FLYING OFFICER (LATER WING COMMANDER) E.S. STEDDY, ROYAL FLYING CORPS AND ROYAL AIR FORCE (LATE PRIVATE, ROYAL EAST KENT YEOMANRY, AND LIEUTENANT, EAST KENT REGIMENT). Seven: The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Officer's Breast Badge (O.B.E.), Military 1914-15 Star (2278 Private, Royal East Kent Yeomanry) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (2nd Lieutenant) General Service Medal 1918-62, 1 clasp, Kurdistan (Flying Officer, Royal Air Force) 1939 Defence and War Medals. O.B.E. in original case of issue, campaign medals mounted court style, as worn, OBE mint state, campaign medals generally Extremely Fine, and accompanied by a matching set of 7 dress miniatures, these mounted loose style, as worn.
With photocopied extracts births register and 1901 and 1911 censuses, photocopied Medal Index Card, 6 pages photocopied service papers and extracts from London Gazette.
Born Minster, Kent, 24/2/1891, the son of George Thomas Steddy, Edwin Seymour Steddy first saw service as a Private with the Royal East Kent Yeomanry, 15/12/1914 to 18/7/1916. With that regiment he saw service at Gallipoli, entering that theatre of operations on 8/10/1915 (the 1/1st Battalion Royal East Kent Yeomanry landed at Gallipoli as a unit on 8/10/1915, where they saw service attached to the 42nd Division). The 1/1st East Kent Yeomanry were withdrawn to Mudros in January 1916, and subsequently transferred to Egypt in 1916. Steddy was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, East Kent Regiment, on 19/7/1916 and saw service with the 2nd Battalion East Kent Regiment. When Steddy was commissioned into the East Kents, the 2nd Battalion of that regiment was serving in Salonika. Steddy transferred to the Royal Flying Corps with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on 10/1/1918, and was automatically transferred to the Royal Air Force, Technical Branch, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant when it came into being on 1/4/1918. He was subsequently promoted Lieutenant, 2/4/1918 and Captain, 15/4/1918. Steddy was granted a permanent commission in the R.A.F., with the rank of Flying Officer, on 1/8/1919, was promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1R/1927 and retired from the Royal Air Force on 1/10/1935. Steddy was recalled for service shortly before the outbreak of WW2, and appointed Flight Lieutenant, Administration and Special Duties Branch, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (with seniority backdated to his previous date of retirement, 1/10/1935). Steddy was promoted Wing Commander, 24/4/1940, and eventually relinquished his commission on 10/2/1954. Wing Commander Steddy died on 14/5/1964.
In addition to Kurdistan (Iraq), Steddy also saw overseas service with the Royal Air Force in Egypt and Aden
Wing Commander Steddy's OBE was announced in the London Gazette of 1/1/1944, page 17 (New Year's Honours List).
The 1901 census records Edwin Seymour Steddy as a 10 year old schoolboy, and gives his father's trade as a miller and corn factor. In the 1911 census Edwin Seymour Steddy is recorded as being a 20 year old corn factor.
