the 30th of April 1916. Notification over signature of Winston S Churchill (London Gazette of 27.10.1916).
1918 St Quentin, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France.
" For gallantry and devotion to duty." Awarded Bar to Military Medal.
26 Feb 1919. (London Gazette of 14.05.1919). Conferment of the medal was announced in the London Gazette and E.P. Girling earned the right to add the letters M.M. to his name.
He left The Colours on the 28th of Apr 1934 in Londonderry, Northern Ireland where he was serving with the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regimen his Military Conduct was Exemplary during his total service of 24yrs 63days.
In 1937 in Leicester, he rejoined as Drum Major to Bandmaster 5th Bn Leicestershire Regiment TA. A sufficiently rare step for a newspaper article which noted "Posh Girling" had been a violinist and solo Basoon player at 17.
on the WW2 outbreak of WW2, Edwin re-enlisted as Warrant Officer, Worcestershire Regiment, promoted Lieutenant in The Glosters and Captain in the Paratroop Regiment. As Major he was Commandant of a POW Camp at Peterhead in Scotland then a Camp in Mauritius, Indian Ocean.
The London Gazette reported on 25 April 1941
Gloster R. The undermentioned to be Lt.: W.O. Cl.1 Edwin Percy Girling (178960) from Worc. R. Lieutenant The Glosters.- Seniority Date: 2md Apr 1941
On the 2nd of May he joined 1st Btn. Paratroop Regiment and
transferred to 6th Para on the 17th of November 1942, then on the 1st of Sep 1943 he joined the Airborne Forces Depot, Battle School as a
Captain of the Parachute Regiment.
On the 13th of November 1944 he was transferred to Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland as a
Major. to be Commandant of the P.O.W Camp.
In June 1946 he went to Mauritius, Indian Ocean as a
Major to be Commandant Mauritius Royal Pioneers Camp a post he held until
12th of Jun 1947. On the 2nd of July 1947 it was reported in the London Gazette (Supplement) that he was released from active military duty, at the end of the emergency, Granted written permission from The War Office by the Army Council to use rank of Major thereafter.
He later rejoined the TA, on the 19 Jan 1952 he is on the Leicester
Gen List (Sec A) TA. as Adjt/QM of The Royal Leicestershire Regiment H.G.
Edwin died in 1982 at Great Malvern, Worcestershire, England
I am the son of Edwin Percy Girling MM and hold his Medals and Citations and numerous original photographs. He was awarded Military Medal with Bar, 1914 Star with Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal with Oak Leaf and for WW2 the Defence Medal and War Medal.
