Unfortunately I cannot find any of the Edwards Family on the 1911 census, or any census really, any help would be greatly appreciated. His Army Service Records , however, have survived (accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk)  and include a ‘relatives form’ that was completed in 1919, months after Robert’s death. This tells us that the family home was Ash Farm Cottage in Hawarden and that his father was Edward Edwards who was then 76. His mother, Elizabeth was 49 and his full blood siblings were Roger 13, John 16,  W.D Edwards who lived at ‘The Hostel’ in Trefnant and a married sister E A Roberts who lived at Fron, Wrexham.

UK, Soldiers who Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details  above left and tells us his residence was in Hawarden and he enlisted in Shotton. His medal card also accessible on ‘ancestry’ details his medal entitlement and gives us his previous regimental number.

Robert Attested on the 10th March 1916 in Wrexham. He was 19 years and 7 months old and gave his address as Ash Farm Cottage. His occupation was ‘Horseman’.  He was born in Chester. He was 5 feet 4 and 1/2 inches tall, weighed 130 lbs and his  Chest Measurement was 35 and 1/2 inches with a range of expansion 2 and 1/2 inches. He named his father as his next of kin.

There is a Casualty Form in his records that details his army career. It tells us he embarked from Devonport on the 10th October 1916 and disembarked on the 20th October 1916 in Alexandria Egypt. He joined his battalion for duty ‘in the field’ on the 23rd October 1916. On the 26th March 1917 in Gaza, he received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder and was admitted to hospital in Cairo on the 2nd April 1917.  He was discharged to the Divisional Base at Kantara on the 10th May 1917 and he rejoined the battalion for duty on the 18th June 1917. He was killed in action on the 7th November 1917.

There is correspondence in the records with Robert’s father concerning the return of his possessions (1 ID disc) and the receipt of his medals and a commemorative scroll and plaque.

There is an index card for Robert in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden, confirming the regimental details above. It was signed by his brother W D Edwards on the 25th October 1919. On the reverse of the  card it says ‘ Also wounded 26th March 1917’ and states his address as Ash Cottage, Hawarden