William Winter Edwards

Name

William Winter Edwards
10 May 1897

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

13/04/1918
20

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Lance Corporal
G/12821
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
1st Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

British War Medal

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XXVI.F.11
Belgium

Headstone Inscription

IN THE GLORY & JOY OF HIS YOUTH FOR HIS COUNTRY HE GAVE HIS ALL

UK & Other Memorials

Harmer Green & Digswell Memorial, Harmer Green, St John's Church Memorial Plaque, Digswell, Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin

Pre War

William Winter Edwards was born on 10 May 1897 in Dalston, Hackney, Middlesex, the son of Albert Samuel and Emily Edwards (née Winter) who married in St John’s Church, Hackney on 20 August 1887. 

In 1901 the family were living at 72 Lavender Grove, Hackney. Present were both parents: Albert (36) and Emily (41) and Albert was working as a cabinet maker and employer. Their children were: Mabel (12), Ethel (11), Alberta (8) and William (3),

William first attended the Hitchin Grammar School in the Winter of 1908 in the Upper 3rd Form, probably as a boarder. He was at the school in the Winter of 1910 in the Lower 5th Form, at which stage the Register terminates.

The family moved to Digswell, but his father died in early 1911 and the Census shows William was living with his widowed mother and siblings at Winterton, High Digswell, Welwyn and was baptised in Digswell, Herts on 12 April 1911 aged 13. A visitor and a domestic servant were also present. The census recorded Emily as a widow who had been married from 23 years with 5 children, of whom 1 had died.

William enlisted in the 8th Cyclist Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment on 27 November 1915 when he was living at 44 Pollard Rd, Oakleigh Park, Whetstone and working as a dining table maker. He was 18 years, and 6 months old and described as 5’ 6” tall, 138 lbs, with a 34 inch chest when fully expanded and had three decayed teeth. He was mobilised on 12 May 1916 in Brighton He was trained with the 4th Reserve Battalion of the Kent Regiment.

Wartime Service

He was on home service from 11 May 1916 to 22 September 1916 and with the BEF at no. 40 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples from the 23rd. 

William had the Regimental Number G/12821 and served in the 1st Battalion of the Buffs from 6 October 1916. On 27 June 1917 he was promoted to unpaid Lance Corporal, then paid Lance Corporal from 5 July 1917. 

He received leave to the UK from 25 November 1917 to 9 December. 

The Battalion was in the 16th Brigade, 6th Division, IV Corps of the 3rd Army and his death occurred at the time of the great German Spring Offensive that commenced on the 21st March 1918. The Buffs were roughly south-south-east of Arras to the west of Moeuvres and were hard hit in the opening phase of the offensive as were many other Battalions.

The Battalion was in the 16th Brigade, 6th Division, IV Corps of the 3rd Army and his death occurred at the time of the great German Spring Offensive that commenced on the 21st March 1918. The Buffs were roughly south-south-east of Arras to the west of Moevres and were hard hit in the opening phase of the offensive as were many other Battalions.

He died from gunshot wounds to the head and arm at No. 10 casualty clearing station and died of his wounds in Belgium on 13 April 1918.. He was buried, along with the 43 others who died that day.

He was buried in Plot 26, Row F, Grave 2 in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Wes-Vlaanderen in Belgium. A private inscription on the headstone reads “In the glory and joy of his youth for his Country he gave his all”.

Additional Information

His mother was informed of his death by telegram: “20.4.18 Regret to inform you that 12821 L/Cpl W Edwards died at No 10 Casualty Clearing Station France 13.4.18 from gunshot wound in head and arm.” She received his effects from the Army on 9 August 1918 they included 3 discs, 1 title, cap badge, 2 mirrors, a notebook, letters, photos, 1 pair of glasses with cases and a wallet.

She complete the Army form listing his living relatives when living at 44 Pollard Road, Whetstone, Oakleigh Park. It was witnessed on 2 October 1919. It confirmed his sisters as Mabel Emily (31), Ethel Hannah (30) and Alberta Edwards (26) – all still living at home.

After his death money was owing and was authorised on 31 July 1918 as follows: £2 11s 7d each to his mother and sisters Mabel and Ethel and £2 11s 6d to Alberta. Later, a war gratuity of £9 was authorised to be paid to his mother on 10 December 1919.

His pension cards record Emily, his mother, as his next of kin, living at 44 Pollard Road, Whetstone, Oakleigh Park and records her as “Not Claiming”.

William is also commemorated on his parents' headstone in St John's Church Cemetery, his part of the inscription reads:

Acknowledgments

Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild,