Edwin Lankshear
1900-1971
Royal Marines
around 1917-1930
Dad was also known as Eddie in the
family and to friends as Dick and Lightning in his Corps boxing career
He was in Chatham Division.
1918 Apr 22/3, British naval forces attempted to sink block-ships in the German U-boat bases at the Battle of Zeebrugge. Dad was in HMS Vindictive that came alongside the mole. He carried a Lewis gun ashore. Thought that a bit silly as it was really meant to be on a gun mount not carried.
Western Front - acted as decoy on night patrols for Gurkha Regiment - he sat in no man's land and enemy would crawl to get him and he could hear the Gurkha's knives at work.1918/1919 Vladivostok Murmansk & Archangel - you probably did not know that the Allies invaded Russia to support the White Army in the Revolution - Dad marched along the railway line in defence of train. The march and the cold put an enormous toll on his feet and he wore corn plasters and dressed his feet every night for the rest of his life. The Russian Adventure
1920 Irish Troubles - transferred to Cork on attachment to the Royal Marine Guard - to work with the Black and Tan's - an Auxiliary Police Force - named after a beer drink because they wore khaki jacket and black trousers (Royal Irish Constabulary).Escorted Lord Mayor of Cork to prison in England - poor man died on hunger strike. Dad said he was ambushed when ferry got back to Dublin - he had to run across wharf with bullets all around.
Whole thing he said was like the Wild West - he wore two revolvers and you had to be ready at all times. I pray that the whole of Ireland will have peace .......
Edwin Lankshear Page 2 also Finding Royal Marines records