Name
Henry (George Henry) Edwards
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
266902
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
4 Coy,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 54 and 56.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Walkern Village Memorial
Pre War
Soldiers Died in the Great War records that George Henry Edwards was as born in Willesden, Middx. However all census records suggest that he was known as henry and born in Walkern, Herts.
He was born around 1889 in Walkern, Herts., and his home was in Walkern. He was the son of George and Emma Edwards of Froghall Lane, Walkern. He enlisted in Hertford.
In 1891 the family were living at Froghall Lane, Walkern. Present were both parents: George (46) and Emma (36), with George working as a farm labourer. Their children were: John (17), Hetty (13), Alice (11), Willie (10), Minnie (2) and Henry (1).
In 1901 the family were still in Froghall Lane, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with George now working as a hay and straw binder. Their children listed were: William (was Willie), Minnie, Henry and now Fred (6).
Still in Froghall Lane, Walkern in 1911 the family were both parents, George now listed as a farm labourer, with children Harry (21) and Fred (16), so George Henry was absent. The census recorded his parents as married for 39 years with 8 children of whom 1 had died.
Wartime Service
George’s Regimental number was 266902. He served in 4 Company of the Regiment and he was killed in action.
On the day of his death, the 1st Herts were cut to pieces by shot and shell at St. Julien in the Ypres Salient. They had marched from Vlamertinge to their assembly position arriving by midnight on the 30th/3 1st July 1917. A general bombardment of the German lines commenced at 3.45am on the 3 1st July and the Hertfordshires left their assembly position at 5.00am and captured St. Julien during the morning. Unfortunately, the promised supporting artillery barrage did not materialise as the guns could not be brought up due to the all-prevailing mud. By noon the Herts had crossed the Steenbeck stream and had come across unbroken wire that prevented any further advance. The German artillery and machine-guns decimated them and by the end of the day the Herts had virtually ceased to exist. Over half the fighting strength of the Battalion, including most of the officers, were killed or wounded in a single day.
Additional Information
After his death £1 10s 2d was authorised to go to his father, George, on 15 July 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £8 was authorised to be paid to him on 18 November 1919.
His pension cards record Emma, his mother, as his next of kin, living at Froghall Lane, Walkern, near Stevenage. She was awarded a pension of 3s 6d a week from 26 March 1918.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
