Edward Charles Molyneux was the son of Charles and Margaret Molyneux, 18, Mill Lane. In 1911, Charles Molyneux born in Wicklow was a jobbing gardener living at Cheshire’s Lane Buckley Common with wife Margaret, son Edward 13, and daughters Lilian, Annie, and Gertrude.

His Army Service Records have survived and are accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk. They are however in a poor and damaged state. It is possible to glean just some of his military story. Edward enlisted and attested on the 11th December 1915 in Buckley and was appointed to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was 18 years and 4 months old. He said his occupation was ‘Labourer’. He named his father Charles as his next of kin. A medical description of him on enlistment was that he was 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall and had a chest measurement of 35 inches (with a two inch expansion range). His physical development was ‘good’.

It was 12 months later in 1916 that  he proceeded to the 16th Royal Welsh Fusiliers ‘in the field.’ The records don’t say where that was.  He attended an army musketry course from 23rd October 1917, returning to his Battalion in January 1917. He was granted Leave to the UK from the 11th January 1918 to the 25th January 1918.  The record says that he became non effective by ‘killed in action’ on the 18th September 1918 in France.

There is correspondence in the records from the army to Edward’s mother Margaret who had written asking for information about where her son had been buried. She had also inquired about money owed. The UK Register of soldiers’ effects in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers (on Ancestry) includes an entry for Edward. A total of £25 .. 9sh ..0d  was sent to the family in two separate payments.

Edward’s death was reported in the County Herald, October 1918

Mr. and Mrs. C. Molyneux, of Windmill Lane, Buckley have received the sad news that .their only son, Private Edward Charles Molyneux, hat fallen in action. The deceased soldier was 21 yean of age. He joined the army somewhat over two years ago. He was a scholar and attendant at the Primitive Methodist Church. Before joining up he was employed on work of national importance.