b. 1843 Spain. d. 17/01/1919 Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 07/12/1867 Bay of Zurriola, Spain.
Edward B March AM
Edward March was born in c. 1843 in Spain and his mother’s name was Marcella. By 1861, 18 year old Edward was living in Paddington, London with his uncle Henry and aunt Olivia. He then gained employment as a civil servant and over the next 30 years, held a number of positions such as British Vice Consul in Peru and Spain. By 1881, he was back in England, living in Teignmouth, Devon with his Peruvian wife, Rosaura, and his six children. He was a relatively wealthy man as the family had three servants and a governess for the children. By the time of the 1901 Census, they were still in Teignmouth with five of the children having left home, but they had two further children, Teresa (aged 9) and Cyril (aged 4). His mother, now aged 81, was also living with them. In 1911, the family had moved to Ramsgate, Kent, where they lived at 38 Grove Road. Four of his daughters were living with him, and a servant. He died at 219 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth on 17th January 1919, aged 75.
AM CITATION:
On the night of the 7th of December last, the French ship “Nouveau Caboteur” was cast on shore in the Bay of Zurriola, on the north coast of Spain, during a gale of wind. The sea at the time was running so heavily that no ‘boat would venture to put off. There was also a general belief that it was impossible for a boat to be of any service. At this crisis, the British Vice-Consul at San Sebastian, Mr. E. B. March, after unsuccessfully entreating some of the bystanders to accompany him, plunged into the sea, swam to the vessel, and succeeded in bringing a rope to land. The rope was then secured, and one of the crew came safely to shore along it. The second, however (a Jad), lost his hold, dropped into the sea, and sank. Then Mr. March, though benumbed with cold, at the greatest personal risk, again swam to the vessel, dived under her keel, recovered the lad, and brought him safe to land. The remainder of the crew (which consisted of six men in all) got safely to land. Mr. March was for a time completely prostrated from the effects of his exertions and the intense cold ; but by care and attention he was restored a result scarcely to have been expected under the circumstances.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
Acknowledgement:
Allan Stanistreet – Image of Edward March AM.