Description
Extremely rare early 1900’s group of miniature medals to Edward Charles Surridge of the Sutton Fire Brigade.
The medals are :- Fire Brigade Union Medal Bronze (on individual pin), Fire Brigade Union Medal Silver , Belgian Federation Royale Des Pompiers Medal, French Fire Service Medal, Belgian Fire Service Medal, Special Constabulary Medal with 1914-18 Bar (on individual pin)
A Brief summary – Born in 1868 Edward joined the Sutton Fire Service in 1883 (aged just 15) and served with them for well over 40 years. In 1892 he married Annie Cousins in Epsom Surrey and in 1904 he was elected Honorary Secretary of the Surrey Fire Brigade Section, where he was instrumental in the resuscitation of the Annual Surrey Fire Brigades Competitive Display and Fete. A completion taken very seriously within the local Fire Brigades, initially numbering in the 30s, this figure rose to nearly 50 different Brigades over the years and Edwards role in organising these annual events carried on until at least 1944.
In 1906 Edward, now serving as Sutton Fire Brigades, Second Officer was elected as Secretary and Treasurer of the Surrey County Fire Brigades Association, a roll he held for many years.
By 1908 Edward had been promoted to Sutton Fire Brigades Chief Officer, a roll which he held until at least 1927, by which time he had completed 44 years service with the Brigade.
After war was declared in 1914, Edward served as an Inspector of Police for at least three years, for which he was awarded the Special Constabulary Medal with 1914-18 Bar. Exactly how long he served in the police is unknown and whether this service existed before or after the war cannot be ascertained.
It cannot be confirmed but it is suspected that Edward retired as Chief officer of the Fire Brigade in 1928 (aged 60) but we do know that he was granted the title of Honorary Chief Officer and continued to play a very active roll within the Sutton Fire Brigade, both as a judge at the annual competitive events and as a member of the Fire Brigade Union and Association, in fact the last time Edwards name was mentioned in the press it in 1944 and was to announce that he had been Re-elected chairman of the Surrey National Fire Brigades Association (aged 76).
Edward passed away on the 19th May 1960, aged 92.
This group comes with electronic copies of 10 newspapers dating from 1906 through to 1944, all of which have details of this man’s life and career.
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