In memory of Edward Walter Edwards
Edward Walter Edwards was the eldest son of Dan and Sarah Edwards, of Pentwyn, Tonyrefail. His father was chief accountant for the Welsh Navigation Colliery at Coed Ely.
Edward was educated in Ystrad Rhondda, Pentre and Porth County School. He won a county scholarship and gained a BSc from Cardiff. In January 1912 he was appointed science master at Maesteg County School.
He enlisted in 1914 and served with the Welsh Regiment. In one of his letters home from the trenches, he asked his mother to send a few socks by the winter for himself and his comrades to wear. She and other local residents responded by sending 160 pairs!
To celebrate his promotion to Major, a ceremony was held at the Boys’ School, Tonyrefail, in June 1917 where the vicar presented him with a “sword of honour, suitably engraved”.
He was regarded by fellow Baptists as a promising lecturer. He was reported to have sung every day during his last home leave.
On 23 November 1917, Edward was killed by enemy fire while trying to rescue his Colonel during the Battle of Cambrai. It was reported that his body fell on top of that of the Colonel. Edward was 28 years old. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, in the Nord region of France.
Edward had a brother who served in the Royal Flying Corps during the war.
Return to listing page (Tonyrefail war memorial)
