Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 21868 Thomas Stewart Edwards
- Age: 24
- From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
- Regiment: 13th KLR
- Died on Thursday 28th March 1918
- Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
Panel Ref: Bay 3
Thomas Stewart was born in Birkenhead on 27th March 1894 the son Charles Stewart Edwards and his wife Mary Ann (nee Ireland). His father was born in Dundee, Scotland, and his mother in Liverpool. They married in Liverpool on the 19th Sept 1880 at St Nicholas. Charles was a 22 year old hatter, father Charles, whilst Mary was aged 19, father David, both of Hart St., and they had six children. Thomas had older siblings Charles, David, Jessie, and Elizabeth, all born in Liverpool. The family moved to Birkenhead in 1892-94, where Thomas and James were born. He was baptised in St. Peter’s, Liverpool, on 29th April 1894 and was known as Tom.
His mother died in 1898, at the age of 36.
His eldest brother Charles served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers from 1900 to 1912.
The 1901 Census shows the family living at 104 Grange Road, Birkenhead.
His father is aged 47, a hatters assistant b.Scotland, children David aged 17, a blacksmiths striker b.Liverpool, Jessie is 15 b.Liverpool, Elizabeth is 12 b.Liverpool, Thomas is 7 b.Birkenhead, James is 3 b.Birkenhead.
His brother David died later in 1901 at the age of 17.
In 1911 they are still living at 104 Grange Road, his father is a hatter, shopkeeper, employer. His sister Elizabeth is 22, assisting in the business. Thomas is 17, an apprentice, mono-type. James Logan is 13, at school.
Thomas enlisted in Liverpool on 14th November 1914, in the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 21868, giving his age as 20 years and 8 months, and his occupation as monotype operator. He is described as being 5’ 3” tall, weighing 123 lbs, 37” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was Church of England and NOK his father Charles, 104 Grange Rd. He will have been accompanied by his brother James Logan Edwards who enlisted with the consecutive service number 21867.
From the 23rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7th November 1915.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 8th May 1915 while in training at Grantham. On 29th March 1916 he was taken to 97th Field Ambulance/30th Dressing Station, with trench foot. On 01st April 1916 he rejoined his unit.Tom saw action at the Battle of the Somme beginning in July 1916.
On 21st September 1916 he was sent to a Field Ambulance, then to No.5 General Hospital, Rouen on 25th September 1916 with influenza (his Casualty Form appears to show “polio”). He was evacuated to the U.K. on 02nd October 1916 on the hospital ship Panama, and admitted to Leith War Hospital, Sealfield Street, Edinburgh, on 3rd October. He was eventually discharged on 03rd January 1917 and assigned to the 3rd (Garrison) battalion, K.L.R. whilst in the U.K. recuperating. On 13th January 1917 he was absent without leave for 46 hours, he was admonished, and forfeited 3 days’ pay. He returned to France on 24th April 1917 and posted, originally to the 11th Bn K.L.R., then on 13th May 1917 posted to the 13th K.L.R., serving in ‘C’ Company, 10th Platoon. He was on leave to the U.K. from 5th to 19th February 1918. On 7th March 1918 he was deprived of his stripe for “parading his section in a dirty condition”.
Tom was declared Missing on 28th March 1918 at Henin, southeast of Arras, the day after his 24th birthday. His name appeared in the list of Missing published in the Weekly Casualty List on 4th June 1918.
In a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 22nd May 1918, his father sought information on Private Tom S. Edwards, 21868, 10th Platoon, C Company, K.L.R., late Lance Corporal.
His father also appealed to the International Red Cross for information. He received a reply, sent 28th June 1918, that they held no information.
Having been listed as Missing in March 1918 his anxious and desperate family placed the following notice after the end of the war in the Liverpool Echo of 04th December 1918:
MISSING - INFORMATION WANTED
EDWARDS - Missing since March 28, Private T. S. EDWARDS late Lce.-Corpl) 21868. 10th Platoon, C Company, 13th Batt. The King's (Liverpool Regt.), late stretcher-bearer 18th Liverpool Pals. - Any information from comrades or returning prisoners will be thankfully received by his father 104 Grange Road, Birkenhead.
Having been listed as Missing in March 1918 his anxious and desperate family placed the following notice after the end of the war in the Liverpool Echo of 04th December 1918:
MISSING - INFORMATION WANTED
EDWARDS - Missing since March 28, Private T. S. EDWARDS late Lce.-Corpl) 21868. 10th Platoon, C Company, 13th Batt. The King's (Liverpool Regt.), late stretcher-bearer 18th Liverpool Pals. - Any information from comrades or returning prisoners will be thankfully received by his father 104 Grange Road, Birkenhead.
His death was later presumed, for official purposes, as having occurred on or since 28th March 1918. His body was either not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Arras Memorial in France.
The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).
Liverpool Evening Express 27th March 1919
MISSING - INFORMATION REQUIRED.
EDWARDS – In loving 25th birthday remembrance (25th March) of Lance-Corpl. Thomas S. Edwards, C Company, 13th King's (Liverpool) Regt., officially reported missing since March 28, 1918 (late Stretcher Bearer, 18th L’pool “Pals”.) - Father, sister, sister-in-law, and brothers, 104 Grange Road, Birkenhead.
In January 1921 his father wrote to Infantry Records enquiring about the location of his son’s grave. He was advised to contact the CWGC. In response to his question regarding receipt of the Memorial Plaque and medals, he was informed that, due to the large number of Plaques needed, there may be considerable delay, and he should expect to hear from the section concerning medals in due course. His father eventually received the Memorial Plaque and Scroll, as well as Tom’s medals. He also received his Army effects and a War a gratuity of £19-10s.
Tom is commemorated on the following Memorials:
Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 4
Birkenhead War Memorial at Hamilton Square.
His brother James Logan Edwards was discharged from the Army on 31st August 1917 with sickness. He was granted the SWB No. 244432. He died in Birkenhead on 11th May 1994 aged 96.
In 1919 his father provided information regarding Tom’s living relatives: Elizabeth, 30, and James, 22, were living at home at 104 Grange Road, and eldest son Charles was living at 78 Grange Road West. Daughter Jessie is not listed.
His father died in 1934, aged 75.
We currently have no further information on Thomas Stewart Edwards, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
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