| Service # | 6678 |
Regimental number: 6678 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2835 – 45, Date of Birth 09/05/1888 at London, England. The son of David John & Annie Edwards of London, ON. N of : Mrs. Louise Huckle of London, England. A labourer living in Chatham, ON. Member 24th Kent Reg’t., shows leaving Chatham, On. with the 24th Reg’t. for Valcartier PQ on the 21st of August, 1914. Attestation: 22/09/1914 at Vacartier, PQ to the 1st Bn.
Single, Age: 26 yrs. 4 mths., Height: 5’ 6 ½ “, Girth: 36 “, Complexion: Medium, Eyes: Brown, Hair: Brown. A scar on right side, following shingles. Weight: 145#, Medical 31/08/14 at Valcartier – “Fit”
Last address of his brother S. F. Edwards, P.O.Box, Chatham, ON.
Boarded in Quebec, aboard the S. S. Laweutic 4/10/14 for England.
Born in London, England, his next of kin Mrs. Louise Huckle. Prior to the war Edward had been living in Chatham. He had been a member of the 24th Kent regiment for three years while living on Patteson Avenue, perhaps at the home of his sister Mrs. Salisbury who lived at 208 Patteson, he also had a brother David. “Ted” as he was known to his friends was unmarried and was working as a labourer for the Concrete Products Company of Chatham at the time of his enlistment.
Edward went overseas with the 1st Contingent C.E.F and to France after their long wet stay on Salisbury Plain attached to No.4 Company, 13th Platoon, 1st Battalion of the 1st Brigade.
A letter to his brother David appeared in the Chatham Daily Planet 24/04/15 “CHATHAM BOY REPORTED DEAD IN THE TRENCHES”, caused much distress to his family and friends. His sister had received cards from Edward on the 13th and 16th of March indicating that all was well with him, however his ‘sweetheart’ in England had received a returned letter to Edward with a note from his Captain. The note on the back of the envelope read, “Poor Ted was shot in the head. He never regained consciousness dying six hours later.
The consternation surrounding this apparent fatality comes from the reference to “H. H. Edwards” not “E. L.” but the service number “6678” was used? The article goes on to give a glimmer of hope, “Had young Edwards been killed it is thought that Major Geo. Smith writing from the front or Bill writing from Salisbury would have mentioned the fatality”.
A search of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in fact shows that the assumption made in the Daily Planet was correct. There were ten soldiers with the name “Edwards” killed in 1915, however only three died before the article in the paper on the 29th of April. These were, HENRY Edwards killed 22/04/1915 from the 16th Bn. (Manitoba Regt.) and a WILLIAM Edwards killed 10/03/1915 of the 1st Bn. King’s Royal rifle Corps. The most likely to be confused with Edward L. would be WILLIAM HARRY Edwards, Service No. 6635, who was killed in action 13/03/1915 while serving in the 1st Bn. Western Ontario Regt. D-Coy., the same company as “Ted” Edwards. Pte. Edward L. “Ted” Edwards would still have three months to live from his premature death announcement in March. Reporting of men killed in action was not an accurate science in 1915.
In a Chatham Daily Planet 29/06/1915 article “FOUR MORE ADDED TO DEATH ROLL”, reports on Pte. Edwards death at “the terrible Festubert engagement”.
EDWARD, EDWARD LIONEL “Ted” Initials: E L Nationality: Canadian Rank: Private Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regt.) Unit Text: 1st Bn. Age: 27. KIA – Date of Death: 15/06/1915 Service No: 6678 Additional information: Son of David John and Annie Edwards, of London. England. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Cemetery: VIMY MEMORIAL
See Attestation record EDWARDS E L 6678 copied.
Nominal Roll D-Company, 13 Platoon 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion. 17/02/15.
In his “WILL” he left to his niece Lydia Edwards and niece Caroline, daughter of Samual – equal shares in a single tract of land and premises in the Twsp. of Dover – East in the County of Kent. Lot No.23 lot No. 120 and 123. To my sister Louise Huckle of London, England I leave my Life Insurance. To my sister my sister Annie Elizabeth of 208 Patterson Ave., Chatham for his use and benefit.
On the Vimy Memorial Pas de Calais – France.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | LAC 36 pages, CVWM |
| Height | 5'6 1/2" |
| Weight | 145 lbs. lbs |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Age | 26 yrs. 4 mths. |
| Complexion | Medium |
| Hair | Brown |
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