Walter Herbert was the second son of Richard A & Selina Edwards. He was born in the March quarter of 1894 (Ellesmere Vol. 6a, Page 691). The census of 1901 records the family living at Asney, Overton, Flintshire. Head of the household was Richard A. Edwards, 34 a Carter on a Farm who had been born in Overton. His wife Selina, 31 had been born in Ruabon, Denbighshire. Their listed children were Richard Allen aged 8, Walter H 7, Mabel, 5, and Elsie, 3. Also in the household was a niece, Annie Dodd, aged 2. All their children had been born in Overton.
The 1911 census records that the family, was still living at Asney, Overton. Richard, then 45 was a Waggoner on a farm and his wife of 19 years, Selina was 41. She had given birth to 4 children and they were all still living. Walter H 17 was working at Gabling as a jobbing gardener. Mabel, 16, was a Dress Making Apprentice and Elsie, 14 was still at school. Richard Allen was not recorded with his family on this census.
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. Walter had enlisted in 1916 and was sent to France in April 1917 to join the 100th Siege Battery.
UK, Soldiers who Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for Walter Herbert Edwards. It confirms his regimental details as above and tells us that he was born at Overton-on-Dee, Flints and his residence was St. Martins, Oswestry. He enlisted in Liverpool.
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 Walter. It tells us that the sole Legatee was his father Richard A. who was to receive £8 0s 8d on the 23rd January 1919 and his War Gratuity of £5 on the 3rd December 1919. It is this source that tells us he died of wounds in 17 Casualty Clearing Station.
There is an Index Cards for Walter in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. (Card Overton F 6), which gives his address as Asney, Overton Bridge, Ruabon and confirms his regimental details as above. He served for a period of 1 year 5 months . The card includes an alteration as to the category of his death. ‘Killed in Action’ was crossed out and replaced with ‘Died of Wounds’ on the September 20th 1918 in France. The card was signed by Selina Edwards on the 18th October 1919
His brother Pte. Richard Allen Edwards also lost his life in France 16th July 1917, just over a year before. Please click on the link to read his story.
(Selina signed her other son, Richard Allen’s Flintshire index card on the same day as Walter’s. )