Name
William Edmends
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
55579
18th Scottish Rifles
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Edmends (aka Edmunds) was born in 1884 at Abbots Langley. He was one of five children born to William (senior)and Ann Edmends. The couple had three sons and two daughters. William (senior) was a Farmer and had farmed Hyde Lane Farm from around the time of the 1901 Census.
William Edmends (junior) was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour from March 1917, several months after he was conscripted and had travelled to France, and was listed regularly through to the end of the War. However his military unit was not named. From his Service Record it has been identified that he was conscripted and called up for service on 30th September 1916. He enlisted at Watford and travelled to Bedford for a medical examination, and on 2nd October was posted to the 29th Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. Two days later, on 4th October he was transferred to the Depot Company of the Royal Fusiliers, and embarked for France on 21st October 1916. On arrival he was posted to the 33rd Labour Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, and joined the battalion in the Field on 30th October.
On 13th February 1917 William was admitted to the 2nd Canadian Field Ambulance suffering from scabies, and did not return to his battalion until 1st March. On 14th May 1917 he was transferred to a Labour Company, and on 24th May was despatched to the Labour Corps Base Depot at Boulogne.
Later William transferred to 25th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers in the Field, and between 8th and 22nd December 1917 and travelled back to England on Leave. When he returned to France he was admitted to the 3rd General Hospital on19th March 1918 suffering from bronchitis, and as a result was despatched to England to recover. A Medical Report in early April noted “The patient has been at a Base Hospital since 30th March. He is up and getting about, but is very short of breath and wheezing. He is recommended for a Medical Board”. It is not known if William was examined by a Medical Board, however he was temporarily posted to the 3rd Northumberland Fusiliers on 5th May 1918 before being transferred to the 18th Scottish Rifles on 12th July. He embarked at Folkestone on 31st July and arrived at Boulogne later that day.
On 16th September 1918 he was reported wounded in action (gassed), and by 4th October he was being treated at No 25 General Hospital. He returned to his battalion on 2nd November 1918, and was de-mobilised to Hyde Lane Farm on 15th February 1919.
William Edmends survived the War, as did his cousin Norman Edmends.
Additional Information
Formerly 29th Battalion Middlesex Regiment; 33rd Labour Battalion Royal Fusiliers; 3rd & 25th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
