In memory of Evan Henry Edwards
Evan Edwards was brought up in Rhyl as the son of Owen Edwards and Sarah (née Davies), who were in fact his uncle and aunt, writes great niece Ruth Pritchard. He lived with “siblings” Lewis, Sally, Gladys and Blodwen on West Street and Wellington Road, near to the Sun Inn. He attended the Wellington Road School and the Rhyl National School, Clwyd Street.
The family gravestone at Maes Hyfryd cemetery in Rhyl remembers Evan with the words “also Evan Edwards, son of the above (i.e. Owen and Sarah), killed in France on Sunday, February 25th 1917”. However, there are a couple of anomalies here. Evan was born on 24 September 1897 to Miriam Edwards, Owen’s sister, whilst she was in domestic service in Liverpool. No father is recorded on the birth certificate. Secondly, it would seem that Evan was killed aged 19 in Belgium, not France. He served with the 16th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
He is buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Boezinge, Ieper. The cemetery is close to Ieper (or Ypres) - nicknamed Wipers by British troops. Some years ago we had the great honour of laying flowers on his grave.
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