EDWARDS George Henry

Harry Edwards was born and enlisted in Bromsgrove under this name. The family appear to have chosen to use his given names of George Henry for recording on the war memorial.

January 1916
8th Worcesters heavily shelled. Seven men killed, eight wounded. Buried in a dug out. Two Bromsgrove men among the fallen. The last of three brothers.

Intelligence reached Bromsgrove last weekend that the 8th Worcesters (Territorials) had been under heavy shell fire in France, and that many casualties had occurred to a party of men who were seeking cover in a dug-out. The information, so far as it can be gleaned from letters received from the officers of the regiment and others who were engaged in the operations, shows that shells exploded upon the dug-out, with the result that seven men were killed and eight wounded. Among those who lost their lives were two Bromsgrove men – Sergeant Harry Edwards of Peter’s Finger, and Private Arthur Nokes, son of Mr Joseph Nokes of New Buildings, Birmingham Road.

The wife of Sergeant Edwards and the father and mother of Private Nokes have each received letters from Lieutenant-Colonel WK Peake, commanding the Battalion, and Captain Lionel Kerwood, commanding ‘C’ Company, to which the deceased men belonged. In his letter to Mrs Edwards, dated January 5th, Colonel Peake says: “I deeply regret to have to inform you that your husband, Sergeant H Edwards, of this Battalion, was killed in action on January 3rd. He was killed by a German shell obtaining a direct hit on a dug-out in which he was sheltering during a heavy bombardment, and six of his comrades were killed with him. Owing to the exposed position and the very heavy timbers that had fallen in, it was found impossible to recover the bodies after two days fruitless efforts, so I asked the Chaplain to come to the spot last evening and he read the funeral service over them. I feel quite convinced from the position of his body that your husband’s death was instantaneous, and there was no suffering. I cannot tell you how I sympathise with you in your loss, which has also been very great to this Battalion, as your husband was such an excellent and reliable NCO.”

Captain Kerwood’s letter to Mrs Edwards.  Dated January 6th reads: “On my return from hospital today I heard the sad news of your husband’s death last Monday. Sergt Edwards has always been one of the best men I had in my company, and I feel his loss very keenly. He was an admirable soldier, always brave, keen and smart, and was adored by his men, and trusted and admired by his officers. I wish to convey to you and your family my deep sympathy with you in your terrible loss, in which all his old comrades share. It may be a little consolation to you to know that is death was instantaneous and painless, and that he died doing his duty, having won the respect and affection of all who knew him.”

Writing to Mrs Edwards on January 5th, Captain Francis W Hemming, Acting Company Commander of ‘C’ Company during the absence of Captain Kerwood said: “I am so sorry to have to tell you that on Monday, the 3rd inst, our company was heavily shelled, and your husband Sergeant Edwards, was killed, being buried in the fall of a dug-out at the beginning of the bombardment. There is no doubt in my mind but that he was killed instantly. On behalf of Captain Kerwood (who is away just now), and the whole company, I wish to say how deeply we sympathise with you in your loss. We are all very much upset by it, for he was a brave and faithful soldier, on whom we all and his comrades could always depend in every way.”

Sergeant Edwards, who was 28 years of age on August 13th last, leaves a widow and three children – all girls – the eldest of whom is eight years old. He had been in the Bromsgrove Company of the Territorials for some years, and was the son of Mrs Rea, also of Peter’s Finger. He was the only surviving son of Mrs Rea, and his two brothers had been killed in France during the present war.

Harry Edwards has no known grave, the photograph available shows his name on Thiepval Memorial as H. Edwards.