b. 10/02/1880 Blackheath, Kent. d. 05/12/1949 Falmouth, Cornwall.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 26/01/1917 Economia, Archangel, Russia.
Edgar Twidle AM
Edgar was the 8th of 10 children of William and Sarah M Twidle and grew up at 2 Royal Parade, Blackheath, Kent. He joined the Merchant Navy and achieved his Mate’s Certificate on 20th February 1904. By 1911 he was living in Jarrow, County Durham, where he was a Chief Mate. During World War I, he was a Captain and was awarded the Albert Medal for saving the life of an able seaman at the port of Archangel, Russia. Little else is known about Edgar except that he died on 4th December 1949, aged 69, in Falmouth, Cornwall.
AM CITATION:
On the 26th January 1917 a series of fires and explosions occurred at Economia, port of Archangel. When Captain Twidle arrived on the scene his ship was burning fiercely. On being informed that the Chief Engineer was alive, Captain Twidle climbed on board but found that he was dead. He then examined the other rooms and found a Chinese sailor in a dazed condition. With the assistance of Mr. Martin and Mr. MacBryde this man ‘was got over to the ship’s side across the ice, and eventually to the Red Cross station. About four minutes after the seaman had been removed the vessel blew up.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD. SOLD AT SPINK’S FOR £5,200.
Acknowledgement:
Spink and Son – Images of Edgar Twidle AM and his Albert Medal.