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Sidney Albert Edwards
54376, Lance Corporal, 17th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 29 October 1918, aged 21
Buried at Englefontaine British Cemetery, France
CWGC registered (Son of Samuel and E L Edwards, of 3, Tan-yr-Allt Cottages, Cwlach Rd, Llandudno)
NOT GONE FROM MEMORY NOR FROM LOVE BUT TO HIS HEAVENLY HOME ABOVE
Sidney Albert Edwards, the son of Samuel Edwards, a general labourer, and his wife Eleanor Louisa Edwards (née Williams), was born in Llandudno on 23 November 1896. The Census of Wales for 1901 reveals that the family lived at “Ivy Cottage”, Old Road Llandudno though Sidney himself was staying with an uncle in Bootle. Sidney attended Great Orme Infants’ School until 1904 when he was transferred to St. George’s National School – his family address was then 3 Bryn Gwynt Terrace. Sidney left school in November 1910 and became an assistant fitter for the urban district council for which his father now worked as a pipe jointer. The family’s address in 1911 was 3 Tan-yr-Allt Cottages, Cwlch Road. Sidney became a prominent member of the town’s band.
Sidney Edwards’ army record no longer exists. His first known regiment was the Welsh Horse Yeomanry, Territorial Force, his regimental number being 1485. It is most likely that he joined the 3/1st WH, a recruiting and training battalion based at Newtown, in November 1915. By this time, the mounted Yeomanry had become something of an anachronism and with the passing of the Military Service Act of 1916, many men were “converted” to infantry and liable for overseas service. In the summer of 1916, still technically in the Welsh Horse, Sidney Edwards was at an infantry base depot in France. He was posted to the 19th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers which had only landed in France in early June 1916 with the 40th Division. His new regimental number was 54376. The 19th RWF was disbanded on 6 February 1918 and it is not known whether Sidney was transferred to the 17th RWF at this time or if he had been transferred earlier. When he was promoted to lance corporal is also not known.
Sidney Albert Edwards was killed in action 29 October 1918 aged 21. The war diary for the day records that the battalion was in the line at Englefontaine. Three companies raided the enemy trenches that morning and reported taking prisoners and killing between 60 and 70 Germans though without suffering casualties of their own including 10 other ranks killed. Sidney was buried at Englefontaine British Cemetery.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
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