Pte 16775 Edward Vaughan Edwards

• Age: 26
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

16775 Private Edward Vaughan EDWARDS 18^th Battalion KLR.

Edward Vaughan Edwards was born in January 1890 in Bootle, the third of four children and the second son of Isaac, a painter and decorator born in Cardiganshire, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Williams), who were married on 06th June 1881 at St David’s C.of E. Church, Liverpool. Isaac was a 26 year old labourer of Canal St, father Abraham, whilst Elizabeth was aged 21 of Church Rd, father William. 

In 1891 the family were living at 31 Queens Road, Bootle.

Father Isaac is aged 35, a general jobber born Llanbadarn, Cardiganshire, mother Elizabeth is aged 30, born in Llanfairfechan, Caernarvonshire, children born Bootle are Abram a scholar aged 7, Jane Edwards a scholar aged 5 and Edward Vaughan aged 1. Also staying is Isaac’s mother Jane, aged 71 born Llanbadarn.   

His mother had died prior to the 1901 Census, possibly aged 38 in 1899, which finds Edward now aged 11 living with his father Isaac aged 45, declared as a widower now born Penllwyn, Cardiganshire, at 31 Queens Road, Bootle with Abram 17 a painter and paper hanger, Jane Edwards aged 15, and Hugh R. aged 8. 

In 1891 Isaac and Elizabeth were living at 31 Queens Road, Bootle with children Abram aged 7, Jane Edwards aged 5 and Edward Vaughan aged 1. 

His mother had died prior to the 1901 Census which finds Edward now aged 11 living with his father Isaac, declared as a widower, at 31 Queens Road, Bootle with Abram 17 a painter and paper hanger, Jane Edwards aged 15, and Hugh R. aged 8

In 1911, after the death of his parents, Edward was living at 41 Cambridge Road, Bootle with his Aunt and Uncle John and Annie Roberts (nee Edwards). Their son, John Vaughan Roberts also fell in July 1916.

Edward enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 31^st August 1914  joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16775. He was aged 24 years 7 months, giving his occupation as timber clerk and his next of kin as his sister, Jane Edwards Iddon, 2a Hengist Avenue, Margate (later 1 Bethel Cottages, Cliftonville, Margate). He is described as being 5’6” tall, weighed 130lbs with a 36½” chest, Fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair and his religion was Church of England. 

According to SDGW Edward was a resident of Margate, Kent upon enlistment. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 10^th April 1915 he was appointed L/Corporal (unpaid). 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. On 30^th October 1915 was given the paid rank of Lance Corporal.

He crossed to France with his Battalion on the 07th November 1915 on board the SS Invicta. 

He served in France from 07^th November 1915 and in January 1916 was attached to the Mortar school and then joined 112 Trench Mortar Battery. On 08^th February 1916 he resumed with his Battalion and on 09^th February reverted to the rank of Private at his own request. On 12^th June 1916 he was admitted to 97 Field Ambulance with a “slight” gunshot wound to his back and was discharged on 15^th June, resuming with his unit.

He was one of many of the 18th Battalion who were killed in action during the attack on Montauban on 1^st July 1916.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks. 

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

Edward's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

On 20^th July 1916 a letter was sent to his next of kin, J. Iddon, notifying her of his death but this was returned marked “not known”. Police in Margate traced her to her new address of 1 Bethel Cottages, Zion Close, Margate. 

A report following Edward’s death appeared in the Liverpool Echo on the 12th August 1916. 
 
Local swimming circles, too, have had some of their finest stalwarts, for besides those already notified . . . news has come to hand this week definitely placing beyond any doubt that E.V. Edwards, hon. secretary of Bootle S.C., and Johnny Range, of Wavertree S.C., have both paid the great forfeit. Both were well known and highly popular wherever they moved, the latter having shown a particularly marked ability as a polo player, and would have undoubtedly risen to high rank. In Ernie Edwards I have lost a very staunch personal friend. He was one of the pioneers of what I feel inclined to call the new Bootle S.C., for after a period of semi-idleness he gathered together a band of young men and revived the famous Bootle name in spite of difficulties. It was one of my activities to attempt to interest the Bootle Corporation in the A.S.A. Scheme for the Encouragement of Swimming, and in this Ernie Edwards associated himself heart and soul. Very early on, before any preliminaries had been undertaken, he assured me that the task was well-nigh hopeless: "It's like trying to get life from the Pyramids, getting the Bootle Baths Committee to make any move," he said, but nevertheless he went through every phase until we reached the blank wall of official discouragement. It was Edwards, too, who set about creating a water polo team among the Bootle clubs. They were making fine progress until the war dropped everything. We shall miss the fine sportsman in bath or committee-room, and to the lady who would have shared his future we tender our respectful sympathy.

Reported wounded in the in the Liverpool Echo on the 13th Aug 1916 

Kings (Liverpools) - Edwards, 16775, E. V. (Cliftonville);  

A death notice appeared in the Liverpool Echo on the 14th Aug, 1916

Liverpool Echo (14-Aug-16)

Private Edward Vaughan Edwards, Kings Liverpool Regiment 16775, Killed in Action 01-Jul-16 aged 28 years.  Son of the late Isaac Edwards of Anglesey address Primrose Bank, Town Green, Ormskirk.

Edward is commemorated on the Bedford Road Council School war memorial now located in Bedford County Primary school, Quarry Road, Bootle and on the Bootle Civic Memorial, Stanley Road. Bootle.

On 14^thApril, 1919 Jennie (Jane E.) Iddon completed a sworn declaration in which she stated that both their parents were dead and their two brothers - Abram, aged 36 years and Hugh, 27 years - were living in Australia, where Hugh was a member of the Australian Army but had a Liverpool address at 49 Sandringham Road, Waterloo, Liverpool.

Edward was awarded all three medals. It will be recalled that Edward’s mother’s maiden name was Williams and the Army file shows that Edward’s effects and medals were sent to Mr Thomas A. Williams, Primrose Bank, Town Green, Ormskirk, in September 1921.

We currently have no further information on Edward Vaughan Edwards, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.