Edward UNWIN, VC, Royal Navy

[Victor Harvey]

As the infantry struggled ashore at Gallipoli on 25th April, the Royal Navy was desperately trying to assist those disembarking under heavy fire from the Turkish defenders, and another man with residential links to Cheltenham was about to receive a VC. Born at Fawley, near Southampton, on 17th March, 1864, the son of Herbert and Henrietta, he was educated in Cheltenham, but not at the College. A Merchant Navy officer for many years, he transferred to the Royal Navy during 1895, seeing active service in West Africa and during the Boer War, before retiring as Lieutenant-Commander in 1909. Recalled at the outbreak of the First World War, his home was Charlton Lodge, Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham, whilst his father was living at Arle Court on the Gloucester Road by 1914.

Edwin Unwin was given command of the Hussar in February, 1915, and on 25th April, as a Commander, he was at ‘V’ Beach when the S.S. River Clyde – a converted collier vessel acting as a troop carrier – began its task of releasing men from the hull and into boats which would then be rowed to the shore-line. Unwin had at his disposal a fleet of specially designed motor-lighters, and he and his men spent many hours in the water, exposed to horrendous machine-gun fire, attempting to manoeuvre the craft into position. Cold and exhaustion forced Unwin back to the River Clyde, but against medical advice he returned to action, only seeking treatment after being injured for a third time, and even then he made yet another journey to the beach to rescue three wounded men.

These five Victoria Crosses were all Gazetted on 16th August, 1915, by which time Unwin had also taken part in the second major landings of the campaign, at the relatively more peaceful Sulva Bay further up the coast. (When trying to push inland, however, heavy casualties were again inflicted by the Turks, and the 7th Glosters – raised in Bristol at the outbreak of war – was almost annihilated). During the evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsular a few months later, Unwin was reportedly the last man to leave Sulva, but not before he had rescued a soldier who had fallen overboard during the withdrawal. Commander Unwin received his VC from the King at Buckingham Palace on 15th January, 1916, and in consideration of his magnificent conduct throughout the costly Dardenelles operation, the naval officer was promoted to Captain. A host of other honours came his way, including a CB, CMG, French Legion of Honour, and the Order of the Nile (Egypt).

Unwin retired from the Navy in 1920 and later moved to Surrey, where he collapsed and died on 19th April, 1950, at the age of 86. By a strange coincidence, he was buried at St Luke’s Churchyard, Grayshott, on 25th April – the 35th anniversary of the initial Gallipoli landings.

Lest we forget