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Edwards, Richard Allen

Railway Dugouts Burial ground,

Richard Allen Edwards was born in the December quarter of 1892, (Ellesmere Vol.  6a, Page 649) the eldest son of Richard A. & Selina Edwards, (nee Dodd), who had married at St. Mary’s Church, Overton  on the 30th December 1891. They were ages 25 and 21 years respectively, (Ellesmere Vol. 6a, Page 1458). Richard’s father was also named Richard. He was a Labourer.  Selina’s father was Richard Dodd.

In the census of 1901 the family was living at Asney, Overton, Flintshire.  Richard Allen Edwards was aged 8.   Head of the household was Richard A. Edwards, 34 a Carter on a Farm. He had been born in Overton.    His wife Selina, 31 had been born in Ruabon, Denbighshire.   All their children had been born in Overton and as well as Richard Allen there was Walter H 7, Mabel, 5, and Elsie, 3.    Also in the household was a niece, Annie Dodd, aged 2.

In the census of 1911  Richard Allen Edwards was not listed with his family, who were still living at Asney, Overton.    Father Richard, 45 was a Waggoner on a farm. His wife of 19 years,  Selina, was 41.  She had given birth to 4 children who were all still living.   Walter H. 17 was working at Gabling, but I cannot make out his exact job, Mabel, 16, was a Dress Making Apprentice and Elsie, 14 was still at school.

There is a possible recording of Richard Edwards on the 1911 census, living at Lower Farm, Pen y Lan, Ruabon in the household of farmer  Edward Windsor,   and his wife Edith Eleanor. There was a Richard Edwards listed. He was 18, single and a Waggoner on the Farm. He had been born in Overton,

Both of the sons of Richard and Selina, (Richard Allen and Walter Herbert ) were to enlist in the war and both of them were to lose their lives, just over 1 year apart.   Please click on the link to read Walter’s story.

UK, Soldiers Who  Died in the Great War, 1914-1919, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for Richard Allen Edwards. It  confirms the regimental details above and tells us that he was born in Overton, resided in Ruabon and enlisted at Newtown, Flintshire.   It also tells us that he was formerly Regimental number 963 in the Welsh Horse Regiment.

The UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for Richard Allen Edwards.  His sole  Legatee was his mother Selina who received £9 17s 9d on the 21st November 1918 and his War Gratuity of £11 on the 18th November 1919

Richard ‘s Living Will, which he would have written before he went into battle is now available :-Edwards   Richard  24823  16 July 1917 – https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=edwards&SurnameGrants=edwards&YearOfDeath=1917&YearOfDeathGrants=1917&IsGrantSearch=False&IsCalendarSearch=False&page=8#soldiers

The British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920, lists his medals and  tells us that his Corps was P.W. Kent R

There is a Flintshire WW1 Index Card in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden.  (Card Overton F 5) for Richard, giving the address Asney, Overton Bridge, Ruabon. It   confirms his regimental details and adds that he served for2 years 8 months and was  Killed in Action in France on  July 16th 1917.   The card  was signed by Selina Edwards on the 18th October 1919 the same day she signed Walter’s card.

 

 

 


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