Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, Corporal F J Edwards VC, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), 1953

Silver coronation medal designed by Cecil Thomas, with a portrait of Queen Elzabeth II on the obverse and a royal cypher surmounted by a crown and surrounded by the inscription, 'Queen Elizabeth II Crowned 2nd June 1953', on the reverse. The medal is suspended from a dark red ribbon with two vertical blue stripes and white edges.

Private Frederick Jeremiah Edwards (1894-1964) from Queenstown (now Cobh) in County Cork, won the Victoria Cross on 26 September 1916 for knocking out a German machine gun at Thiepval Ridge on the Somme with grenades. He was awarded his VC by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 5 February 1917. Edwards was later promoted to corporal and after leaving the Army he was forced to sell his VC to make ends meet. He died in Surrey on 9 March 1964.

The 1953 Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and awarded to selected individuals throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. Recipients included members of the armed forces, police, fire brigade, various government ministers and public servants and officials. A total of 129,051 medals were awarded.

From a medal group awarded to Corporal F J Edwards VC, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment).