There is only one Edwin Edwards named on the Gwernaffield memorial, however we have information about two Edwin Edwards who served in WW1 and who both have connections with Gwernaffield. We have made a page for each of them. The Edwin Edwards (1) on this page has an index card in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden and so we believe he is probably the one named on the Memorial. The other Edwin Edwards (2) is listed with those Gwernaffield soldiers NOT named on the memorial.
Edwin Edwards (1) was born in Gwernaffield about 1886. He is listed on the census of 1891 living with his family at Cefyn Bychan Road, Gwernaffield. Head of the household was Samuel Edwards who was a 37 year old Quarry man. His wife Ann was 38. Their listed children at home for the census were Price 8, Edwin 5 and Lewis 2.
The next census of 1901 records the family living at Waen, Gwernaffield. Samuel Edwards was 47 and is listed as a Limestone Quarryman. His wife Ann was 45. Their listed children on this census were Robert 25 and Joseph 23 both Leadminers, Price 18 was a Domestic Gardener, Edwin 15 was a Stableboy, Lewis was 12, Elias 8, Rosina 6, Samuel 4 and John F 1.
We believe that Edwin married Ethel Hulse in 1909 (Quarter Dec 1909 District Conwy, Vol 11b, page 818). They were recorded in the census of 1911 living at Bryn Craig Llangwstenin, Nr Conwy. Edwin was 25 and was a Domestic Groom/Gardener who had been born in Gwernaffield. He was bilingual, speaking both Welsh and English. His wife of 1 year was Ethel 25 who had been born in Crewe Cheshire.The census form tells us that the one child that had been born to them had sadly not survived.
Edwin’s military history is not particularly well documented. There is an index card for him in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. It gives the address ‘School Yard’ Gwernaffield (presumably where members of his family still lived) and also his regimental details and death date which were as listed at the top of this page.
There is a medal index card for him listed on www.ancestry.co.uk which gives his name, number and regiment and lists his two medals.
The UK Register of soldier’s Effects (also on Ancestry), in which the army calculated monies owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for Gunner Edwin Edwards 310603 says that he died in France or Belgium on the 11th February 1919. The sum of £40..18sh .. 6d was paid to his sole legatee, widow Ethel.
His Commonwealth War Grave Certificate (see below) tells us however, that he had died on the 11th February 1919, (3 months after the Armistice was signed) and was buried in Germany.
Many thanks to Mr Kyffin Roberts who pointed us in the right direction when we were confused with the other Gwernaffield Edwin Edwards.
