First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of Holy Trinity Church, Headington Quarry

Edwin Charles EDWARDS (1896–1917)

Edwin Charles Edwards was born in Jericho, Oxford in 1896, the son of William Edwards (born at Mile End in London in c.1870, age varies) and Sarah Ann Clark (born in St Thomas’s, Oxford in 1867, registered fourth quarter).

His parents were married in the Headington registration district in the fourth quarter of 1887 and by 1911 had twelve children, eleven of whom survived:

• William Frederick Edwards (born in St Anne’s parish, Brighton in 1889, registered third quarter)
• Esther Edwards (born in Lincoln Street, St Peter’s parish, Brighton in 1891, registered second quarter)
• Caroline Edwards (born in St Thomas’s, Oxford in 1893, registered second quarter)
• Edwin Charles Edwards (born at 18 King Street, Jericho, Oxford on 17 December 1896 and baptised at St Paul’s Church on 8 January 1897)
• Henry George Edwards, known as George (born in Jericho, Oxford on 19 August 1898 and baptised at St Barnabas’s Church on 1 September 1898)
• Sarah Annie Mary Edwards, known as Annie, born at 14 Jericho Gardens, Oxford on 29 September 1900 and baptised at St Barnabas’s Church on 17 October 1900)
• Alfred Edwards (born in the parish of St Alban, Croydon, probably the Alfred Thomas Edwards registered in the second quarter of 1903)
• Walter Edwards (born in the parish of St Alban, Croydon, probably the Walter Thomas Edwards registered in the second quarter of 1905)
• Frank Edwards (born in the parish of St Alban, Croydon, probably the Frank Edwards registered in the first quarter of 1907)
• Nellie Edwards (born in the parish of St Alban, Croydon in 1909, registered second quarter)
• Lilian May Edwards, known as May (born in the parish of St Alban, Croydon in about May 1910).

At the time of the 1891 census Edwin’s father was a dairyman, living with his wife and firstborn son William (1) at 2 Lincoln Street, Brighton.

By the following year the family had moved to the Jericho area of Oxford (Edwin’s mother’s home city), with their address specified in 1900 as 14 Jericho Gardens. Edwin’s father was described as a general dealer in 1897 and 1898 in the St Barnabas baptismal register.

By the time of Sarah’s baptism in 1900 Edwin’s father had joined the army, and he is described in the 1901 census as a Private in the Army Royal Reserve. The family’s address is given as 16 Jericho Gardens (which was in the civil parish of St Thomas, and the ecclesiastical parish of St Paul’s), and there were now six young children. Edwin himself was then aged four, and his eldest brother William (11) was working as a draper’s errand boy as well as attending school.

Later in 1901 the family moved to Croydon, where they remained until 1910.

By the time of the 1911 census, the family was back in Oxford, living in 2 Frederick Place (off Castle Street) in the parish of St Thomas. Edwin’s father is described as a general dealer on his own account, and ten of his children were at home: Esther (20) was a laundress, Caroline (18) was doing day work charring; Edwin himself (14) was a butcher’s boy; and the other seven children were of school age or below. William (21) was missing from home.

Edwin (or his whole family) must have moved up to Headington Quarry soon after the 1911 census.

In the First World War Edwin Charles Edwards served as a Private, first in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 22777), and then in the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No. 42658). He was killed in action in France on 4 March 1917 at the age of 20.

He has no known grave. He is listed on the Thiepval memorial (Pier and Face 5A and 6C) and on the stone plaque in the porch of Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry.