Captain William Hardinge Colvin Edwards

Captain William Hardinge Colvin Edwards, MC, Mentioned in Dispatches, 1st Battalion, Black Watch. He was a Regular soldier and was killed in action in France at the Rue des Bois on 9th May during the Battle of Aubers Ridge, aged 21.  He had been born in Bengal, India and was the son of Major General Alfred Edwards, K.B.E. C.B. M.V.O. and Lady Edwards, O.B.E. of Ridgemount, Peaslake, Gomshall and is buried in Rue-Des Berceux Military Cemetery, Richebourg-Lavoue, Pas de Calais, France. Whilst at Wellington school he had become ill and had spent his convalescence with the Rev. Ritchie of Gordon Manse. His Headstone is inscribed ” Grant Him O Lord Eternal Rest And Let Light Perpetual Shine On Him 15-9″. He had been born in India and had been educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned in September 1911 and promoted Captain in March 1915.  He had been awarded his Military Cross  ” For gallantry on the 25th January 1915 at Givenchy in rendering effective resistance with his platoon in the re-capture of the village trench and driving the enemy from the village”. At Aubers despite great bravery the attack failed due to uncut wire after an inadequate artillery bombardment. Some men did force a way into the German lines but were too few in number to affect the outcome. Casualties were very heavy with a total of 14 Officers and 461 Other Ranks killed wounded or missing. In total the army suffered 11,000 casualties for no territorial gain. Corporal Ripley was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions that day. The photos show troops during the Battle.

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